Date: 5/1/26 10:23 am From: JANINE PERLMAN <jpandjf...> Subject: Day 3
Corresponding to the Birds of the World account, when mom’s away, the hummingbird hatchlings, who are still incredibly small and blind, are now shoving their little rumps up over the edge of the nest to expel droppings. It’s quite adorable.
Date: 5/1/26 5:00 am From: Anita Schnee <000003224553d416-dmarc-request...> Subject: My letter opposing LR data center
Thank you Rev. Garner for your outstanding letter. Here is my additional .02 worth:
Little Rock District, Regulatory DivisionU.S. Army Corps of EngineersPO Box 867Little Rock, AR 72203-0867
Re: Public Comment in Opposition to Permit Application – Willowbend Capital LLC ("Project Boar"), Port of Little Rock
Dear Colonel Swenson:
I write to urge the Little Rock District of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to deny the Clean Water Act Section 404 permit application submitted by Michael Montfort on behalf of Willowbend Capital LLC for the construction of a large-scale data center campus at the Port of Little Rock.
I. IDENTITY AND TRANSPARENCY
The Corps and the public should not lose sight of who the actual applicant is. Willowbend Capital LLC is a Delaware-registered shell company with no independent operations. Michael Montfort, its incorporator and manager, is a professional front man who has organized an interlocking web of similar LLCs — including Forgelight Ventures (Conway), Groot LLC (West Memphis), and Deep Meadow Ventures (Indiana) — all on behalf of the same ultimate developer: Google LLC, a subsidiary of Alphabet Inc., one of the wealthiest corporations in the world. Google was not publicly identified as the developer until an Arkansas Democrat-Gazette investigation in January 2026, even though city officials had by then already approved land sales, annexations, rezonings, and a 65% property tax abatement lasting 30 years.
This pattern of concealment is not accidental and not new. It is Google's deliberate, repeating strategy for acquiring land, securing public subsidies, and obtaining regulatory permits before the affected public can meaningfully respond. The Corps should weigh this conduct as evidence of bad faith in the public interest review it is required to conduct.
The Indiana record is instructive. In Franklin Township, southeast of Indianapolis, a company calling itself "Deep Meadow Ventures, LLC" — again managed by Michael Montfort — filed rezoning requests in March 2025 for 468 acres of farmland to host a data center campus codenamed "Project Flo." The company's identity was concealed behind non-disclosure agreements that prevented even local elected officials from revealing who wanted to build in their community. A city councilor signed the NDA. Documents obtained by Indianapolis public radio station WFYI in July 2025 revealed Google as the company behind Project Flo — but Google never officially confirmed its involvement even as the controversy intensified. A months-long grassroots campaign led by Andrew Filler, a hobby farmer whose land abutted the site, organized the Protect Franklin Township coalition. On September 22, 2025, minutes before a scheduled City-County Council vote that the company apparently expected to lose, Google abruptly withdrew its rezoning application. Hundreds of supporters packed council chambers and erupted in cheers.
Undeterred, Google moved on — this time identified only as a "Fortune 100 company" — to Fort Wayne, Indiana, where despite widespread local opposition it obtained approval to build a $2 billion data center campus on more than 700 acres, codenamed "Project Zodiac." When the project expanded in Phase 2, the developer (this time operating as Hatchworks LLC) sought and received permission from Indiana's Department of Environmental Management to fill more than two acres of protected wetlands — without holding a single public hearing, despite repeated community requests for one. Residents and environmental groups are now fighting a subsequent application for 143 additional diesel generators.
Now comes "Project Boar" in Little Rock — the same developer, the same shell-company structure, the same code names, and the same ask: let us fill in the wetlands, waive the taxes, and keep the public in the dark until the concrete is poured.
II. ENVIRONMENTAL HARM
The environmental costs of this application are severe and documented in the applicant's own filings. The project would require filling 16.8 acres of wetlands and obliterating more than 6,000 feet of streams in and around Fourche Bayou — impacts on federally regulated waters of the United States that trigger this very permitting process. The application acknowledges potential harm to endangered species, including monarch butterflies. Wetland mitigation credits purchased elsewhere cannot replicate the specific ecological functions of these wetlands: flood attenuation, water filtration, and habitat for species dependent on this particular stretch of the Arkansas River corridor.
The Corps is required under the Clean Water Act's Section 404(b)(1) Guidelines to determine whether the applicant has demonstrated that there is no practicable alternative that would result in less adverse impact to the aquatic ecosystem. Given the scale of Google's resources and its ongoing acquisition of sites across the region — including approximately 780 acres already purchased at the Port of Little Rock for roughly $23 million — the applicant cannot credibly claim that no less-damaging site or layout is available.
III. SCALE OF DEMAND AND PUBLIC COSTS
When operational, this data center is expected to consume more than 100 megawatts of electricity — roughly equivalent to the power consumption of every household in the City of Little Rock combined. That demand will not be absorbed painlessly; it will drive new generation investments by Entergy Arkansas and shift costs onto the ratepayers who can least afford to subsidize a Fortune 500 company's infrastructure. Central Arkansas Water and the Little Rock Water Reclamation Authority will bear the burden of serving the facility's industrial water needs.
The promised public benefit — approximately 50 permanent jobs — is disproportionate to these costs. As Fort Wayne's experience with Project Zodiac has shown, the job figures attached to these projects are often their most flattering attribute, and they rarely materialize at the promised scale.
IV. THE PUBLIC INTEREST REQUIRES DENIAL — OR AT MINIMUM A PUBLIC HEARING
The Corps' public interest review must weigh environmental, economic, and social factors. Here, the balance is not close. The project destroys irreplaceable wetland habitat, imposes enormous power and water demands on the public, delivers negligible permanent employment, and was advanced through a deliberate campaign of secrecy that denied affected communities a meaningful voice.
I urge the Corps at a minimum to require a full public hearing before any further action is taken on this application, and to rigorously apply the Section 404(b)(1) alternatives analysis. On the merits, the application should be denied.
Respectfully submitted,
Anita SchneeFayetteville, AR
~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`~`
On Thursday, April 30, 2026 at 09:55:42 PM CDT, Kevin Krajcir <kjkrajcir...> wrote:
If this letter inspires you to write your own comment, please know that they are due to <Michael.R.Gala...> <mailto:<Michael.R.Gala...> or via the online system tomorrow (5/1). We apologize for the late sharing of our letter, but so these things go with a busy schedule.
Date: 4/30/26 4:20 pm From: Sarah Morris <saraha.morris1...> Subject: REMINDER: ASCA Field Trip is Saturday
Hi everyone,
This is a reminder that Saturday is the Audubon Society of Central
Arkansas's (ASCA) field trip to Gillam Park. It will include a bird banding
demonstration.
All trips are open to the public. Birders of all experience levels are
welcome. You do not have to be an ASCA member to attend. People may leave a
trip at any time.
Sarah Morris
ASCA Field Trip Coordinator
*2026 ASCA FIELD TRIPS*
*May 2: Banding Demo at Gillam Park*
*Meet: *7 a.m. at Gillam Park (far parking lot)
Spring migration will be underway, offering a chance to see many species,
including warblers.
Kevin Krajcir, conservation biologist with the Arkansas Natural Heritage
Commission, will also demonstrate bird banding. He will explain how banding
works and why it is important. Bird banding will be weather-dependent.
There will be moderate walking on mostly level trails, which may be muddy.
After Gillam Park, the group will visit the Little Rock Audubon Center,
Industrial Harbor Road, and Terry Lock and Dam. The trip may last into
early afternoon.
*What to bring:*
· Water and snacks
· Sturdy walking shoes or hiking boots
· Binoculars
*Meeting location:*
Gillam Park
5300 Gillam Park Road, Little Rock
GPS: 34.700823, -92.258148
Directions: Take I-30 West heading south from Little Rock. Exit onto I-440
going towards the airport. Take Exit 1-Springer Road. At the bottom of the
exit ramp, turn left onto Springer Road. Go one mile to just past the
Little Rock Audubon Center and turn right onto Gillam Park Road. Follow it
into the park to the last parking lot.
Yesterday morning, both hummers hatched, after 17 days of incubation. This is on the long side of incubation times, and was probably largely due to cool-ish temperatures, although this female may spend more time off the nest than is typical for the species (below).
Contrary to the Birds of the World RTHU account, this female and the others I've observed begin continual incubation only after the second egg is laid, and the chicks do hatch synchronously.
It's easy -- and endearing -- to see the chicks' short yellow beaks and still-closed eyes as they stretch up to receive their mother's bill inserted deep into their gullets. Despite and because of daytime temps only in the 60's, Mom requires additional time to find the invertebrates she regurgitates for her young, and no doubt extra nectar to keep herself warm. So she's been off the nest for around half the time during the day, far more that the species account reports. Nevertheless, the chicks appear to be thriving.
Yesterday the female exhibited a behavior I've never seen or read about before. For a period of several minutes, encompassing 2 foraging departures and three bouts of incubating the hatchlings, she continuously vocalized with an "agonistic" (aggressive and/or alarmed) chipping call, similar to what we've all heard around feeders.
I couldn't identify what was alarming her, and it was quite surprising, because it certainly called attention to her and the nest.
The chicks will grow and develop at astonishing speed. Their eyes open at around 8 days, and they'll be fully able to forgo her body heat a couple of days later. They'll fledge about 20 days after hatching.
The photographic opportunities have been great, and I hope to post links one of these days soon!
Janine PerlmanAlexander Mt., Saline Co.
Date: 4/30/26 10:40 am From: Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> Subject: Latest on Red-cockaded Woodpecker research
From: American Ornithological Society <donotreply...>Date: Thu, Apr 30, 2026 at 12:22 PM
Subject: Bouncing back, but still losing chicks: The Puzzle of Partial Brood Loss
| Related paper: Increasing density from population recovery does not explain elevated partial brood loss in a threatened cooperative breeder by Lauren D. Pharr, Christopher E. Moorman, Nathan J. Hostetter, Clyde… |
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Bouncing back, but still losing chicks: The Puzzle of Partial Brood Loss
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By AOS on 30 April 2026
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Related paper: Increasing density from population recovery does not explain elevated partial brood loss in a threatened cooperative breeder by Lauren D. Pharr, Christopher E. Moorman, Nathan J. Hostetter, Clyde E. Sorenson, Jeffrey R. Walters, Caren B. Cooper. Ornithological Applications.
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When I started studying Dryobates borealis (Red-cockaded Woodpecker), I expected that one of the biggest challenges families faced would be competition at high population densities. After all, as conservation efforts helped these birds rebound across the Southeastern United States, many sites saw more groups packed into the same landscape than ever before. It seemed intuitive that higher density would strain resources and reduce nest success.
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But the central finding of my dissertation surprised me: Even though populations have grown, partial brood loss—when some, but not all, chicks die—was not linked to population density at any of the three long-term study sites I examined, each monitored for over 40 years. In other words, I found little evidence for density dependence, which is the idea that as populations become more crowded, competition for resources increases, leading to a decrease in reproductive success or survival. Instead, brood loss appears driven by a combination of clutch size, timing, and group composition, with some evidence that late-stage brood loss is increasing over time. Understanding these patterns matters because they influence how we interpret “recovery” and how we plan for long-term sustainability of D. borealis populations.
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Lauren stands in a longleaf pine forest, holding several newly hatched Red-cockaded Woodpecker nestlings in her palm. She smiles at the camera, her hands dusty from fieldwork. Photo courtesy of Lauren Pharr |
(left) An adult male Red-cockaded Woodpecker clings to the side of a pine tree, showing its distinctive black-and-white plumage and a small red patch on the side of its head. Resin flows down the bark around the cavity entrance. Photo by Brady Beck
(right) Three newly hatched Red-cockaded Woodpecker nestlings lie on a light-colored cloth, their bodies mostly featherless with developing pinfeathers visible. Two chicks wear tiny leg bands, and all appear to be only a few days old. Photo courtesy of Lauren Pharr |
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Lauren smiles while holding a small group of Red-cockaded Woodpecker nestlings in her hand. She stands in a pine woodland with a pickup truck and field equipment, including a ladder, visible behind her. Photo courtesy of Lauren Pharr |
Lauren stands beside a pine tree marked with white paint bands, raising a long yellow cavity-inspection pole to check a Red-cockaded Woodpecker cavity. The surrounding forest consists of widely spaced longleaf pines and ground cover vegetation. Photo courtesy of Lauren Pharr |
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Why I Asked this Question
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D. borealis are one of North America’s most iconic cooperative breeding bird species. Groups consist of a breeding pair and, often, several “helpers”—usually older male offspring—who assist with everything from cavity maintenance to chick provisions. Cooperative breeding can buffer families against environmental stressors, so I wondered: Does cooperation also buffer them from density-dependent pressures as populations recover?
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At the same time, managers across the Southeast have reported increased rates of partial brood loss. This pattern raised an important question: Are increasing densities unintentionally creating new reproductive challenges?
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To answer this, I drew on the long-term monitoring data from the Sandhills of North Carolina, Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, and Eglin Air Force Base in Florida. These sites are among the most intensively studied D. borealis populations in the world, making them ideal for separating density effects from other ecological pressures.
