Date: 9/30/26 7:55 pm From: Dottie Boyles <ctboyles...> Subject: Fwd: October 2026 ASCA Presentation - RCW Conservation in AR by Jess Novobilsky
Just a reminder, ASCAs monthly meeting is tomorrow night, Thurs, Oct. 1st, at 7 pm. Our normal meeting date was moved up a week so as to not conflict with the start of the Birding Festival of the South. You do not have to be an ASCA member to attend (by Zooming in) this meeting.
-------- Original Message -------- Subject: October 2026 ASCA Presentation - RCW Conservation in AR by Jess Novobilsky Date: 2026-09-18 2:55 pm To: <ARBIRD-L...>
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 [1]
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.
