Date: 7/11/25 1:46 pm From: Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> Subject: More on bird/window collision mitigation
The thread on bird/window hazards is getting confusing, and I can never figure out how to add a comment to an individual posting.
Jannine correctly points out the dangers of using netting. About ten years ago, when we started protecting birds from crashing into windows, I won't go into the details of what motivated me to take action other than to say it involved three hummingbirds dying a few feet from where I stood next to our patio door. We tried decals, which were worthless, and netting. Twice, we had to remove snakes from the netting. The first was a black snake, extracting him gave us the necessary experience to deal with a rattlesnake that was caught a few weeks later. The problem is that you can't just cut around the netting and let the poor thing go. It is necessary to remove all the threads from the snake's body. The operation is delicate, especially when you get to the head. I found that I couldn't wear gloves as they were too clumsy. Through this encounter and many others with rattlesnakes, I've learned that they really don't want to bite you. In fact, I've grown to have great affection for these reptiles.
We still have netting in places where no other solution is practical, but we've learned how to prevent snakes and other creatures from getting caught.
JackAt Erbie, NewtonCounty
Date: 7/11/25 12:59 pm From: Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Reducing window strikes
The Arkansas Audubon Society Bird-friendly Yard Certification program no longer certifies yards at Gold level unless some efforts are made to protect birds from windows. New research suggests that we may be creating death trips when we lure birds to our yards with feeders and even native plants if we don’t deal with the window collision problem.
I was unaware of this HSV video. Thanks for posting. On our house, we have zen curtains, feather-friendly dots, and netting, depending on the situation. None of these methods are 100% effective. As the saying goes, “Don’t let the perfect get in the way of the good.”
I’m willing to bet that at least 90% of the subscribers to this list are aware of the estimates of somewhere around a billion birds that are killed by windows in the US alone. I wonder how many have actually done something to help solve the problem? There are at least several reasons I think of as to why so many don’t take action.
- Most of the publicity centers around large buildings where bird deaths can reach stratospheric numbers in a single night. This leads to a feeling of helplessness. However, when considering the number of windows in homes across the country, it becomes evident that this is also a significant problem, one where individuals can make a difference.
- People who say, “We’ve never had a bird hit our windows” or “When a bird hits our windows, it flies off unharmed.” Both of these statements are surely incorrect.
- Finally, doing something at your home or apartment can seem like a daunting task. Here’s how to start:.Take a walk around the outside of your abode at different times of day. Wherever you can see a reflection of the sky or vegetation, especially on the ground floor, that’s a problem window and a good place to start.
For ideas, questions, or suggestions, please feel free to contact the Bird-Friendly Arkansas Program at <bfaudubon...>
Special thanks to Martha Ragar for her question!
Jack
On Friday, July 11, 2025 at 12:24:44 PM CDT, Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Has anyone examined if this gorgeous church in Bella Vista is a hazard for birds? It’s basically a glass box in the middle of the woods. I was at a wedding there last summer and couldn’t help wondering. If so, perhaps someone can gently advise them mitigation measures to reduce bird strikes?Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel
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Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel
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Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad
On Friday, July 11, 2025, 12:02 PM, <jwdavis...> <jwdavis...> wrote:
Thanks for sharing this. Carolyn Minson was a champion in informing people about window strikes. At her suggestion, I use the black parachute cord that is very effective. It seems like a recent email Joe Neal suggested a 3" spacing instead of a 4" spacing. My cords are at a 4" spacing and work well except when a Cooper's hawk flushes and chases the birds and I have had a White-throated Sparrow mortality.
Jerry Wayne DavisHot Springs, ARFrom: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2025 9:31 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Reducing window strikes Martha, check this out. Posted by our late beloved Carolyn Minson.Window Strikes — HSV Audubon
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Window Strikes — HSV Audubon
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On Friday 11 July, 2025 at 11:21:43 am GMT-5, Martha Ragar <mmragar...> wrote:
I'm looking for a recommendation for a product or a method to prevent window strikes by birds. Thank you for any advice.
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Get Outlook for AndroidFrom: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2025 9:58:52 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Sunnymede Park and Where are the Least Terns I try to walk Sunnymede Park every morning near sunrise. I see incredible sunrises, cooler temperatures, and birds. This morning it was 30 species in less than two miles/two loops. The individual numbers have decreased dramatically. Good news on the Western Kingbird front. There was a successful nest this year with three to four fledged babies.