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What the Data Revealed
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Across all sites, density—measured both as spacing among groups and the number of adults per hectare—had no detectable relationship with either early or late partial brood loss. This result held even as some populations reached or exceeded their historical group densities.
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What did matter?
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- Clutch Size: Larger clutches consistently experienced higher rates of partial brood loss, supporting the idea that D. borealis may produce more eggs than they can fully provision under suboptimal conditions.
- Group Composition: Groups with more adult males (breeding males and male helpers) had lower early brood loss across all sites, which is strong evidence that helpers play a meaningful role in supporting nest success.
- Lay Date: Later-season nests were more likely to lose chicks at some sites, particularly in the Sandhills.
- Time: At the Sandhills site, late partial brood loss has increased over the last four decades, pointing toward shifting environmental constraints, potentially linked to climate variability.
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In short, demography, and phenology—not density—better explained brood loss patterns.
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Why This Matters for Conservation
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These findings suggest that current D.borealis recovery practices often create new cavity trees near existing groups, and are not inadvertently harming brood survival by increasing density. Cooperative breeding likely buffers many of the classic density-dependent pressures seen in non-cooperative species.
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But the increase in late-stage brood loss at the Sandhills highlights an emerging concern: Climate-driven changes in resource availability or breeding phenology may change D. borealis productivity in ways density cannot explain.
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As managers continue working toward long-term recovery, these results point to several priorities:
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- Protecting and enhancing habitat features that support productive foraging, especially early in the season
- Monitoring shifts in breeding timing relative to climate
- Recognizing the critical role of helpers, particularly male helpers in supporting reproductive output
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Ultimately, understanding the mechanisms behind brood loss helps ensure that recovery efforts strengthen not only population numbers, but also the capacity of families to successfully raise young.
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A Final Reflection
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Some of my favorite field memories are from quiet early mornings spent checking cavities, listening for the soft call notes of adults returning with food. Watching these families work together—breeders and helpers alike—made it clear why D. borealis has persisted despite decades of habitat loss. Their resilience is built on cooperation.
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My hope is that by understanding how these families function, and where they remain vulnerable, we can help ensure their continued recovery in a rapidly changing world.
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Date: 4/29/26 8:13 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - April 29
It was overcast, mild, and a little windy, with several thunderstorms including one that produced fairly large hail, on the bird survey today. 81 species were found. I mostly concentrated on migrant Passerines which were in short supply. Here is my list for today:
Date: 4/29/26 11:29 am From: jennifer lenow <jenniferlenow...> Subject: Injured Indigo Bunting in Downtown LR
Hi birders, my boyfriend just sent me a photograph of what appears to be an
injured indigo bunting at Scott St and Main St in downtown Little Rock. Is
there a bird rehabber in Little Rock we could call?
Date: 4/29/26 9:37 am From: Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> Subject: AAST fundraiser nature tour to Osa Peninsula, Costa Rica
Hi all, as announced in the state meeting, here is the itinerary for the Arkansas Audubon Society Trust fund raiser trip 3-11 January, 2027.
https://wetu.com/Itinerary/Landing/9f33e5aa-96fa-4f4d-82de-1de25288eafe Cost will be $3310 per person excluding air (double occupancy) for 16 people. Minimum is 8 participants. The tour is expected to raise $1000 for the Arkansas Audubon Society Trust. Please reply off line if interested.
Cheers, Kannan
Date: 4/28/26 2:31 pm From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Frog Bayou
Recently there have been exciting reports of dark ibis atFrog Bayou including Sharp Chapel Road. I decided to pay a visit, not only for theibis, but because who knows what other action might be afoot?
Well, I did not see any ibis, but what birds there were!
At the original Frog Bayou, we were heading past what Ibelieve is Cell 3 when Donald thought he saw a bittern flying over the berm,and he noted exactly where it disappeared. We went to this spot and looked on the other side. We thought it went into the next field whichwe could not reach due to a deep drainage ditch. Then it suddenly took off from the base of ashrub near the top of the berm where Donald had last seen it. It had been hidden by the grass. It flew right past us. I clearly saw its odd profile, with a long,rather heavy bill, small head and thick neck. We had not seen a bittern in years.
Not long after, in the same general area, Donald saw aMississippi Kite. It was flying away,but happily it circled back. Suddenly italerted and flew more strongly. It flewfaster and faster, then folded its wings and stooped, dropping at about a 45-degreeangle. It disappeared from view low overa field. It was a thrilling sight. I was doubtful that kites stooped, so Ichecked with Sibley's Bird Life and Behavior. He says that many hawk stoop.
There were other surprises, including Little Blue Herons andat Sharp Chapel a Black-necked Stilt. Bell’s Vireos, Common Yellowthroats and Yellow-breastedChats were back.
The first I heard of Frog Bayou was a posting by Joe Neal alertingus to the possible expansion of the reserve. It was expanded, benefiting both ourselves and the wildlife. It’s a wonderful place and I hope it will beexpanded even more. If you haven’t beenthere, now is the time
Date: 4/28/26 12:11 pm From: Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> Subject: Fort Smith Big Day
Saturday, May 2nd. Meet behind Central Mall at 5:15 a.m. Leave promptly at 5:30. We begin the day near the Chaffee amphitheater, usually walk Sunnymede Park, and then head up to Lake Fort Smith SP. We will finish at Sequoyah NWR near Vian, OK. All day event. Dress appropriately and bring food and drink. All are welcome.
Date: 4/28/26 11:59 am From: JACQUE BROWN <bluebird2...> Subject: found credit card
All, I was at the Centerton Fish Hatchery this morning and found a Amazon Prime credit card. If anyone knows Christy Witt tell her I found her card.
Have her reply back to my e mail address. This is my computer address not my phone email. I'm going birding tomorrow around beaver lake so won't be home until late afternoon.
My cell number is 618-540-9409. I doubt I'll have phone service where I'm going but I coud receive a text.
Jacque Brown, Centerton.
Date: 4/24/26 11:42 am From: Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> Subject: Re: Great Crested Flycatchers Arrived
If you have them nesting in your yard or a nest box you made for them, remember to put the shed snake skins out for them. They include shed snake skins in their nest.
Jerry Wayne Davis Hot Springs, AR
On 2026-04-24 1:37 pm, JACQUE BROWN wrote: > I got two of them in the Vaughn, area. NW AR. > > Jacque Brown, Centerton. > > On Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 08:43:03 PM CDT, <jwdavis...> > <jwdavis...> wrote: > > The Great Crested Flycatchers arrived in my yard today at 1 PM. They > let you know when they have arrived home for the summer. > > Jerry Wayne Davis > Hot Springs, AR > > ------------------------- > > To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link: > http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 > [1] > > Links: > ------ > [1] http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
Date: 4/24/26 11:37 am From: JACQUE BROWN <bluebird2...> Subject: Re: Great Crested Flycatchers Arrived
I got two of them in the Vaughn, area. NW AR.
Jacque Brown, Centerton.
On Thursday, April 23, 2026 at 08:43:03 PM CDT, <jwdavis...> <jwdavis...> wrote:
The Great Crested Flycatchers arrived in my yard today at 1 PM. They let you know when they have arrived home for the summer.
Jerry Wayne DavisHot Springs, AR
Date: 4/23/26 9:05 pm From: Lynn Foster <lfoster5211...> Subject: Re: AAS Sunnymede Field trip on Friday
I second that! Thanks, Sandy!
On Thu 23 Apr 2026 at 9:43 p.m., Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
> If it is raining Friday afternoon, and you decide not to try the Sunnymede
> field trip, there are some indoor sites near the hotel you might want to
> see. The National Historic Site is now free. You can visit Judge Parker’s
> courthouse.
> Also, the US Marshals Museum is now open. It is just north of downtown
> Fort Smith. There are a couple of nice antique stores close by too. Belle
> Starr Antique and Vintage Market is at 410 North B street
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/410+North+B+street?entry=gmail&source=g>.
> Fifth Street Vendor is at 201 Towson Ave
> <https://www.google.com/maps/search/201+Towson+Ave?entry=gmail&source=g>.
>
> Here’s to hoping it’s not raining.
>
> Sandy B
> Fort Smith
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Date: 4/23/26 7:43 pm From: Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> Subject: AAS Sunnymede Field trip on Friday
If it is raining Friday afternoon, and you decide not to try the Sunnymede
field trip, there are some indoor sites near the hotel you might want to
see. The National Historic Site is now free. You can visit Judge Parker’s
courthouse.
Also, the US Marshals Museum is now open. It is just north of downtown Fort
Smith. There are a couple of nice antique stores close by too. Belle Starr
Antique and Vintage Market is at 410 North B street. Fifth Street Vendor
is at 201 Towson Ave.
Date: 4/23/26 4:36 pm From: Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Binoculars-How many does one need?
How many binoculars are too many for one person to own? With the thought that 4 bins is one too many, I have a pair of brand new, still in the box, Zeiss HDX 8X40 Binoculars. On the Zeiss website currently listed at $1000.00 plus shipping. But you can have them for $875.00 + shipping.
Contact me off line at <fellowshipofthewings...> if you are interested.
If you are attending the AAS meeting in Fort Smith this weekend, we can avoid the mailing cost. Note: due to tariffs and other unstable economic conditions, the cost of this item is predicted to increase in the near future.
Jack Stewart
Date: 4/23/26 7:08 am From: <jwdavis...> <jwdavis...> Subject: Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore Orioles are now in my yard in Hot Springs, feeding on Tulip Popular blooms, oranges and jelly. Larry Hedrick reported the Orchard Orioles at the Essex Golf Couse yesterday, along with Common Yellowthroats. The Eastern Kingbirds and Scissortail Flycatchers arrived a few days ago.
The park is off of I540 at the Grand Ave exit. Turn east past the jam mart.
The park is at the end of the road. Some of you may want to go straight to
the park.
I will meet other members at the hotel at 1:00. We should be at the park by
1:15. There is minimal parking space but there is a cul-de-sac and plenty
of road to park on. Just please pull close to the car in front of you. Do
not block any drives.
Other notes:
-jet training at Ebbing. It may get loud every so often. Or they may not be
flying.
-watch out for fire ant mounds
-watch out for poison ivy. It’s everywhere.
-absolutely make sure all valuables are out of site and your vehicles are
locked.
-with such a large group going we may want to split and head off in two
different directions
Over 220 species have been seen at Sunnymede. Remember it’s a Friday
afternoon. No promises made. 😄
Date: 4/20/26 6:13 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - April 20
It was partly cloudy, mild, and a little windy on the bird survey today. 75 species were found. Lots of nesting Anhinga's and Neotropic Cormorants now. Their main nesting spot is on Otter Lake this year but there are a few Anhinga's nesting on Pintail Lake also. New FOS migrants showing up this week include Prairie Warbler, Yellow-breasted Chat, Northern Waterthrush, Gray Catbird, and Chimney Swift. Here is my list for today:
Yall are cordially invited to Josh Browns Shorebird Stopover for a few seriously leisurely walks. Shorebird Stopover is in bottom lands next to West Fork of White River off Highway 16 in southeast Fayetteville. These walks will occur on Tuesday April 28, April 29, and April 30. Each one begins and ends at entrance to Shorebird Stopover at Bayyari Park, 725 Regency in Fayetteville. Each walks involves the period from 9 Am to 11 Am. Co-leader for the walks is Joe Neal. On the agenda: birds, wildflowers, butterflies, and whatever is interesting. Josh is mowing the trail to be walked, so hopefully ticks won't be an issue. Same walk each day. The walk includes stops at feeders and a shallow pond built especially for migratory birds. This is all on 60-acres of private land devoted to promoting conservation of nature. Parking is a little wacky because of the hill down street to the entrance, so you may need to park up on the street or maybe Josh will open gate. Please dont park in a way that inconveniences the neighbors. Free and open to the public.
Date: 4/20/26 11:40 am From: Lynn Foster <lfoster5211...> Subject: Data Centers and AAS
Dear Arbirders,
A number of you have emailed AAS and also posted on this site about the data centers either already existing or proposed. Last night the AAS Board discussed this issue. The Board authorized a written comment to the Army Corps of Engineers concerning the proposed data center on Little Rock Port Authority land--their deadline is May 1. Once the letter is written and approved, we will post it here on Arbird for all to see and use all or part of.
Local conditions will vary from site to site. These include:
- Identity of the land seller - Which local (county, municipal) governments are involved - Terms of the agreements (usually parties must sign non-disclosure agreements) - Types of power sources
But the underlying issues regarding data centers are the same from site to site. These hinge on the environmental restrictions, if any, to be imposed on data centers (sustainability of power and water use, noise restrictions, wildlife habitat). The Board has approved the creation of a "white paper" to be published by AAS in the near future laying out AAS's position on data centers in general. Sustainable data centers that do not destroy valuable habitat and do not produce harmful noise can be beneficial. Unfortunately the state of Arkansas has not imposed such limitations.
So--stay tuned, in the short term for the comment to ACE, and in the next couple of months for a white paper that will contain information that will hopefully be of use to those writing letters and comments.
Lynn Foster President, Arkansas Audubon Society (for five more days!!)
