Date: 9/18/26 12:56 pm From: Kevin Krajcir <kjkrajcir...> Subject: October 2026 ASCA Presentation - RCW Conservation in AR by Jess Novobilsky
Good afternoon everyone,
Please join the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas on Thursday *October
1st *at 7 PM to hear Jess Novobilsky speak about the past, present, and
future of Red-cockaded Woodpecker (RCW) conservation in Arkansas. ASCA is
meeting on October 1st, instead of its usual second Thursday, because we
encourage folks to get out to the Birding Festival of the South the weekend
of Oct 8-10th and the Arkansas Bird Alliance convention the weekend of Oct
16-18. To join for the presentation, please register here for the Zoom
link: Meeting Registration - Zoom
<https://audubon.zoom.us/meeting/register/RLfEEt37TZ2qCjet7e3kHg#/registration> .
Red-cockaded woodpeckers (Leuconotopicus borealis) [RCWs] are a charismatic
bird of mature, fire-sustained pine forests of the southeastern United
States. Due to their unique ecology and habitat requirements, as well as
logging and forestry practices that impact their habitat, this species was
one of the first to be listed with the Endangered Species Act in 1973.
However, with decades of intensive management, this species was down-listed
to “threatened” in 2024, and remains a testament to what sound scientific
research and collaborative stewardship can accomplish! The Arkansas Natural
Heritage Commission (ANHC) is dedicated to restoring the open-pine
ecosystems that RCWs call home. ANHC biologists and their partners have led
the way working to incorporate more prescribed fire, reduce woody
encroachment and invasive species, and install artificial nest cavities to
encourage birds to nest as habitat is being restored. As a testimony to
this leadership, four of the six locations where RCW populations currently
occur in Arkansas are part of the System of Natural Areas. Jess will
discuss the ANHC’s history in and future plans for the recovery of this
species across Arkansas.
Jess received her undergraduate degree in Wildlife Conservation and
Management from Delaware Valley University in 2015. After that, she
traveled across the United States working various wetlands field jobs
before attending the University of Arkansas - Fayetteville to earn her
master’s in Biology in 2024. She currently works for the Arkansas Natural
Heritage Commission as the agency’s Habitat Coordinator and Red-cockaded
Woodpecker Recovery Coordinator.