Has anyone seen Least Terns nesting this year? We’ve had so much rainfall and the Arkansas River continues to run high. It may not be a good nesting year for them.
SandyFort Smith
Date: 7/11/25 12:01 pm From: Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Sunnymede Park and Where are the Least Terns
Regarding Least Terns and all the rain, perhaps the best nest site I know of is on top of Belk's at Conway Commons in Conway. We went by there earlier today and watched 8-10 chattering terns zipping around, above the top of the building, some carrying food. We only had our binoculars but suspect several were immatures due to seeing flashes of black smudges on the wings of some. This has been a known nesting site over the years, and we were concerned a few years ago when the building manager resurfaced the roof. To our delight, the terns returned and have continued their busy breeding schedule. Patty McLean
-------- Original message --------From: Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> Date: 7/11/25 9:59 AM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Sunnymede Park and Where are the Least Terns I try to walk Sunnymede Park every morning near sunrise. I see incredible sunrises, cooler temperatures, and birds. This morning it was 30 species in less than two miles/two loops. The individual numbers have decreased dramatically. Good news on the Western Kingbird front. There was a successful nest this year with three to four fledged babies. Has anyone seen Least Terns nesting this year? We’ve had so much rainfall and the Arkansas River continues to run high. It may not be a good nesting year for them. SandyFort Smith
The American Bird Conservancy has tested numerous interventions to prevent bird collisions with windows (both home and commercial properties). Here's a link to more information on various types. https://abcbirds.org/get-involved/bird-smart-glass/Patty McLean
-------- Original message --------From: "<jwdavis...>" <jwdavis...> Date: 7/11/25 12:02 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Re: Reducing window strikes
Thanks for sharing this. Carolyn Minson was a champion in informing people about window strikes. At her suggestion, I use the black parachute cord that is very effective. It seems like a recent email Joe Neal suggested a 3" spacing instead of a 4" spacing.
My cords are at a 4" spacing and work well except when a Cooper's hawk flushes and chases the birds and I have had a White-throated Sparrow mortality.
Jerry Wayne Davis
Hot Springs, AR
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2025 9:31 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Reducing window strikes
Martha, check this out. Posted by our late beloved Carolyn Minson.
Window Strikes — HSV Audubon
Window Strikes — HSV Audubon
On Friday 11 July, 2025 at 11:21:43 am GMT-5, Martha Ragar <mmragar...> wrote:
I'm looking for a recommendation for a product or a method to prevent window strikes by birds. Thank you for any advice.
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Get
Outlook for Android
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2025 9:58:52 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Sunnymede Park and Where are the Least Terns
I try to walk Sunnymede Park every morning near sunrise. I see incredible sunrises, cooler temperatures, and birds. This morning it was 30 species in less than two miles/two loops.
The individual numbers have decreased dramatically.
Good news on the Western Kingbird front. There was a successful nest this year with three to four fledged babies.
Has anyone seen Least Terns nesting this year? We’ve had so much rainfall and the Arkansas River continues to run high. It may not be a good nesting year for them.
Has anyone examined if this gorgeous church in Bella Vista is a hazard for birds? It’s basically a glass box in the middle of the woods. I was at a wedding there last summer and couldn’t help wondering. If so, perhaps someone can gently advise them mitigation measures to reduce bird strikes?Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel
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Mildred B. Cooper Memorial Chapel
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Sent from Yahoo Mail for iPad
On Friday, July 11, 2025, 12:02 PM, <jwdavis...> <jwdavis...> wrote:
#yiv5468129630 P {margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;}Thanks for sharing this. Carolyn Minson was a champion in informing people about window strikes. At her suggestion, I use the black parachute cord that is very effective. It seems like a recent email Joe Neal suggested a 3" spacing instead of a 4" spacing. My cords are at a 4" spacing and work well except when a Cooper's hawk flushes and chases the birds and I have had a White-throated Sparrow mortality.
Jerry Wayne DavisHot Springs, ARFrom: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2025 9:31 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Reducing window strikes Martha, check this out. Posted by our late beloved Carolyn Minson.Window Strikes — HSV Audubon
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Window Strikes — HSV Audubon
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On Friday 11 July, 2025 at 11:21:43 am GMT-5, Martha Ragar <mmragar...> wrote:
I'm looking for a recommendation for a product or a method to prevent window strikes by birds. Thank you for any advice.