Also a single/solo male YELLOW-HEADED BLACKBIRD, mixed in a large flock of Red-winged Blackbirds. This was on Huntsman Rd about halfway to Ditch 13. Always worth checking the trees in front of the grainery because they can sometimes be found there this time of year. Patty
-------- Original message --------From: Patty McLean <plm108...> Date: 4/19/26 1:07 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Bald Knob NWR Today Sora! Feeding in the open! At least 8 were actually seen and another 4-5 heard calling from different areas, further away.Lark Sparrows and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers have set up territories along the Coal Chute entrance road (at the Freppon Rd crossing). Black-necked Stilts continue but the White-faced Ibis seem to be gone. What a difference a day (of rain) makes.Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners
Date: 4/19/26 11:14 am From: Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Bald Knob NWR Today
Sora! Feeding in the open! At least 8 were actually seen and another 4-5 heard calling from different areas, further away.Lark Sparrows and Scissor-tailed Flycatchers have set up territories along the Coal Chute entrance road (at the Freppon Rd crossing). Black-necked Stilts continue but the White-faced Ibis seem to be gone. What a difference a day (of rain) makes.Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners
Date: 4/19/26 4:48 am From: Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> Subject: Swarm of dark ibises in Frog Bayou
How can over a 100 dark ibises take off from the wetland and blacken the skies after being flushed by some raptor, only to completely vanish in the grass upon returning? Amazing. That's the experience I had when I went for a short trip to Sharp Chapel last evening. There were some yellowlegs (both), a dowitcher, and lots of BW teals. But no Hudsonians or Avocets or Stilts. They too were probably huddled out of sight in the grass.
KannanFt. Smith
Date: 4/18/26 11:13 am From: Dedra Gerard <000002df2472bba2-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Sunnymede Fort Smith
Thank you.
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
On Saturday, April 18, 2026, 11:59 AM, Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
Did a spur of the moment trip this morning. Eight birders gathered in the cold, wind, and cloudy conditions, and had a great time. “Serious” birders my crew are not. Why birding is good for the soul? So much laughter. A little over a mile walk in a little over an hour produced 56ish species. New birders joined seasoned birders and got life birds. Best of the list included flyovers Peregrine Falcon, Ibis species, Little Blue Heron, Caspian Tern. Any day is a great day when one gets a Pergrine. Songbirds were very quiet because it was so windy. Harris’s, White-crowned, Lincoln’s, Savannah, and White-Throated Sparrows were still about. Common Yellow-throat and Yellow-rumped were the only Warblers seen.
Sandy BFort Smith
Date: 4/18/26 11:10 am From: Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Bald Knob NWR This Morning
Nothing as exciting as what they've found in the western side of our state but ...6 White-faced Ibis, last seen in Cell 2. 7 Sora, out feeding in the open in Cell 2.A juvenile Herring Gull which didn't really stick around. Hundreds of swallows.20+ Black-necked Stilt.Someone photographed a Black-crowned Night-heron yesterday.And all the other expected stuff.Cell info attached.Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners
-------- Original message --------From: Matthew Matlock <mnmatlock94...> Date: 4/18/26 11:02 AM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Re: Frog Bayou Shorebirds (Crawford Co) Oops yes White-faced Ibis! LolWe did have 1 Glossy Ibis too 🤓On Sat, Apr 18, 2026 at 10:55 AM Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:Do you mean White-faced Ibis? Cause I thought “Did avocet get split”? 😄SandyOn Sat, Apr 18, 2026 at 8:32 AM Matthew Matlock <mnmatlock94...> wrote:Great day for shorebirds so far at Frog Bayou (sharp Chapel rd)- mostly in units 13 and 6https://maps.app.goo.gl/uxg34bVHQHJzE5VE6?g_st=ic10 HUDSONIAN GODWIT36 AMERICAN AVOCET28 WHITE-FACED AVOCETDunlin Stilt SandpiperWestern SandpiperBlack-necked StiltRecommend tall waterproof boots when you walk the levees with tall grassHaven’t relocated the godwits or ibis, they were fly through and landed in different unit here.
Date: 4/18/26 9:59 am From: Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> Subject: Sunnymede Fort Smith
Did a spur of the moment trip this morning. Eight birders gathered in the
cold, wind, and cloudy conditions, and had a great time. “Serious” birders
my crew are not. Why birding is good for the soul? So much laughter.
A little over a mile walk in a little over an hour produced 56ish species.
New birders joined seasoned birders and got life birds.
Best of the list included flyovers Peregrine Falcon, Ibis species, Little
Blue Heron, Caspian Tern. Any day is a great day when one gets a Pergrine.
Songbirds were very quiet because it was so windy. Harris’s, White-crowned,
Lincoln’s, Savannah, and White-Throated Sparrows were still about. Common
Yellow-throat and Yellow-rumped were the only Warblers seen.
On Sat, Apr 18, 2026 at 11:02 AM Matthew Matlock <mnmatlock94...>
wrote:
> Oops yes White-faced Ibis! Lol
>
> We did have 1 Glossy Ibis too 🤓
>
> On Sat, Apr 18, 2026 at 10:55 AM Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
>
>> Do you mean White-faced Ibis? Cause I thought “Did avocet get split”? 😄
>>
>> Sandy
>>
>> On Sat, Apr 18, 2026 at 8:32 AM Matthew Matlock <mnmatlock94...>
>> wrote:
>>
>>> Great day for shorebirds so far at Frog Bayou (sharp Chapel rd)
>>> - mostly in units 13 and 6
>>>
>>> https://maps.app.goo.gl/uxg34bVHQHJzE5VE6?g_st=ic >>>
>>> 10 HUDSONIAN GODWIT
>>> 36 AMERICAN AVOCET
>>> 28 WHITE-FACED AVOCET
>>> Dunlin
>>> Stilt Sandpiper
>>> Western Sandpiper
>>> Black-necked Stilt
>>>
>>> Recommend tall waterproof boots when you walk the levees with tall grass
>>>
>>> Haven’t relocated the godwits or ibis, they were fly through and landed
>>> in different unit here.
>>>
>>> ------------------------------
>>>
>>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>>
>>
Date: 4/18/26 9:02 am From: Matthew Matlock <mnmatlock94...> Subject: Re: Frog Bayou Shorebirds (Crawford Co)
Oops yes White-faced Ibis! Lol
We did have 1 Glossy Ibis too 🤓
On Sat, Apr 18, 2026 at 10:55 AM Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
> Do you mean White-faced Ibis? Cause I thought “Did avocet get split”? 😄
>
> Sandy
>
> On Sat, Apr 18, 2026 at 8:32 AM Matthew Matlock <mnmatlock94...>
> wrote:
>
>> Great day for shorebirds so far at Frog Bayou (sharp Chapel rd)
>> - mostly in units 13 and 6
>>
>> https://maps.app.goo.gl/uxg34bVHQHJzE5VE6?g_st=ic >>
>> 10 HUDSONIAN GODWIT
>> 36 AMERICAN AVOCET
>> 28 WHITE-FACED AVOCET
>> Dunlin
>> Stilt Sandpiper
>> Western Sandpiper
>> Black-necked Stilt
>>
>> Recommend tall waterproof boots when you walk the levees with tall grass
>>
>> Haven’t relocated the godwits or ibis, they were fly through and landed
>> in different unit here.
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>
Do you mean White-faced Ibis? Cause I thought “Did avocet get split”? 😄
Sandy
On Sat, Apr 18, 2026 at 8:32 AM Matthew Matlock <mnmatlock94...>
wrote:
> Great day for shorebirds so far at Frog Bayou (sharp Chapel rd)
> - mostly in units 13 and 6
>
> https://maps.app.goo.gl/uxg34bVHQHJzE5VE6?g_st=ic >
> 10 HUDSONIAN GODWIT
> 36 AMERICAN AVOCET
> 28 WHITE-FACED AVOCET
> Dunlin
> Stilt Sandpiper
> Western Sandpiper
> Black-necked Stilt
>
> Recommend tall waterproof boots when you walk the levees with tall grass
>
> Haven’t relocated the godwits or ibis, they were fly through and landed in
> different unit here.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Date: 4/17/26 10:36 am From: Taylor Long <00001397303cad80-dmarc-request...> Subject: NWAAS May Field Trips: Devil's Den, Coler, Ninestone
Greetings Birders,
In addition to our new Spring Migration Bird Walk Series at Lake
Fayetteville (Apr 29 – May 17) <https://nwaas.notion.site/Spring- Migration-Bird-Walk-Series-at-Lake-Fayetteville-
32b11f0e048b80138376f21434fc2fed?source=copy_link>, the Northwest
Arkansas Audubon Society will also be offering MORE May field trips, led
my an increasing number of local birders stepping up to lead outings. We
have TWO different offerings on May 2nd to catch the PEAK of Spring
migration; so whether you live closer to Bentonville or Fayetteville,
you'll have a nearby birding outing to join. Then, on May 9th, you can
celebrate World Migratory Bird Day and Global Big Day at the
incomparably beautiful Ninestone Land Trust.
Remember to RSVP to any trip you plan to attend. Email to
<trips...> <mailto:<trips...> so we know how
many to expect. In your email, please include your name and the total
number in your party.
Birders Weekend at Devil's Den - Saturday, May 2nd, 2026
The Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society and Devil's Den State Park will
host a field trip on Saturday, May 2, 2026, starting at 8:00 AM. This
walk is part of Devil’s Den’s Annual Birder Weekend that takes place May
1-3, and will be led by NWA birder Robert Peck. This is peak migration,
so we’ll be on the lookout for all the dazzling warblers, tanagers,
vireos, and other migrant birds that can be seen at this time of year.
Expect to walk ~1 mile on paved surfaces. Meet in the parking area at
the lower Devil's Den Trailhead on the south side of Lee Creek bridge on
Saturday morning at 8:00 AM (GPS: 35.781349, -94.249876
<https://goo.gl/maps/LMGFGz9pfbvTvRNc6>). The walk generally lasts a
couple of hours.
Early-bird option at Mayfield Area (6:30 AM): For early-birds looking to
take full advantage of the dawn chorus, meet at 6:30 AM in the Mayfield
Area on the South side of Devil’s Den just before the bridge over Ellis
Creek. We’ll explore this open scrubby meadow for local specialties like
Blue Grosbeak, Yellow-breasted Chat, and Prairie Warbler. Expect a short
hour-long stroll over uneven terrain and wet grass (hiking books /
insect repellant recommended). Meet at 6:30 AM in the parking lot for
Devil’s Racetrack Campground (GPS: 35.77050, -94.26804
<https://maps.app.goo.gl/KwwVLzefbeTP8fTM9>). We’ll wrap up by 7:30 AM
and head over to the Lee Creek bridge to start the main portion of the
bird outing at 8:00 AM.
More details... <https://nwaas.notion.site/Birders-Weekend-at-Devil-s- Den-32b11f0e048b80b7998de4bd7faa6897>
Spring Migration at Coler Preserve - Saturday, May 2nd, 2026
Coler Mountain Biking Preserve is a major mountain biking destination in
Bentonville, but it’s also a great place to bird, with pleasant walking
trails through great bird habitat and even a coffee shop inside. Join
Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society on the morning of May 2, 2026 at 8:00
AM for a birding outing at Coler, led my Bentonville local birder Adam
Schaffer. This is peak migration, so we’ll be on the lookout for all the
dazzling warblers, tanagers, vireos, and other migrant birds that can be
seen at this time of year. Meet at the Coler Grove Parking lot on the
South side of the preserve (GPS: 36.37681, -94.23983
<https://maps.app.goo.gl/5voQVGXmh2CsRoym8?g_st=im>). Expect to walk 2
miles over 2-3 hours on paved trails shared by pedestrians and bikers.
The first section is steep getting down to the main trail, then
relatively flat for the remainder of the walk. We’ll head North until we
reach Airship Coffee where we’ll pause for an optional refreshment and
restroom before turning back.
More details... <https://nwaas.notion.site/Spring-Migration-at-Coler- Preserve-32b11f0e048b805da39fd0e148b550b6>
Spring at Ninestone Land Trust - Saturday, May 9th, 2026
Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society will host a spring migration hike
around Ninestone Land Trust in Carroll County (GPS: 36.227713, -
93.547752 <https://goo.gl/maps/A7a3uL13nuBXR85e7>) on Saturday, May 9th,
at 9:00 AM. An affiliate of the Ozark Land Trust, Ninestone protects 412
acres of unique and valuable habitats: a waterfall that cascades over
sandstone kettles into Piney Creek, classical Ozark upland fields,
sandstone glades, soaring bluff lines, stands of mixed hardwoods and
native shortleaf pines. Ninestone founder and steward Judy Griffith will
lead participants on a hike to identify and enjoy migrating birds and
other native flora and insects, enjoy Piney Creek and picturesque
bluffs, and visit glade restoration areas. Expect the hike to cover ~1.5
miles across a mix of formal and informal soft-surface trails. Some
walking near high cliff areas and moderate scrambling over boulders is
involved in completing the hike loop, but participants are welcome to
turn back at any point and enjoy the waterfall from the comfort of the
porch. After the hike, we’ll have lunch overlooking the waterfall, so
bring food for yourself and/or something to share with others.
More details... <https://nwaas.notion.site/Spring-at-Ninestone-Land- Trust-32611f0e048b80ed9f56d8b5a3f3efc1>
Happy Spring Migration!