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Get Outlook for AndroidFrom: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2025 9:58:52 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Sunnymede Park and Where are the Least Terns I try to walk Sunnymede Park every morning near sunrise. I see incredible sunrises, cooler temperatures, and birds. This morning it was 30 species in less than two miles/two loops. The individual numbers have decreased dramatically. Good news on the Western Kingbird front. There was a successful nest this year with three to four fledged babies.
Has anyone seen Least Terns nesting this year? We’ve had so much rainfall and the Arkansas River continues to run high. It may not be a good nesting year for them.
SandyFort Smith
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2025 11:31:00 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Reducing window strikes
On Friday 11 July, 2025 at 11:21:43 am GMT-5, Martha Ragar <mmragar...> wrote:
I'm looking for a recommendation for a product or a method to prevent window strikes by birds. Thank you for any advice.
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2025 9:58:52 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Sunnymede Park and Where are the Least Terns
I try to walk Sunnymede Park every morning near sunrise. I see incredible sunrises, cooler temperatures, and birds. This morning it was 30 species in less than two miles/two loops.
The individual numbers have decreased dramatically.
Good news on the Western Kingbird front. There was a successful nest this year with three to four fledged babies.
Has anyone seen Least Terns nesting this year? Weve had so much rainfall and the Arkansas River continues to run high. It may not be a good nesting year for them.
Thanks for sharing this. Carolyn Minson was a champion in informing people about window strikes. At her suggestion, I use the black parachute cord that is very effective. It seems like a recent email Joe Neal suggested a 3" spacing instead of a 4" spacing. My cords are at a 4" spacing and work well except when a Cooper's hawk flushes and chases the birds and I have had a White-throated Sparrow mortality.
Jerry Wayne Davis
Hot Springs, AR
________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2025 9:31 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Reducing window strikes
On Friday 11 July, 2025 at 11:21:43 am GMT-5, Martha Ragar <mmragar...> wrote:
I'm looking for a recommendation for a product or a method to prevent window strikes by birds. Thank you for any advice.
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2025 9:58:52 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Sunnymede Park and Where are the Least Terns
I try to walk Sunnymede Park every morning near sunrise. I see incredible sunrises, cooler temperatures, and birds. This morning it was 30 species in less than two miles/two loops.
The individual numbers have decreased dramatically.
Good news on the Western Kingbird front. There was a successful nest this year with three to four fledged babies.
Has anyone seen Least Terns nesting this year? Weve had so much rainfall and the Arkansas River continues to run high. It may not be a good nesting year for them.
Thanks so much for posting this, Kannan! I've been speaking on bird
collisions for several years now--please let me add a few comments. First,
from my friend Heidi Trudell <https://blog.justsavebirds.com/p/about.html>,
a scientist who works for Guardian Glass and keeps up with the latest
research: "I don’t advise netting be used at all; there have been
documented instances of birds that spooked and ended up trapped because
their head went through the mesh and died there. So I only endorse screens
and solar shades when it comes to external barriers."
She also endorses zen curtains, as do I. I have zen curtains on some of the
windows of my house, installed by me six years ago and still going strong.
They absolutely work. In December, Arkansas Sun Solutions installed Feather
Friendly for me on the rest of my windows. It has done the trick. I've not
had a single collision since and because I'm retired I'm home most of the
time so know this. I've heard Feather Friendly has a 15 year warranty, as
well.
On Fri, Jul 11, 2025 at 11:31 AM Ragupathy Kannan <
<0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Martha, check this out. Posted by our late beloved Carolyn Minson.
> Window Strikes — HSV Audubon <https://hsvbirds.org/window-strikes> >
> Window Strikes — HSV Audubon
>
> <https://hsvbirds.org/window-strikes> >
>
>
> On Friday 11 July, 2025 at 11:21:43 am GMT-5, Martha Ragar <
> <mmragar...> wrote:
>
>
> I'm looking for a recommendation for a product or a method to prevent
> window strikes by birds. Thank you for any advice.
>
> Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
> Get Outlook for Android <https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> > ------------------------------
> *From:* The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...>
> on behalf of Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...>
> *Sent:* Friday, July 11, 2025 9:58:52 AM
> *To:* <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
> *Subject:* Sunnymede Park and Where are the Least Terns
>
> I try to walk Sunnymede Park every morning near sunrise. I see incredible
> sunrises, cooler temperatures, and birds. This morning it was 30 species in
> less than two miles/two loops.
> The individual numbers have decreased dramatically.
> Good news on the Western Kingbird front. There was a successful nest this
> year with three to four fledged babies.
>
> Has anyone seen Least Terns nesting this year? We’ve had so much rainfall
> and the Arkansas River continues to run high. It may not be a good nesting
> year for them.
>
> Sandy
> 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 >
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
Martha, check this out. Posted by our late beloved Carolyn Minson.Window Strikes — HSV Audubon
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Window Strikes — HSV Audubon
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On Friday 11 July, 2025 at 11:21:43 am GMT-5, Martha Ragar <mmragar...> wrote:
I'm looking for a recommendation for a product or a method to prevent window strikes by birds. Thank you for any advice.
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Get Outlook for AndroidFrom: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2025 9:58:52 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Sunnymede Park and Where are the Least Terns I try to walk Sunnymede Park every morning near sunrise. I see incredible sunrises, cooler temperatures, and birds. This morning it was 30 species in less than two miles/two loops. The individual numbers have decreased dramatically. Good news on the Western Kingbird front. There was a successful nest this year with three to four fledged babies.
Has anyone seen Least Terns nesting this year? We’ve had so much rainfall and the Arkansas River continues to run high. It may not be a good nesting year for them.
SandyFort Smith
Date: 7/11/25 9:21 am From: Martha Ragar <mmragar...> Subject: Re: Sunnymede Park and Where are the Least Terns
I'm looking for a recommendation for a product or a method to prevent window strikes by birds. Thank you for any advice.
Sent from my Verizon, Samsung Galaxy smartphone
Get Outlook for Android<https://aka.ms/AAb9ysg> ________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...>
Sent: Friday, July 11, 2025 9:58:52 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Sunnymede Park and Where are the Least Terns
I try to walk Sunnymede Park every morning near sunrise. I see incredible sunrises, cooler temperatures, and birds. This morning it was 30 species in less than two miles/two loops.
The individual numbers have decreased dramatically.
Good news on the Western Kingbird front. There was a successful nest this year with three to four fledged babies.
Has anyone seen Least Terns nesting this year? Weve had so much rainfall and the Arkansas River continues to run high. It may not be a good nesting year for them.
Date: 7/11/25 7:59 am From: Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> Subject: Sunnymede Park and Where are the Least Terns
I try to walk Sunnymede Park every morning near sunrise. I see incredible
sunrises, cooler temperatures, and birds. This morning it was 30 species in
less than two miles/two loops.
The individual numbers have decreased dramatically.
Good news on the Western Kingbird front. There was a successful nest this
year with three to four fledged babies.
Has anyone seen Least Terns nesting this year? We’ve had so much rainfall
and the Arkansas River continues to run high. It may not be a good nesting
year for them.
Date: 7/11/25 6:43 am From: zoe caywood <zcaywood...> Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
I would think that Quail Forever would be interested in this project.
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jul 10, 2025, at 11:58 AM, Michael Ferrara <00000fca8e4de7ff-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>
> Another potential option would be for somebody to mention something to Northwest Arkansas LandTrust. I have not worked with them, but I've worked with other LandTrusts that have shown interest in protecting those kinds of landscapes.
>
> Michael Ferrara
> From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of <jwdavis...> <jwdavis...>
> Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 11:07 AM
> To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
> Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
>
> Thanks for the information. There are 2,800 Billionaires and 22,000,000 millionaires in this country. I am not one of them, but it would be nice if one would decide to do something to help the conservation of our remaining prairie and the birds that use it.
>
> Jerry Wayne Davis
> Hot Springs, AR
>
>
> From: Taylor Long <mtaylorlong...>
> Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 8:08 AM
> To: ARBIRD-L <arbird-l...>; Jerry Davis <jwdavis...>
> Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
>
> Here's some land for sale right in the area Joe has highlighted as the most botanically rich in his PDF: https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/10604-N-Highway-43-Maysville-AR-72747/70694168_zpid/?utm_campaign=zillowwebmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare >
> On July 10, 2025, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
> Thank you for championing this cause and trying to get the word out. Why wouldn't this be something that the Audubon Chapters in the state supported and used they position to write letters? Maybe the calls of many could interest them in doing something more.