-Taylor Long
NWAAS Field Trip Coordinator
<taylor.long...>
Date: 4/17/26 8:55 am From: <jwdavis...> <jwdavis...> Subject: White-eyed Vireos
White-eyed Vireos are singing this morning in my yard. They now join the Yellow-throated Vireo, Red-eyed Vireo, Eastern Warbling Vireo, and Blue-headed vireos.
The Orioles and Great Crested Flycatchers should arrive next week.
Date: 4/17/26 7:38 am From: Dedra Gerard <000002df2472bba2-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Sunnymede Park in Fort Smith
Love it!
Sent from the all new AOL app for iOS
On Thursday, April 16, 2026, 8:06 PM, Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
It rained overnight. That makes the morning after birding really good. I had 48 species this morning. We had enough rain to fill in some of the retention pond. Blue-winged Teal and a couple of Ibis were in the pond. I had great looks at a solitary Palm Warbler. That’s not one I see every year. The park was loaded with Sparrows. Clay-colored, Harris’s, Chipping, Lincoln’s, White-crowned, White-throated, Savannah, Song. Jerry Wofford found a Lark Sparrow during his walk. He also found the Ibis. There were House, Sedge, and Carolina Wrens. Five male Orchard Orioles in the same tree chattering at each other. Spied a FOS Spotted Sandpiper on a log in the river. The fields are full of vetch. There were so many Lincoln Sparrows in there I didn’t set an actual count. Lincoln Sparrows love the park. Maybe next weekend we’ll get lucky with bobolinks. I am doing a spur of the moment field trip this Saturday at 8:00. Hopefully the predicted rain will be done by then.
Sandy B.Fort Smith
Date: 4/16/26 6:06 pm From: Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> Subject: Sunnymede Park in Fort Smith
It rained overnight. That makes the morning after birding really good.
I had 48 species this morning. We had enough rain to fill in some of the
retention pond. Blue-winged Teal and a couple of Ibis were in the pond. I
had great looks at a solitary Palm Warbler. That’s not one I see every
year. The park was loaded with Sparrows. Clay-colored, Harris’s, Chipping,
Lincoln’s, White-crowned, White-throated, Savannah, Song. Jerry Wofford
found a Lark Sparrow during his walk. He also found the Ibis. There were
House, Sedge, and Carolina Wrens. Five male Orchard Orioles in the same
tree chattering at each other. Spied a FOS Spotted Sandpiper on a log in
the river.
The fields are full of vetch. There were so many Lincoln Sparrows in there
I didn’t set an actual count. Lincoln Sparrows love the park. Maybe next
weekend we’ll get lucky with bobolinks.
I am doing a spur of the moment field trip this Saturday at 8:00. Hopefully
the predicted rain will be done by then.
Date: 4/16/26 2:17 pm From: Sarah Morris <saraha.morris1...> Subject: REMINDER: ASCA Field Trip is Saturday
Hi everyone,
This is a reminder that Saturday is the Audubon Society of Central
Arkansas's (ASCA) field trip to Frog Bayou Wildlife Management Area.
All trips are open to the public. Birders of all experience levels are
welcome. You do not have to be an ASCA member to attend. People may leave a
trip at any time.
If possible, I would like a headcount of attendees. Please email or text me
at (870) 926-7127 if you plan to join us.
Sarah Morris
ASCA Field Trip Coordinator
> *2026 ASCA FIELD TRIPS*
>
>
>
> *April 18: Frog Bayou Wildlife Management Area*
>
> *Meet:* 6:30 a.m. at the Mayflower commuter lot (Exit 135 off I-40 West).
>
>
>
> Frog Bayou is a restored wetland. Migratory waterfowl are common here. The
> group will look for marsh birds such as Sora, Virginia Rail, and Least
> Bittern. Wading birds may also be seen.
>
>
>
> Walking will be on level dirt paths. If time allows, the group may also
> visit nearby birding spots. Return to Little Rock is expected by late
> afternoon.
>
>
>
> *What to bring:*
>
> · Binocular or scope (if available)
>
> · Water, snacks, and lunch
>
> *Meeting location:*
>
> For central Arkansas participants:
>
> Mayflower commuter lot at Exit 135 off I-40 West
>
> GPS: 34.970470483700275, -92.41647271395294
>
>
>
> For western Arkansas participants:
>
> Meet at 8:45 a.m. at the Phillips 66 Truck Stop at Dyer Exit 20 (southside
> of I-40).
>
> GPS: 35.51288282023821, -94.11406603724042
>
> Breakfast and lunch items are available at the truck stop.
>
>
>
>
>
> *May 2: Banding Demo at Gillam Park*
>
> *Meet: *7 a.m. at Gillam Park (far parking lot)
>
>
>
> Spring migration will be underway, offering a chance to see many species,
> including warblers.
>
>
>
> Kevin Krajcir, conservation biologist with the Arkansas Natural Heritage
> Commission, will also demonstrate bird banding. He will explain how banding
> works and why it is important. Bird banding will be weather-dependent.
>
>
>
> There will be moderate walking on mostly level trails, which may be muddy.
> After Gillam Park, the group will visit the Little Rock Audubon Center,
> Industrial Harbor Road, and Terry Lock and Dam. The trip may last into
> early afternoon.
>
>
>
> *What to bring:*
>
> · Water and snacks
>
> · Sturdy walking shoes or hiking boots
>
> · Binocular
>
> *Meeting location:*
>
> Gillam Park
>
> 5300 Gillam Park Road, Little Rock
>
> GPS: 34.700823, -92.258148
>
> Directions: Take I-30 West heading south from Little Rock. Exit onto
> I-440 going towards the airport. Take Exit 1-Springer Road. At the bottom
> of the exit ramp, turn left onto Springer Road. Go one mile to just past
> the Little Rock Audubon Center and turn right onto Gillam Park Road. Follow
> it into the park to the last parking lot.
>
Last night 4/15 we also received 6/10ths inch of much needed rain south of Berryville after getting 2/10ths the previous night of 4/14.
The only newly arrived migrants I have found are Ovenbirds and Blue-winged Warblers.
Judith
Ninestone Land Trust, Carroll County
> On Apr 16, 2026, at 10:56 AM, <jwdavis...> <jwdavis...> wrote:
>
> A fast-moving violent storm came through at 4 AM this morning and dropped ½ inch of much needed rain. New arrivals today were Summer Tanagers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, joining the Yellow-throated, Red-eyed, and Blue-headed Vireos, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and others.
>
> Jerry Wayne Davis
> Hot Springs, AR
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 <http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1>
Date: 4/16/26 8:56 am From: <jwdavis...> <jwdavis...> Subject: FOS Updates
A fast-moving violent storm came through at 4 AM this morning and dropped inch of much needed rain. New arrivals today were Summer Tanagers, Yellow-rumped Warblers, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks, joining the Yellow-throated, Red-eyed, and Blue-headed Vireos, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers and others.
Date: 4/14/26 6:17 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - April 14
It was overcast, mild, and a bit windy on the bird survey today. 69 species were found. Plenty of new arrivals. Anhinga's and Neotropic Cormorants are starting to nest. Broad-winged Hawks were migrating over today in small flocks. Gallinule numbers are greatly increasing. A high flying migrating flock of 40 Black-bellied Whistling Ducks flew over headed east; probably to that pond in Tom where they feed them. Here is my list for today:
This morning around 7:20 I watched the hummer in her nest, doing something I never observe at any time other than on a Very Special Occasion. :)
99.9% of the time, if she's on the nest and moving, she's either adding material to the walls or floor, stretching it with her feet, or, after there are eggs, rotating them. But for several minutes this morning, she was in markedly restless, non-goal-directed motion, clearly uncomfortable and breathing hard. She was in labor.
At 7:30, she stood and made some subtly emphatic moves. Then, with her bill, she tended to what she'd just laid: her second egg. She sat back down, continued to breathe hard with feathers fluffed, even briefly closed her eyes. She was tired! A few minutes later she'd recovered enough to momentarily fly off. The rest of the day she commenced her first day of full-time incubation, interrupted often but briefly to nab an insect, chase off nearby songbirds or go for a quick drink at the feeders.
I was fortunate to catch the oviposition on video, and when I have more time, hopefully in the very near future, I'll upload it to YouTube.
As I'd guessed, her first egg was laid on ~Nest Day 5 (4/10). She began partial incubation yesterday, which is also the day she would have sought out a male to fertilize Egg 2. Her schedule is typical for RTHUs, and essentially identical to that of the bird I documented in 2022, when I was also able to film the laying of the second egg.
Having too much fun,
Janine PerlmanAlexander Mt.,Saline Co.
Date: 4/12/26 3:00 pm From: Taylor Long <00001397303cad80-dmarc-request...> Subject: Spring Migration Bird Walk Series at Lake Fayetteville: Apr 29 – May 17
Greetings Birders,
This Spring, the Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society is trying something
new: we're introducing the Spring Migration Bird Walk Series at Lake
Fayetteville — casual, drop-in morning walks led by local birders at one
of the best all-around birding hotspots in NWA. We'll be meeting every
Wednesday, Friday, and Sunday from April 29 through May 17 to catch the
peak of spring migration as warblers and other travelers pass through.
Meet us at the North Shore Disc Golf Course parking lot (GPS: 36.13853,
-94.13505 <https://maps.app.goo.gl/qpuGfmXVB5GDHTxG9>) at 6:30 AM — no
registration, no experience needed, just bring your binoculars and a
sense of curiosity. We'd love to see you out there!
Route: The walks will generally be a slow 1-2 mile ramble on uneven dirt
paths and mowed fields. The group will always head East from the parking
lot via the tree line along the North side of the lake. Depending on
timing and activity, we usually make it to somewhere near the ONSC
Environmental Center before turning back towards the parking lot.
Drop in and out: If you arrive late, it should be pretty easy to connect
with the group by following the shoreline trees East and looking for
folks with binoculars. We’ll aim to return the parking lot by 8:30 AM by
you can always leave earlier (or stay later) if desired.
Schedule:
Walk 1 - Wed, Apr 29, 6:30 AM - Leader: Robert Peck
Walk 2 - Fri, May 1, 6:30 AM - Leader: Taylor Long
Walk 3 - Sun, May 3, 6:30 AM - Leader: Lauren Eno
Walk 4 - Wed, May 6, 6:30 AM - Leader: Robert Peck
Walk 5 - Fri, May 8, 6:30 AM - Leader: Kenny Younger
Walk 6 - Sun, May 10, 6:30 AM - Leader: Josh Matlock
Walk 7 - Wed, May 13, 6:30 AM - Leader: Robert Peck
Walk 8 - Fri, May 15, 6:30 AM - Leader: Taylor Long
Walk 9 - Sun, May 17, 6:30 AM - Leader: Josh Matlock
eBird checklists: The leader for each walk will make an eBird checklist
to document all the birds we see or hear. If you’d like to be included
on the checklist, please share your email address or eBird username with
the leader before you depart. Each checklist from this series will be
summarized into an eBird Trip Report:
<https://ebird.org/tripreport/491308>
Inclement weather plan
If there’s heavy rain and/or lighting in the forecast for the morning,
consider these trips cancelled. We won’t make any special announcement
about cancellations, so use your best judgement.
Date: 4/12/26 9:58 am From: Lynn Foster <lfoster5211...> Subject: Last Call for the Spring Convention--And Membership Renewal
Dear Arkansas Birders,
If you haven't registered yet, here's your reminder of our upcoming convention in Ft. Smith in 2 weeks, April 24-26, 2026! Spring migration will be in earnest, and our field trips look stupendous!!! Ragan Sutterfield and Ragupathy Kannan will be our evening speakers, presenting great topics. For more about the convention program and field trips, click here <https://arbirds.org/AAS/MeetingDetails.aspx?id=24>.
*If you want meals during the convention, we will need your registration by Tuesday, April 14 to get final meal counts to the hotel by Wednesday. Register here <https://arbirds.org/AAS/Registration.aspx?id=24>. *
Of course, you can register later, but we can't guarantee meals after the 14 th.
Excited to see you shortly,
Cheryl Johnson AAS VP
<cjbluebird...>
PS--If you're a member but didn't receive an email today from AAS about the convention, make sure you've paid your dues for 2026! All non-renewing members have now been dropped from the email list. We hope you'll renew for 2026! AAS will be working on some exciting projects this year!
Date: 4/12/26 8:26 am From: <jwdavis...> <jwdavis...> Subject: First of Season
The Northern Parula arrived yesterday, and the Yellow-throated Vireo and Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are singing this morning. Orioles are in the state and my feeders have been out since Friday but none in my yard yet.
Date: 4/12/26 6:24 am From: Brian Carlson <brianrcarlson...> Subject: Snake and Honey Comb
I went birding yesterday at Citadel Bluff Park which is north of Cecil, AR on the south side of the Arkansas River. I saw a very large snake that initially I thought was a Cottonmouth, but I posted a photo of it on INaturalist and a couple people identified it as a Diamondback Water Snake. Later during my birding walk out there I almost did step on a Cottonmouth and saw another one after that along the path. Then I saw an old snag with some honey comb and bees buzzing around it. I wonder if the honey is any good? No way I would dare to try to get it though for fear of getting stung, falling and breaking my neck or stepping on a Cottonmouth in trying to access that tree. Those bees are safe from me 🙂.
Yesterday I decided to check out Smith Creek Preserve for the first time. I only hiked down to the bridge and back so did not explore too much of it, but I enjoyed that area very much. Then I drove towards Boxley and headed up Forest Road 5 (Cave MTN Rd) until it connected to HWY 16 and then I drove to Cherry Bend Recreation Area to finish up the day of birding. It was a very pleasant day in the mountains.
Date: 4/11/26 10:45 am From: Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Bald Knob NWR Youth Hunt
Apparently this is a statewide event, so be sure to check your local refuge for potential closures.Patty
-------- Original message --------From: Patty McLean <plm108...> Date: 4/11/26 12:37 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Bald Knob NWR Youth Hunt The refuge will have large sections closed this weekend for a Youth Turkey Hunt. According to Paul Provence, the Cells across from and near the silos will be accessible. Map attached. Patty McLean
Date: 4/11/26 10:37 am From: Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Bald Knob NWR Youth Hunt
The refuge will have large sections closed this weekend for a Youth Turkey Hunt. According to Paul Provence, the Cells across from and near the silos will be accessible. Map attached. Patty McLean
Aside from on RTHU of whom we only got a glimpse, all our first-arriving birds this year were females.
You may recall that from 2020 through 2022 I was incredibly fortunate to be able to watch and photograph the same RTHU (with the unique head "bump") as she created nests and reared young. I didn't see her, or other RTHUs nesting, after that.
...Until yesterday, when I spied a female working on what I estimated to be her 4th day of nest construction. She's in an oak near the "Hummer Hickory" that housed previous nests. (This year the late frost destroyed much of the foliage on that hickory.) Her nest is even closer and more accessible to photography than those were.
RTHUs have natal nest fidelity, so it's likely she's a descendant or close relative of the female I started seeing 6 years ago. If she's following the schedule of her predecessor, yesterday was indeed day 4 of her nest building, and, yep, she likely laid a first egg today, because she's spending relatively long periods sitting in the nest, while also continuing construction. If so, this is apparently another new early record for egg-laying in AR, by 8 days.
And my husband noticed that N. Cardinals are nesting in a Devil's Walking Stick directly below the hummer!
Happily,Janine PerlmanAlexander Mt., Saline Co
Date: 4/9/26 7:10 pm From: Brian Carlson <brianrcarlson...> Subject: American Bittern
I was driving along HWY 64 on Monday evening at about 7pm and happened to look over to a pond and saw what I figured had to be an American Bittern. I went looking for it again on Tuesday at about noon but did not see it. I did not really expect to, as I know that they are more active at dawn and dusk. I was driving by the same pond yesterday evening at the same time (I drive semi truck on Monday and Wednesday) and saw it again so I decided to try for it again this evening with my camera. I got parked in a safe spot and got into position along the highway and waited. My patience paid off as it popped up at about 720pm and I got some photos and videos. I made a YouTube video. Here is the link for those who might be interested. It is not in a spot that is very safe or easy for a bunch of people to try for but I did try and got lucky.
Date: 4/9/26 5:56 pm From: Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> Subject: Field Trip with Birding in and Around Fort Smith group
This Saturday we are meeting at the Alma McDonald’s at 7:00 a.m. We will be
heading south just a few miles to Frog Bayou WMA and the surrounding area.
Join us if you can.
Date: 4/9/26 1:45 pm From: <jwdavis...> <jwdavis...> Subject: Re: Birding Festival of the South
You are right, those that know anything about birds know that this is the worst time to have a birding festival. The summer migrants are gone, and winter migrants have not arrived and pretty well what is left is the resident birds. Even key birds like the Red-cockaded woodpecker that many would like to see are not nesting and could only be intercepted when leaving the roost in the early AM or returning in the late PM. In my opinion, this was conceived by those knowing nothing about birds and birding festivals and they asked birders after the fact and with no intentions to change the dates. There are some dedicated Garland County Audubon members trying to work with the City of Hot Springs to do what they can even as you say this one may have already failed. Those working more closely with the City may be able to explain why they are going ahead and having it anyway.
Jerry Wayne Davis
Hot Springs, AR
________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Donna Haynes <00000003bd9d64d2-dmarc-request...>
Sent: Thursday, April 9, 2026 1:07 PM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Birding Festival of the South
So I see that Hot Springs is still having their 1st birding Festival the first weekend of October. I've long wished Arkansas would have a birding Festival, but I feel this one has already failed. October is one of the slowest birding months of the year. I know a lot of folks expressed their concerns about these dates. Does anyone have any idea why they would still hold it that weekend even after hearing from the birding community?
Donna Haynes
West Pulaski Co.
Date: 4/9/26 1:07 pm From: Donna Haynes <00000003bd9d64d2-dmarc-request...> Subject: Birding Festival of the South
So I see that Hot Springs is still having their 1st birding Festival the first weekend of October. I've long wished Arkansas would have a birding Festival, but I feel this one has already failed. October is one of the slowest birding months of the year. I know a lot of folks expressed their concerns about these dates. Does anyone have any idea why they would still hold it that weekend even after hearing from the birding community? Donna HaynesWest Pulaski Co.
Date: 4/9/26 11:52 am From: Jerry Butler <jerrysharon.butler...> Subject: Remarkable day at North Woods
A committee of birders who are prepping for the birding festival in Hot Springs met today and had an add-on field trip in Garland County's North Woods Trail area this AM. All the regular birds were there and an abundant number of the migrants. FOS bird for many who were there Water thrushes were especially vocal. Oven birds, hooded warblers, red-eyed vireos, veerys, and a Swainson. .Got good look at a scarlet tanager that was FOs for every one there and a lifer for a few. Peace and Birds Jerry
Date: 4/9/26 11:10 am From: Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Bell Slough WMA--South Access
We had a delightful walk along the Kenny Vernon Trail this morning. While not big numbers, we heard/saw several First Of The Year birds (FOTYs). These included Prothonotary Warblers, Northern Parulas, Common Yellowthroat and several Louisiana Waterthrush. At one point, there was so much chatter among multiple Waterthrush, we assumed a female had just arrived and several males came in to woo her. Captured audio of this exchange. Other FOTYs included Red-eyed Vireo, Yellow-throated Vireo and a Swainson's Thrush, plus an abundance of Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. Many more migrants yet to arrive...any day now.AGFC has done a remarkable job enhancing the habitat along the trail. Dozens of butterfly species, several dragonflies, a "dung beetle" pushing a big load with another one following (probably a female telling him where to drop it), and wonderful flowering plants. Plus the bugs weren't bad at all. Here's info on this eBird hotspot in Faulkner County: https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L127187Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners,
Michael and I stopped by a sod farm on our way from Searcy to Conway today, hoping to find "grass pipers," especially Upland Sandpipers. We didn't find much there other than Starlings and Killdeer. But the nice surprise was seeing at least eight fresh little fluffy baby Killdeer, following their mamas as they learn to nab some tasty bugs. So cute. We were both surprised by this early date. Hats off to the sod farm for not disturbing the nests. Patty McLean and Michael LinzThe Roadrunners
Date: 4/8/26 4:54 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - April 8
It was mostly clear, mild, and a bit windy on the bird survey today. 55 species were found. New returning arrivals for the year include Purple Gallinule, White Ibis, Prothonotary Warbler, and Eastern Kingbird. Little-blue Heron, Neotropic Cormorant, and Anhinga numbers are greatly increasing with 2 Neotropic Cormorants already sitting on nests in the Otter Lake Heronry. Here is my list for today:
Date: 4/8/26 8:51 am From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: FOR BIRDS AT MT SEQUOYAH IN FAYETTEVILLE
MT SEQUOYAH in Fayetteville has long been a bird haven. Interest in birds on the mountain overlooking old downtown Fayetteville dates to the 1920s with creation of the Western Methodist Assembly. This interest continues. Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society is undertaking several projects that continue this tradition.
One project involves a Chimney Swift tower. These towers mimic mature trees that are hollow. They also mimic old fashion house chimneys. Swifts roost at night and nest during the summer in these chimneys. Research shows they readily adapt to towers.
Another project involves an array of different kinds of bird feeders. These will offer birds different types of bird food. The array will be placed in habitat suitable for the birds and for those who enjoy watching them.
There is already a lot of excellent habitat for birds on Mount Sequoyah Center, on Skyline drive around the mountain top, and down among almost 100 forested acres of Mt Sequoyah Woods on the east slope. The NWAAS-sponsored projects will add to these existing bird-friendly elements.
The swift tower will be dedicated to memory of Dr Doug James, long time professor at University of Arkansas who taught ornithology classes. Building a Chimney Swift tower was one of his goals when he was NWAAS president.
Mount Sequoyah Center has approved these projects. They will provide numerous educational opportunities .
Kelly Mulhollan (of the folk group Still on the Hill) and architect Michael Cockram (of Bowerbird Designs) teamed up for the project that resulted in Mulhollan Waterfowl Blind at Lake Fayetteville. They are teaming up again for these projects.
Kelly and Donna Mulhollan have lots of experience at managing multiple feeders. Kelly and Michael plan to build the Chimney Swift tower to fit a site that has been selected at Mt Sequoyah.
NWAAS Board estimated costs at $5,000 (this includes a contingency for unexpected costs). This should cover all, including a full year for bird feed. NWAAS is also committed to maintaining the swift tower and bird feeding station. Both will be open to the public.
Please considering donating to these projects. Its easy. Go to our web site https://nwarkaudubon.org/. Once there, look near the top for QUICK LINKS. This goes directly to a page where you DONATE to our FEATURED FUNDRAISING PROJECT using PayPal. Or you can send a check directly via US mail to our Treasurer, Bill Beall (address in on that page). All funds go directly to these projects, off the ground and flying, adding to Mt Sequoyahs existing bird-friendly environment.
Date: 4/6/26 4:13 pm From: Ragan Sutterfield <000003499a91e99c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Arkansas Big Day, May 9
On May 9, birders around the world will be in the field, attempting to see as many birds as possible as part of the Global Big Day sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. In Arkansas, we'll be joining the effort with our own version of a Big Day competition. From midnight to midnight on May 9, Arkansas Audubon with the support of Audubon Delta is encouraging teams of birders (2 or more) to embark on a day of celebrating migration and the abundance of Arkansas birds. To be an official participant in the Arkansas Big Day all you have to do is agree to abide by the big day rules and register your team below. Following the Big Day, all participants will be invited to a special Zoom awards and story telling session so we can share our adventures together and find out which team found the most birds in Arkansas on May 9. Also, stay tuned for special t-shirts coming soon.
Date: 4/6/26 7:29 am From: Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> Subject: Don Simons
Don and I go way back to sometime in the mid-90s. I was a novice but very
enthusiastic birder and was encouraged by Arkansas Audubon Society members
to become an officer. So eventually Don became president and I was his vice
president. I saw his reenactment of JJ Audubon’s travels and learned of
Don’s love of becoming a mountain man and attending rendezvous. We worked
well together and formed a friendship that lasted till he passed.
Don graciously hosted my husband and I when we took a trip to southeast
Arkansas to see the Lake Chicot area. Don worked there for many years
before moving to Mount Magazine. He took us to all the “borrow” pits along
the Mississippi. It was the first time I’d ever heard that term. He took us
to Lakeport Plantation when it was still in a major state of disrepair. We
stepped in three states where the borders touch. And best of all…he got me
my first Wood Stork and Roseate Spoonbill.
I was kind of shocked when he took the Magazine job. Such a difference in
terrain and culture from southeast Arkansas. But as you know, he did a
great job there at Magazine. So many of us added state/life birds because
he shared with us what he found on the mountain.
I didn’t get to Magazine very often, but when I did you can bet I searched
out Don. I shall miss him. Very thankful that God put him in my life for a
time.
Thank you, Lori, for taking such good care of my old friend. Many thoughts
are with you.
Date: 4/6/26 6:31 am From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Don Simons
Hawk watch with Don Simons on Mt Magazine September 29, 2017
[cid:b01ac8c5-9caf-4454-b77d-73c079fe2697]
________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Keith Hawkins <kdrjnest...>
Sent: Monday, April 6, 2026 7:38 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Don Simons
A lost treasure for sure! I am thoroughly enjoying all the reflections and memories of Don shared by our group. I feel compelled to add to the accolades. Like others, I too am grateful for the rare birds I would have never seen in Arkansas without his alertsthe Rosy Finch, the Townsend Solitaire, the Rufous-crowned Sparrow, in addition to a long list of raptors.
As most of you know Don hosted a Hawk-Watch, at Mount Magazine State Park, during fall raptor migration. I had the distinct pleasure of exposure to his knowledge, of all things in nature, for a number of years during these events. It often required a bit of probing but if a question arose all I had to do was askhe would not often offer from his deep well of knowledge. One event in particular comes to mind. There was a noisy Bee, or so I thought, fliting in and out, as we stood watch at the overlook. I asked Don, what kind of Bee is that? It sure is noisy. His reply was, it is not a Bee, it is a fly and gave me the scientific name (forgotten).
His knowledge of raptors was also amazing to me. We would spot a distant raptor and he would offer his opinion on what species we were seeing. He would run through a litany of facts and behaviors a particular species exhibited. If the bird approached close enough to pick up defining plumage details he was always correct. What a joy, what fun! I rarely saw him exhibit excitement but when a large group of birds were kettleing into a Hawknado he would get excited. The last couple of years, with him absent, have not been as much fun.