>
> Jerry
>
>
> From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 6:40 AM To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
>
> Yesterday’s birding and prairie flowering trip to former Beaty Prairie in western Benton County yielded a number of pleasant surprises. One that gave me most pleasure was hearing Northern Bobwhites calling from six separate places, mainly in the area of Leonard Ranch X Schoolhouse roads. Overall, good bird activity generally: https://ebird.org/checklist/S258607230 > None of once extensive Beaty Prairie is in public ownership, but old Beaty survives in a few spots, mainly rights-of-way along local roads. It is totally blazing with native prairie flora now. I wrote up a guide and suggestions for seeing this. I gave it the name Beaty Prairie Botanical Area, though this designation is just mine. I never managed to interest anyone in the highway department to actually try and preserve this: https://nwarkaudubon.org/Places%20to%20Bird%20PDFs/BEATIE%20PRAIRIE%20BOTANICAL%20AREA%20in%20August%202011.pdf > If you aunt and uncle, or even your second cousin, knows anyone high up in highways, maybe you could whisper in their ears about saving the beauty of these stands of Ashy Sunflowers, Prairie Blazing Stars, and some of all the amazing rest of our native prairie flora in Northwest Arkansas City.
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
>
> 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: 7/10/25 11:42 am From: Taylor Long <00000455b6b08e87-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
Here's the Zillow listing for the 4 triangular acres Joe mentioned. It's
listed for $175k and has been on Zillow for 153 days.
<https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4AC-W-Highway-72-Gravette-AR- 72736/446956042_zpid/?utm_campaign=zillowwebmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare>
-Taylor
On July 10, 2025, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
> And why not the Fayetteville area newspapers? People cannot solve a
> problem unless they know one exists and then one percent may respond.
>
> Jerry
>
>
> On 2025-07-10 12:24 pm, Patty McLean wrote:
> > Joe, just a thought but one option might be to share your great
> write
> > up with photos on the Northwest Arkansas Facebook page.
> >
> <https://www.facebook.com/groups/northwestarkansas/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT> > >
> > Patty McLean
> >
> > -------- Original message --------
> > From: Michael Ferrara
> > <00000fca8e4de7ff-dmarc-request...>
> > Date: 7/10/25 12:06 PM (GMT-06:00)
> > To: <ARBIRD-L...>
> > Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
> >
> > Another potential option would be for somebody to mention something
> > to Northwest Arkansas LandTrust. I have not worked with them, but
> I've
> > worked with other LandTrusts that have shown interest in protecting
> > those kinds of landscapes.
> >
> > Michael Ferrara
> >
> > -------------------------
> >
> > From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List
> > <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of <jwdavis...>
> > <jwdavis...>
> > Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 11:07 AM
> > To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
> > Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
> >
> > Thanks for the information. There are 2,800 Billionaires and
> > 22,000,000 millionaires in this country. I am not one of them, but
> it
> > would be nice if one would decide to do something to help the
> > conservation of our remaining prairie and the birds that use it.
> >
> > Jerry Wayne Davis
> > Hot Springs, AR
> >
> > -------------------------
> >
> > From: Taylor Long <mtaylorlong...>
> > Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 8:08 AM
> > To: ARBIRD-L <arbird-l...>; Jerry Davis
> > <jwdavis...>
> > Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
> >
> > Here's some land for sale right in the area Joe has highlighted as
> > the most botanically rich in his PDF:
> > <https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/10604-N-Highway-43-Maysville-AR- > 72747/70694168_zpid/?utm_campaign=zillowwebmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare>
> > [2]
> >
> > On July 10, 2025, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
> >
> >> Thank you for championing this cause and trying to get the word
> >> out. Why wouldn't this be something that the Audubon Chapters in
> the
> >> state supported and used they position to write letters? Maybe the
> >> calls of many could interest them in doing something more.