Date: 4/6/26 5:38 am From: Keith Hawkins <kdrjnest...> Subject: Don Simons
A lost treasure for sure! I am thoroughly enjoying all the reflections and memories of Don shared by our group. I feel compelled to add to the accolades. Like others, I too am grateful for the rare birds I would have never seen in Arkansas without his alerts-the Rosy Finch, the Townsend Solitaire, the Rufous-crowned Sparrow, in addition to a long list of raptors.
As most of you know Don hosted a Hawk-Watch, at Mount Magazine State Park, during fall raptor migration. I had the distinct pleasure of exposure to his knowledge, of all things in nature, for a number of years during these events. It often required a bit of probing but if a question arose all I had to do was ask-he would not often offer from his deep well of knowledge. One event in particular comes to mind. There was a noisy Bee, or so I thought, fliting in and out, as we stood watch at the overlook. I asked "Don, what kind of Bee is that? It sure is noisy". His reply was, it is not a Bee, it is a fly and gave me the scientific name (forgotten).
His knowledge of raptors was also amazing to me. We would spot a distant raptor and he would offer his opinion on what species we were seeing. He would run through a litany of facts and behaviors a particular species exhibited. If the bird approached close enough to pick up defining plumage details he was always correct. What a joy, what fun! I rarely saw him exhibit excitement but when a large group of birds were "kettleing" into a "Hawknado" he would get excited. The last couple of years, with him absent, have not been as much fun.
Date: 4/5/26 5:04 pm From: Lynn Foster <lfoster5211...> Subject: Re: Data Center at Little Rock Port Area
Carol et al.,
The Conservation Committee of the Board is working on this issue. Should it
draft something, it will be shared with members, as well as posted on our
website as all its correspondence is. Meanwhile, thanks for bringing this
issue to the attention of Arbirders.
Lynn Foster
President, Arkansas Audubon Society
On Sun 5 Apr 2026 at 6:11 p.m., Carol Joan Patterson <
<0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> I am replying to all arbird users because I don't know what particular
> individuals to contact. These Data Centers are of great concern. This
> seems like a good time for the various birding societies to work together
> to come up with a petition and other ways to bring attention to the
> situation. Various people wrote letters to editors about the dicamba
> crisis, using a form letter as a springboard. Maybe an eloquent and
> knowledgeable soul(s) could write about these Data Centers. Perhaps our
> respective board members could work on this.
>
> On Sunday, April 5, 2026 at 11:48:55 AM CDT, Patty McLean <
> <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>
> We've got the same challenge in Conway with a large data center proposed
> for Lollie Bottoms -- across from the sewer plant. Obviously, at both
> locations, they would like to use the Arkansas River to cool the equipment
> and to dump their waste water.
>
> Funnily enough, here's what AI gave me about the negative consequences of
> these large power-hungry centers:
>
> "Large data centers present several significant environmental challenges,
> primarily driven by their massive energy and water requirements.
> *1. High Energy Consumption*
>
> Data centers currently account for approximately *1.5% to 4%* of global
> electricity use, a figure projected to double by 2030 due to AI demands.
>
> - *Fossil Fuel Reliance:* Many facilities rely on local grids powered
> by coal or natural gas, increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
>
>
> - *Inundating Grids:* A single hyperscale data center can consume as
> much power as *100,000 households*, straining regional energy
> infrastructure and potentially raising costs for local residents.
>
> *2. Massive Water Usage*
>
> Cooling systems are essential to prevent servers from overheating, often
> using "evaporative cooling" which consumes vast amounts of freshwater.
>
> - *Volume:* Large centers can use up to *5 million gallons of water
> per day*—equivalent to the needs of a city of 50,000 people.
>
>
> - *Regional Stress:* Roughly two-thirds of U.S. data centers built
> since 2022 are located in water-stressed regions, competing with local
> agriculture and residential needs.
>
> *3. Electronic Waste (e-Waste)*
>
> Hardware in data centers is frequently "refreshed" every *three to five
> years* to keep up with processing advancements.
>
> - *Toxic Components:* Discarded servers and networking gear contain
> heavy metals like *lead, mercury, and cadmium*, which can leach into
> soil and groundwater if not recycled properly.
>
>
> - *Low Recycling Rates:* Globally, less than *25%* of e-waste is
> documented as properly recycled, with much of it ending up in landfills.
>
> *4. Localized Pollution*
>
> - *Air Quality:* Facilities use large diesel backup generators for
> outages. These emit *nitrogen oxides (NOx)* and particulate matter,
> which are linked to respiratory issues in nearby communities.
>
>
> - *Noise Pollution:* The constant hum from massive industrial cooling
> fans and generators can create significant noise disturbances for adjacent
> neighborhoods."
>
> The impact on birds and birders may be extreme.
>
> Patty McLean
>
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Donna Haynes <00000003bd9d64d2-dmarc-request...>
> Date: 4/3/26 6:42 PM (GMT-06:00)
> To: <ARBIRD-L...>
> Subject: Data Center at Little Rock Port Area
>
> Is anyone writing letters, showing up at meetings, doing petitions
> regarding the proposed Google Data Center at the Little Rock Port Area? I
> have read public comments are open until April 24, but I have yet to find
> where to submit public comments.
> On a side note it is called Project Boar. I find that fitting since like
> Wild Boars, Data Centers are invasive and destructive to native habitats
> and their animal and human residents.
> Donna Haynes
> West Pulaski Co.
>
> Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
> <https://mail.onelink.me/107872968?pid=nativeplacement&c=US_Acquisition_YMktg_315_SearchOrgConquer_EmailSignature&af_sub1=Acquisition&af_sub2=US_YMktg&af_sub3=&af_sub4=100002039&af_sub5=C01_Email_Static_&af_ios_store_cpp=0c38e4b0-a27e-40f9-a211-f4e2de32ab91&af_android_url=https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?<id...>&listing=search_organize_conquer> >
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> ------------------------------
>
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> ------------------------------
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Date: 4/5/26 4:11 pm From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Data Center at Little Rock Port Area
I am replying to all arbird users because I don't know what particular individuals to contact. These Data Centers are of great concern. This seems like a good time for the various birding societies to work together to come up with a petition and other ways to bring attention to the situation. Various people wrote letters to editors about the dicamba crisis, using a form letter as a springboard. Maybe an eloquent and knowledgeable soul(s) could write about these Data Centers. Perhaps our respective board members could work on this.
On Sunday, April 5, 2026 at 11:48:55 AM CDT, Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> wrote:
We've got the same challenge in Conway with a large data center proposed for Lollie Bottoms -- across from the sewer plant. Obviously, at both locations, they would like to use the Arkansas River to cool the equipment and to dump their waste water.
Funnily enough, here's what AI gave me about the negative consequences of these large power-hungry centers:
"Large data centers present several significant environmental challenges, primarily driven by their massive energy and water requirements.
1. High Energy Consumption
Data centers currently account for approximately 1.5% to 4% of global electricity use, a figure projected to double by 2030 due to AI demands.
- Fossil Fuel Reliance: Many facilities rely on local grids powered by coal or natural gas, increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
- Inundating Grids: A single hyperscale data center can consume as much power as 100,000 households, straining regional energy infrastructure and potentially raising costs for local residents.
2. Massive Water Usage
Cooling systems are essential to prevent servers from overheating, often using "evaporative cooling" which consumes vast amounts of freshwater.
- Volume: Large centers can use up to 5 million gallons of water per day—equivalent to the needs of a city of 50,000 people.
- Regional Stress: Roughly two-thirds of U.S. data centers built since 2022 are located in water-stressed regions, competing with local agriculture and residential needs.
3. Electronic Waste (e-Waste)
Hardware in data centers is frequently "refreshed" every three to five years to keep up with processing advancements.
- Toxic Components: Discarded servers and networking gear contain heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can leach into soil and groundwater if not recycled properly.
- Low Recycling Rates: Globally, less than 25% of e-waste is documented as properly recycled, with much of it ending up in landfills.
4. Localized Pollution
- Air Quality: Facilities use large diesel backup generators for outages. These emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter, which are linked to respiratory issues in nearby communities.
- Noise Pollution: The constant hum from massive industrial cooling fans and generators can create significant noise disturbances for adjacent neighborhoods."
The impact on birds and birders may be extreme.
Patty McLean
-------- Original message --------From: Donna Haynes <00000003bd9d64d2-dmarc-request...> Date: 4/3/26 6:42 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Data Center at Little Rock Port Area
Is anyone writing letters, showing up at meetings, doing petitions regarding the proposed Google Data Center at the Little Rock Port Area? I have read public comments are open until April 24, but I have yet to find where to submit public comments.On a side note it is called Project Boar. I find that fitting since like Wild Boars, Data Centers are invasive and destructive to native habitats and their animal and human residents. Donna Haynes West Pulaski Co.
Date: 4/5/26 3:46 pm From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Don Simons
I remember with happiness the thrilling adventure to find the Townsend's Solitaire. It is such a lovely bird.
I am very sad over the loss of Don. Another wonderful pillar of the birding community gone.
On Thursday, April 2, 2026 at 07:48:57 PM CDT, Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Some may enjoy this memory of a fun day in the field with Don Simons. Originally posted to ARBIRD list.
WITH DON SIMONS ON TOSO TRAIL January 18, 2018For several years running now, one of Arkansas’s coveted, rare, and must-see birds are the Townsend’s Solitaires (TOSOs) found several years ago at Mount Magazine State Park by park interpreter Don Simons. At least one bird is wintering this winter. David Oakley and I saw it this morning, with help from Don, of course.TOSOs aren’t rare where they nest in the montane west, but if you want to see one in January, get ready for a long trip: 400+ miles out to deep canyons in the Black Mesa country of far western Oklahoma. Or for the past few years, Mt Magazine State Park, where Don has found several in winter along breath-taking, rocky, cedar-clad south-facing blufflines. Places where Greater Roadrunners stroll rocks and balance courtesy of long expressive tails and sturdy footwork courtesy of dos execues toes. Rock hoppers they are, with long swishy tails. A bird with a real tale and a real tail to tell it with (my apologies to Lawrence Ferlinghetti).David and I met Don at the visitor center this morning. Within a few minutes we were out in the field, and hot on the solitaire trail. We had great looks at both male and female Purple Finches. There were Dark-eyed Juncos, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-rumped Warblers, a flock of Eastern Bluebirds, musical Blue Jays, and a flock of American Robins.We walked the trail below the bluffline and saw a Hermit Thrush. The roadrunner easily remained far enough ahead David couldn’t get a photograph. Then we saw Townsend’s Solitaire perched high in a leafless tree, above a big old cedar. It looked this way. It looked that way. And so did we.John Kirk Townsend found one in Oregon, in 1835 and Audubon described it and named it in Townsend’s honor in 1838. A little less than 200 years later, we are all in for this little bluebird relative that now thanks to Don is also part of the story of birds in Arkansas.How enthusiastic are we about this? It’s 110 miles, give or take, from Fayetteville to this Arkansas rarity.Watching Townsend’s this morning, I was also thinking about Don and government employees like him who so freely share their passions and interests. He came to Arkansas parks in 1981 and to Magazine in 2000. What a gift it is to the people of Arkansas, hungry to learn more about their state, and then run into someone like Don.Standing in the welcome flood of this morning’s sunshine and rising temp, I was also in the middle of being thankful. Then Townsend’s dropped back into the cedar thicket and out-of-sight. No problem here. I got to see The Bird, with its trademark eye ring, and I thought about that all the way back to Fayetteville.
Date: 4/5/26 9:48 am From: Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Data Center at Little Rock Port Area
We've got the same challenge in Conway with a large data center proposed for Lollie Bottoms -- across from the sewer plant. Obviously, at both locations, they would like to use the Arkansas River to cool the equipment and to dump their waste water.Funnily enough, here's what AI gave me about the negative consequences of these large power-hungry centers: "Large data centers present several significant environmental challenges, primarily driven by their massive energy and water requirements.
1. High Energy Consumption
Data centers currently account for approximately 1.5% to 4% of global electricity use, a figure projected to double by 2030 due to AI demands.
Fossil Fuel Reliance: Many facilities rely on local grids powered by coal or natural gas, increasing greenhouse gas emissions.
Inundating Grids: A single hyperscale data center can consume as much power as 100,000 households, straining regional energy infrastructure and potentially raising costs for local residents.
2. Massive Water Usage
Cooling systems are essential to prevent servers from overheating, often using "evaporative cooling" which consumes vast amounts of freshwater.
Volume: Large centers can use up to 5 million gallons of water per day—equivalent to the needs of a city of 50,000 people.
Regional Stress: Roughly two-thirds of U.S. data centers built since 2022 are located in water-stressed regions, competing with local agriculture and residential needs.
3. Electronic Waste (e-Waste)
Hardware in data centers is frequently "refreshed" every three to five years to keep up with processing advancements.
Toxic Components: Discarded servers and networking gear contain heavy metals like lead, mercury, and cadmium, which can leach into soil and groundwater if not recycled properly.
Low Recycling Rates: Globally, less than 25% of e-waste is documented as properly recycled, with much of it ending up in landfills.
4. Localized Pollution
Air Quality: Facilities use large diesel backup generators for outages. These emit nitrogen oxides (NOx) and particulate matter, which are linked to respiratory issues in nearby communities.
Noise Pollution: The constant hum from massive industrial cooling fans and generators can create significant noise disturbances for adjacent neighborhoods."
The impact on birds and birders may be extreme.Patty McLean
-------- Original message --------From: Donna Haynes <00000003bd9d64d2-dmarc-request...> Date: 4/3/26 6:42 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Data Center at Little Rock Port Area Is anyone writing letters, showing up at meetings, doing petitions regarding the proposed Google Data Center at the Little Rock Port Area? I have read public comments are open until April 24, but I have yet to find where to submit public comments.On a side note it is called Project Boar. I find that fitting since like Wild Boars, Data Centers are invasive and destructive to native habitats and their animal and human residents. Donna Haynes West Pulaski Co. Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
Date: 4/5/26 9:28 am From: Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Bald Knob NWR Update
Heard from Daniel Denman that rails (Sora and Virginia), Dunlin and BLACK-NECKED STILTS are spending time in Cell 2 (see attached map). He also found four American Bittern in the Lottery Draw field, immediately west of Overflow Creek. He mentioned that the farmers have plowed all the fields to the east of Coal Chute over to Ditch 13. This might account for all the bittern being seen in the smaller field and the rails in Cell 2.Hope you all find Peace and many Blessings on this special and lovely day. Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners
A few of us ventured out in the afternoon showers to see what the rain brought in. Cody Massery went to Atkins Bottoms and saw over 50 UPLAND SANDPIPERS, a good number of American Golden-plovers, several BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS and at least one BAIRD'S SANDPIPER. We went to Lollie Bottoms where the Horned Larks were singing and singing. Here we found a few BLACK-BELLIED PLOVERS mixed in with several American Golden-plovers and Pectoral Sandpipers. And, with the eagle eyes of Roger Massey, we finally saw an UPLAND SANDPIPER. Roger had earlier managed to find at least 5 Uplands but we were happy to see our one.So thankful for the rain. While not nearly enough, it was certainly a relief to get it today. Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners
AAS received the following email today. We're passing it on to you, and
urge anyone interested to follow up.
*Good morning,*
*My name is Logan Parker and I'm the coordinator for the Nightjar Survey
Network (the U.S. half of the North American Nightjar Survey
<https://naturecounts.ca/nc/nightjars/main.jsp>). I’m reaching out hoping
you might be able to help me connect with potential volunteers in Arkansas
who might be interested in participating in the upcoming 2026 nightjar
survey season.*
*Each year, community scientists across the country contribute to
monitoring populations of whip-poor-wills, nighthawks, and other nightjars
through standardized roadside surveys. These data are critical for tracking
long-term population trends and informing conservation efforts.*
*We would greatly appreciate your help sharing this opportunity with your
members and regional contacts to help us increase participation in your
state. Volunteers can learn more and sign up at nightjars.org
<https://nightjar.org>, where they’ll find training resources, survey
protocols, and how to sign up for a survey route.*
*These surveys offer a unique chance to experience these remarkable
nocturnal birds while contributing meaningful data to conservation.*
*Please let me know if you have any questions or would like any additional
materials to help with outreach. Many thanks for your consideration! *
Date: 4/3/26 4:42 pm From: Donna Haynes <00000003bd9d64d2-dmarc-request...> Subject: Data Center at Little Rock Port Area
Is anyone writing letters, showing up at meetings, doing petitions regarding the proposed Google Data Center at the Little Rock Port Area? I have read public comments are open until April 24, but I have yet to find where to submit public comments.On a side note it is called Project Boar. I find that fitting since like Wild Boars, Data Centers are invasive and destructive to native habitats and their animal and human residents. Donna Haynes West Pulaski Co.
Date: 4/3/26 3:15 pm From: Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Another Don Simon story from a past ARBIRD post
What a nice story! Here are photos of the bird Don found. https://ebird.org/checklist/S10663005 On Friday, 3 April 2026 at 05:09:39 pm GMT-5, Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> wrote:
WAITING FOR ROSY-FINCH, OR SOMETHING LIKE May 11, 2012
Like (a-la-Facebook) Don Simon's excitement in his post to ARBIRD-L on May 6: "You are going to think I am crazy, but I just saw and photographed a GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH next to the visitor center parking lot here at Mount Magazine State Park!!!!" It's a Western bird of high elevation. Doug James' take on this: A bird that inhabits the highest Rockies has found the highest place in Arkansas. First State Record for Arkansas. The Birds of North America account terms rosy-finches, "extreme-environment specialists. . . craggy breeding sites . . . austere habitats . . . possibly the highest-altitude breeding bird in North America." Don's post comes in a little after 11:00 AM Sunday. Before another gorgeous Magazine sunset, a bunch of eager-birders have rushed the mountain (you snooze, you lose). Meanwhile, I have rosy-finch whirling an endless loop. My brain turns to mush. My calendar is full 'til Wednesday, but then I'm out the door at 4:30 AM and arrive atop this surprising, temporary rosy-finch-land before 7 AM. I've got binoculars, scope, and camera, but where is the bird, exactly? I'm blank from rosy-finch fever. Fortunately, David Oakley answers his cell. "AT THE VISITOR CENTER. STAND AT THE DOOR AND LOOK AT 2:00 O'CLOCK!!!!" By 7:30 AM, I have rosy-finch, at 4:00 o'clock, in a bright yellow patch of Krigia flowers growing on a rocky bulldozed scrape. It's a miracle! By around 9, traffic is picking up. Avian supporting cast behind rosy-finch includes Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Tennessee Warbler, Swainson's and Wood Thrushes, Ovenbird, Scarlet Tanager. Mitchell Pruitt is headed here from Jonesboro. Maybe it's 9:30 or so. A couple from Oklahoma walks over where I'm watching. They are also in the bird business -- growing chickens -- and curious about rosy-finch, 10 feet away, beak full of attractive yellow Krigia flowers. My pointing-out finger is deployed. At that moment, I see Mitchell and others pulling in. Rosy-finch starts and flies. Mitchell asks, "Is it still here?" YES, I answer. We pile down on a big rock in the shade, Krigia patch in full view, to wait. A motorcycle guy with a shiny skin head and black leather walks up and politely asks, "Is the little bird still here?" We wait. Maybe a short break might help? We drive a couple of miles from the visitor center to the hand glider site for Rufous-crowned Sparrow, another Westerner of severe rocky habitats, singing when we arrive. We have great views! My phone suddenly rings. It's Carolyn Minson, in Waldron. She is waiting there with a group from Hot Springs Village, for ME, who had agreed to lead them on a Wednesday afternoon field trip! I'm dumbfounded, obviously feverish. Carolyn is graceful. Back at the rock, Ed Laster, who has ridden his motorcycle here for rosy-finch, tells me he learned his birds from JoAnne Rife and Sally Jo Gibson in his Harrison years. When a big mower fires up, Edie Calaway runs over to the driver. "You can't mow here there's a rare bird from the Rockies and you'll take away all its food." They readily and gracefully move to another job. We wait. I spot the bird across the street. Close inspection reveals I've found a Brown-headed Cowbird. More fever. NOON -- no rosy-finch. ONE O’CLOCK -- no rosy-finch. As wind comes up, we give up. Mitchell, who in his 2011 Big Year tallied 308 species in the state of Arkansas, takes disappointment in stride. An Io Moth by the front door visitor center shows colorful bull's-eye eyespots. Mitchell collects images, terming this a consolation prize.
Date: 4/3/26 3:09 pm From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Another Don Simon story from a past ARBIRD post
WAITING FOR ROSY-FINCH, OR SOMETHING LIKE May 11, 2012
Like (a-la-Facebook) Don Simon's excitement in his post to ARBIRD-L on May 6: "You are going to think I am crazy, but I just saw and photographed a GRAY-CROWNED ROSY-FINCH next to the visitor center parking lot here at Mount Magazine State Park!!!!"
It's a Western bird of high elevation. Doug James' take on this: A bird that inhabits the highest Rockies has found the highest place in Arkansas. First State Record for Arkansas. The Birds of North America account terms rosy-finches, "extreme-environment specialists. . . craggy breeding sites . . . austere habitats . . . possibly the highest-altitude breeding bird in North America."
Don's post comes in a little after 11:00 AM Sunday. Before another gorgeous Magazine sunset, a bunch of eager-birders have rushed the mountain (you snooze, you lose). Meanwhile, I have rosy-finch whirling an endless loop. My brain turns to mush.
My calendar is full 'til Wednesday, but then I'm out the door at 4:30 AM and arrive atop this surprising, temporary rosy-finch-land before 7 AM. I've got binoculars, scope, and camera, but where is the bird, exactly? I'm blank from rosy-finch fever. Fortunately, David Oakley answers his cell. "AT THE VISITOR CENTER. STAND AT THE DOOR AND LOOK AT 2:00 O'CLOCK!!!!"
By 7:30 AM, I have rosy-finch, at 4:00 o'clock, in a bright yellow patch of Krigia flowers growing on a rocky bulldozed scrape. It's a miracle!
By around 9, traffic is picking up. Avian supporting cast behind rosy-finch includes Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Tennessee Warbler, Swainson's and Wood Thrushes, Ovenbird, Scarlet Tanager. Mitchell Pruitt is headed here from Jonesboro.
Maybe it's 9:30 or so. A couple from Oklahoma walks over where I'm watching. They are also in the bird business -- growing chickens -- and curious about rosy-finch, 10 feet away, beak full of attractive yellow Krigia flowers. My pointing-out finger is deployed.
At that moment, I see Mitchell and others pulling in. Rosy-finch starts and flies. Mitchell asks, "Is it still here?" YES, I answer. We pile down on a big rock in the shade, Krigia patch in full view, to wait. A motorcycle guy with a shiny skin head and black leather walks up and politely asks, "Is the little bird still here?"
We wait. Maybe a short break might help? We drive a couple of miles from the visitor center to the hand glider site for Rufous-crowned Sparrow, another Westerner of severe rocky habitats, singing when we arrive. We have great views! My phone suddenly rings.
It's Carolyn Minson, in Waldron. She is waiting there with a group from Hot Springs Village, for ME, who had agreed to lead them on a Wednesday afternoon field trip! I'm dumbfounded, obviously feverish. Carolyn is graceful.
Back at the rock, Ed Laster, who has ridden his motorcycle here for rosy-finch, tells me he learned his birds from JoAnne Rife and Sally Jo Gibson in his Harrison years.
When a big mower fires up, Edie Calaway runs over to the driver. "You can't mow here there's a rare bird from the Rockies and you'll take away all its food." They readily and gracefully move to another job. We wait.
I spot the bird across the street. Close inspection reveals I've found a Brown-headed Cowbird. More fever.
NOON -- no rosy-finch. ONE OCLOCK -- no rosy-finch. As wind comes up, we give up. Mitchell, who in his 2011 Big Year tallied 308 species in the state of Arkansas, takes disappointment in stride. An Io Moth by the front door visitor center shows colorful bull's-eye eyespots. Mitchell collects images, terming this a consolation prize.
Date: 4/3/26 2:09 pm From: Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Remembrances of Don Simons
Don was a fine naturalist. Here is a small compilation of some of his postings in Ar-birds over the years. ----------------------Wed, 22 May, 2024 at 9:19 pm
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks
Living in Paris, I started keeping a yard list last year.I’ve had a few surprises. Imagine my excitement when a pair of whistling ducksfew low over the big oak in my yard. Nearly every morning I scan theneighborhood and sky.Just about every day brings one or two of them.
I noticed they tended to circle around to the north. Onemorning we drove north on 5th street past Old Military Road. A small corralobstructs the view of the terrain to the west. We counted 24 BBWDs as they flewover and landed beyond the fence where, I’m sure, some had already gathered.
Murder in ParisDon Simons Mon, 29 Apr, 2024 at 2:31 pm
Acase for Hercule Poirot Not. A group of crows? Not this time. Although Iregularly see and hear both Fish and American here in Paris, AR.Whilethe three of us were watching feeder birds from a large living room window, wewitnessed a murder in our Parisian yard. A “Murder Most Fowl”? Rather, a“Murder Most Squirrel.”Afresh-out-of-the-nest Fox Squirrel was braving his new world when a GraySquirrel jumped on and off the youngster. It laid there, motionless. Two GraySquirrel cautiously, tails twitching nervously, approached the victim. Was oneof them the assassin? We could not pick one in a lineup.
I’ve read that squirrels sometimes kill andeat young nestlings of territorial rivals and birds but, usually, it isserendipitous. This was our first encounter with “squirrelacide.” Well, afterall squirrels are not more than tree rats. But they do taste good. Especially,in a gumbo my momma used to make.Suchincidents are much more common than any of us are witness. These days, I findwatching wildlife interacting with wildlife and the environment moreinteresting than just list ticking. Keepwatching,
Donoff the Mount
Crape Myrtle Birds
Don Simons
Wed, 13 Sept, 2023 at 8:33 am
InApril I retired from 42 years as an Arkansas State Park interpreter (23 onMount Magazine) and moved down to Paris. Birds are not as diverse in my yard ason the mountain. Therefore, I spend more time observing habits of fewerspecies.
Myfavorite spot is sitting in our driveway where a crape myrtle tree dominatesthe scene near the road. Say what you want about them, but I have never reallycared for crape myrtles. These non natives are pretty but don’t normallyattract a lot of birds. This one does, due to its location not so much itsnutritious bounty.
Presently,this myrtle reaches up to touch a street light which attracts numerous smallmoths and beetles(no Beatles yet). Every dawn a mockingbird sings his heartout, often mimicking his neighbors and others from the top of the utility pole.I have taken on a new mission to get him add a soft “wolf whistle” to hisrepertoire. No luck yet. I call him my “Mocking Bud.”
Beforesunrise, pairs of the following birds raid insects attracted by that light:red-bellied woodpecker, great crested flycatcher, blue jay, Carolina wren, graycatbird, house finch, and northern cardinal. They come into the buffetseemingly in some sort of order and stay only a short while. My driveway getslittered with moth wings. A big, fat toad joined the feast at least onemorning. A robin tried to nest in the middle of said myrtle unsuccessfully. Shewas very tolerant of the raiders until the eggs hatched. Then she startedchasing away only Mocking Bud. I guess his constant singing got on her nerves.
Nowthings are very quiet around the yard. Heat waves and drought must have shutdown breeding season for my crape myrtlers.
Don,formerly on the Mount, now a new Parisite, but still watching bird behavior.
Hawk count summary
Sun, 2 Oct, 2022 at 6:31 pm
Ihave been observing and documenting hawk migration here on Mount Magazine fornine years now. The data is available at hawkcount.org.
2022has been the most disappointing. We did not break 200 hawks, eagles, vultures,ospreys and falcons. I got “skunked” four days.Warm, windless, lonely days werethe worst.
Highlightsinclude: seven, possibly ten, Merlins and 80 broad-winged hawks, all withinview at one time. A murder 75 fish crows. And most surprising was a Townsend’sSolitaire searching for cedar berries. I believe this was a September recordfor Arkansas. Moments of excitement between hours of staining at beautifulscenery.
Inthe data, September 28th had the highest totals four of those nine years. Mybest year was 2017 with 3,488.
Iwant to thank Keith, Ed,Lynn, and others who volunteered their time andconversation.
Hummer and others
Tue, 5 Apr, 2022 at 9:34 am
Springis always two or three weeks later up here on the mountaintop than insurrounding valleys. Few trees have begun to leaf out. Plum trees are just nowblooming.
Usually,I don’t see our first hummer of the season until Ohio buckeyes begin to bloomhere on Mt. Mag around April 12th. This morning Lori put out our first feederfor the year. Within minutes, a male hummer appeared as if he was waiting forit. Now I need to check our buckeyes.
Nestingwarblers are starting to arrive. Black-and-whites, black-throated greens, andpine have been heard.
Ourpopulation of swallows is increasing almost daily.
Afew winter residents are lingering: juncos and white-throats.
Cardinals,titmice, chickadees, phoebes, white-breasted nuts, several woodpeckers, andother nesters are in fine cheer.
Donon the Mount
cedar waxwings andswallows
Sun, 27 Mar, 2022 at 2:41 am
Yesterday,around 30 cedar waxwings dined on witch hazel flowers outside my officewindow.
Twodays ago, a first-of-season ( FOS) barn swallow arrived at the lodge. He wasbeat by a rough-winged swallow a couple of days earlier. Both species nestaround the lodge. Barn swallows nest on the building itself. Every year I do acensus and usually find around 50 active nests. It’s a bit fun for me to watchnest building and nestlings growing. Great photo opportunities.
Rough-wingsnest in gaps between large rocks in the wall across the parking lot. Theyaren’t as numerous.
Easternphoebes also nest on the lodge. So far I have found two nests. They nest onmany other sites, natural and manmade, in the park.
Nosolitaires were found this winter despite an abundance of cedar berries.
Norufous-crowned sparrows have been found this year yet.Good birding.
Donon the Mount
Good eyes
Tue, 22 Sept, 2020 at 7:50 am
Itis always nice to have sharp-eyed birders join me on Cameron Bluff to countmigrants. Lynn Christy, Ed Laster, and Keith Hawkings visited yesterday. We hadsome passerine activity in the brush near the gazebo before raptors began tomake their way through.
Tanagers,swifts, a peewee, gnatcatchers, and some warblers (at least one black-throatedgreen) gave us click but close up glimpses. By noon we tallied:
Hawkmigration seems to be increasing now. I predict, this weekend might we will seegood numbers. However, I am oftentimes proven wrong.
Goodbirding.
Elderberry Birds
Sat, 15 Aug, 2020 at 4:21 am
Thursday morning, before a stormreached Mount Mag, I noticed a lot of bird action behind the Greenfield PicnicArea. In the very tops of several dead black locust trees were some silent butactive Empidonax flycatchers silhouetted against brightclouds. A downy woodpecker found a spot that resonated his pecking. A peeweeand a cuckoo called from nearby woods.
Inother treetops, full of vegetation, summer (4) and scarlet (6) tanagers seemedto catch and eat some sort of prey (hopefully, walking sticks) when not chasingeach other. None of these tanagers were in adult male breeding plumage. Onedark-winged scarlet had red patches on his nape and belly.
Twolarge elderberry bushes, loaded with fruit, attracted a lot of attention fromtanagers, cardinals, and indigo buntings. Bills of all these birds were stainedwith berry juice.
Otherbirds in this small area included:black-and-white, black-thoated green, andhooded warblers, redstarts, white nuthatches, gnatcatchers, chickadees,titmice, and a few others. A total of 25 species made for a very active 20minutes.
On Friday, 3 April 2026 at 02:29:17 pm GMT-5, Barry Haas <bhaas...> wrote:
I first met Don Simons in the mid-1980's. At that time the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas (ASCA) held volunteer work sessions to construct bluebird houses made out of wood from donated fruit crates. The bluebird houses were sold to raise funds for ASCA. The work sessions were at Pinnacle Mountain State Park interpreter Neil Curry's park lodgings just west of Little Rock.
One evening Neil had an evening campfire going behind his residence when suddenly from out of the totally dark woods who should appear but a 19th century Arkansan in era appropriate garb. That was Don. What a character. I think Don would have chosen an earlier time to have been alive had he a choice.
Fast forward a few years to the fall of 1990 when I attended my first Arkansas Audubon Society (AAS) meeting at Lake Chicot State Park. Don was the interpreter there, and did a good job shuttling us by boat on Lake Chicot to see one or more active rookeries with a nice variety of avian species wood storks, herons, etc.
In the years since Don has at times played his mountain man role during AAS Halberg Ecology Camp youth sessions at Camp Clearfork. He was always willing to help others both young and old understand what life was like long ago.
His final move years ago was to serve as interpreter at Mount Magazine State Park. Don was always willing to help others whether it involved birds or other wildlife.
Date: 4/3/26 12:29 pm From: Barry Haas <bhaas...> Subject: Remembrances of Don Simons
I first met Don Simons in the mid-1980's. At that time the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas (ASCA) held volunteer work sessions to construct bluebird houses made out of wood from donated fruit crates. The bluebird houses were sold to raise funds for ASCA. The work sessions were at Pinnacle Mountain State Park interpreter Neil Curry's park lodgings just west of Little Rock.
One evening Neil had an evening campfire going behind his residence when suddenly from out of the totally dark woods who should appear but a 19th century Arkansan in era appropriate garb. That was Don. What a character. I think Don would have chosen an earlier time to have been alive had he a choice.
Fast forward a few years to the fall of 1990 when I attended my first Arkansas Audubon Society (AAS) meeting at Lake Chicot State Park. Don was the interpreter there, and did a good job shuttling us by boat on Lake Chicot to see one or more active rookeries with a nice variety of avian species wood storks, herons, etc.
In the years since Don has at times played his mountain man role during AAS Halberg Ecology Camp youth sessions at Camp Clearfork. He was always willing to help others both young and old understand what life was like long ago.
His final move years ago was to serve as interpreter at Mount Magazine State Park. Don was always willing to help others whether it involved birds or other wildlife.
Lovely piece, Joe, and a nice tribute to Don. Here is his official paper on Townsend's Solitaires in Mt. Magazine, coauthored with Kim Smith. https://scholarworks.uark.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3289&context=jaas On Thursday, 2 April 2026 at 07:48:58 pm GMT-5, Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Some may enjoy this memory of a fun day in the field with Don Simons. Originally posted to ARBIRD list.
WITH DON SIMONS ON TOSO TRAIL January 18, 2018For several years running now, one of Arkansas’s coveted, rare, and must-see birds are the Townsend’s Solitaires (TOSOs) found several years ago at Mount Magazine State Park by park interpreter Don Simons. At least one bird is wintering this winter. David Oakley and I saw it this morning, with help from Don, of course.TOSOs aren’t rare where they nest in the montane west, but if you want to see one in January, get ready for a long trip: 400+ miles out to deep canyons in the Black Mesa country of far western Oklahoma. Or for the past few years, Mt Magazine State Park, where Don has found several in winter along breath-taking, rocky, cedar-clad south-facing blufflines. Places where Greater Roadrunners stroll rocks and balance courtesy of long expressive tails and sturdy footwork courtesy of dos execues toes. Rock hoppers they are, with long swishy tails. A bird with a real tale and a real tail to tell it with (my apologies to Lawrence Ferlinghetti).David and I met Don at the visitor center this morning. Within a few minutes we were out in the field, and hot on the solitaire trail. We had great looks at both male and female Purple Finches. There were Dark-eyed Juncos, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-rumped Warblers, a flock of Eastern Bluebirds, musical Blue Jays, and a flock of American Robins.We walked the trail below the bluffline and saw a Hermit Thrush. The roadrunner easily remained far enough ahead David couldn’t get a photograph. Then we saw Townsend’s Solitaire perched high in a leafless tree, above a big old cedar. It looked this way. It looked that way. And so did we.John Kirk Townsend found one in Oregon, in 1835 and Audubon described it and named it in Townsend’s honor in 1838. A little less than 200 years later, we are all in for this little bluebird relative that now thanks to Don is also part of the story of birds in Arkansas.How enthusiastic are we about this? It’s 110 miles, give or take, from Fayetteville to this Arkansas rarity.Watching Townsend’s this morning, I was also thinking about Don and government employees like him who so freely share their passions and interests. He came to Arkansas parks in 1981 and to Magazine in 2000. What a gift it is to the people of Arkansas, hungry to learn more about their state, and then run into someone like Don.Standing in the welcome flood of this morning’s sunshine and rising temp, I was also in the middle of being thankful. Then Townsend’s dropped back into the cedar thicket and out-of-sight. No problem here. I got to see The Bird, with its trademark eye ring, and I thought about that all the way back to Fayetteville.
Date: 4/2/26 5:48 pm From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Don Simons
Some may enjoy this memory of a fun day in the field with Don Simons. Originally posted to ARBIRD list.
WITH DON SIMONS ON TOSO TRAIL January 18, 2018
For several years running now, one of Arkansass coveted, rare, and must-see birds are the Townsends Solitaires (TOSOs) found several years ago at Mount Magazine State Park by park interpreter Don Simons. At least one bird is wintering this winter. David Oakley and I saw it this morning, with help from Don, of course.
TOSOs arent rare where they nest in the montane west, but if you want to see one in January, get ready for a long trip: 400+ miles out to deep canyons in the Black Mesa country of far western Oklahoma. Or for the past few years, Mt Magazine State Park, where Don has found several in winter along breath-taking, rocky, cedar-clad south-facing blufflines. Places where Greater Roadrunners stroll rocks and balance courtesy of long expressive tails and sturdy footwork courtesy of dos execues toes. Rock hoppers they are, with long swishy tails. A bird with a real tale and a real tail to tell it with (my apologies to Lawrence Ferlinghetti).
David and I met Don at the visitor center this morning. Within a few minutes we were out in the field, and hot on the solitaire trail. We had great looks at both male and female Purple Finches. There were Dark-eyed Juncos, Cedar Waxwings, Yellow-rumped Warblers, a flock of Eastern Bluebirds, musical Blue Jays, and a flock of American Robins.
We walked the trail below the bluffline and saw a Hermit Thrush. The roadrunner easily remained far enough ahead David couldnt get a photograph. Then we saw Townsends Solitaire perched high in a leafless tree, above a big old cedar. It looked this way. It looked that way. And so did we.
John Kirk Townsend found one in Oregon, in 1835 and Audubon described it and named it in Townsends honor in 1838. A little less than 200 years later, we are all in for this little bluebird relative that now thanks to Don is also part of the story of birds in Arkansas.
How enthusiastic are we about this? Its 110 miles, give or take, from Fayetteville to this Arkansas rarity.
Watching Townsends this morning, I was also thinking about Don and government employees like him who so freely share their passions and interests. He came to Arkansas parks in 1981 and to Magazine in 2000. What a gift it is to the people of Arkansas, hungry to learn more about their state, and then run into someone like Don.
Standing in the welcome flood of this mornings sunshine and rising temp, I was also in the middle of being thankful. Then Townsends dropped back into the cedar thicket and out-of-sight. No problem here. I got to see The Bird, with its trademark eye ring, and I thought about that all the way back to Fayetteville.