> >>
> >> Jerry
> >>
> >> -------------------------
> >>
> >> From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List
> >> <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Joseph Neal
> >> <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Sent: Thursday,
> >> July 10, 2025 6:40 AM To: <ARBIRD-L...>
> >> <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER
> >> BEATY PRAIRIE
> >>
> >> Yesterday’s birding and prairie flowering trip to former Beaty
> >> Prairie in western Benton County yielded a number of pleasant
> >> surprises. One that gave me most pleasure was hearing Northern
> >> Bobwhites calling from six separate places, mainly in the area of
> >> Leonard Ranch X Schoolhouse roads. Overall, good bird activity
> >> generally: <https://ebird.org/checklist/S258607230> > >> None of once extensive Beaty Prairie is in public ownership, but
> >> old Beaty survives in a few spots, mainly rights-of-way along local
> >> roads. It is totally blazing with native prairie flora now. I wrote
> >> up a guide and suggestions for seeing this. I gave it the name
> Beaty
> >> Prairie Botanical Area, though this designation is just mine. I
> >> never managed to interest anyone in the highway department to
> >> actually try and preserve this:
> >>
> >
> <https://nwarkaudubon.org/Places%20to%20Bird%20PDFs/BEATIE%20PRAIRIE%20BOTANICAL%20AREA%20in%20August%202011.pdf> > >>
> >> If you aunt and uncle, or even your second cousin, knows anyone
> >> high up in highways, maybe you could whisper in their ears about
> >> saving the beauty of these stands of Ashy Sunflowers, Prairie
> >> Blazing Stars, and some of all the amazing rest of our native
> >> prairie flora in Northwest Arkansas City.
> >>
> >> -------------------------
> >>
> >> 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]
> >>
> >> -------------------------
> >>
> >> 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]
> >
> > -------------------------
> >
> > 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]
> >
> > -------------------------
> >
> > 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]
> >
> > -------------------------
> >
> > To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> > <http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD- > L&A=1>
> >
> > Links:
> > ------
> > [1] <http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD- > L&A=1>
> > [2]
> > <https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/10604-N-Highway-43-Maysville-AR- > 72747/70694168_zpid/?utm_campaign=zillowwebmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare>
>
> ############################
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list:
> write to: mailto:<ARBIRD-L-SIGNOFF-REQUEST...> > or click the following link:
> <http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1>
Date: 7/10/25 11:29 am From: Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
And why not the Fayetteville area newspapers? People cannot solve a
problem unless they know one exists and then one percent may respond.
Jerry
On 2025-07-10 12:24 pm, Patty McLean wrote:
> Joe, just a thought but one option might be to share your great write
> up with photos on the Northwest Arkansas Facebook page.
> https://www.facebook.com/groups/northwestarkansas/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBT >
> Patty McLean
>
> -------- Original message --------
> From: Michael Ferrara
> <00000fca8e4de7ff-dmarc-request...>
> Date: 7/10/25 12:06 PM (GMT-06:00)
> To: <ARBIRD-L...>
> Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
>
> Another potential option would be for somebody to mention something
> to Northwest Arkansas LandTrust. I have not worked with them, but I've
> worked with other LandTrusts that have shown interest in protecting
> those kinds of landscapes.
>
> Michael Ferrara
>
> -------------------------
>
> From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List
> <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of <jwdavis...>
> <jwdavis...>
> Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 11:07 AM
> To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
> Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
>
> Thanks for the information. There are 2,800 Billionaires and
> 22,000,000 millionaires in this country. I am not one of them, but it
> would be nice if one would decide to do something to help the
> conservation of our remaining prairie and the birds that use it.
>
> Jerry Wayne Davis
> Hot Springs, AR
>
> -------------------------
>
> From: Taylor Long <mtaylorlong...>
> Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 8:08 AM
> To: ARBIRD-L <arbird-l...>; Jerry Davis
> <jwdavis...>
> Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
>
> Here's some land for sale right in the area Joe has highlighted as
> the most botanically rich in his PDF:
> https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/10604-N-Highway-43-Maysville-AR-72747/70694168_zpid/?utm_campaign=zillowwebmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare > [2]
>
> On July 10, 2025, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
>
>> Thank you for championing this cause and trying to get the word
>> out. Why wouldn't this be something that the Audubon Chapters in the
>> state supported and used they position to write letters? Maybe the
>> calls of many could interest them in doing something more.
>>
>> Jerry
>>
>> -------------------------
>>
>> From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List
>> <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Joseph Neal
>> <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Sent: Thursday,
>> July 10, 2025 6:40 AM To: <ARBIRD-L...>
>> <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER
>> BEATY PRAIRIE
>>
>> Yesterday’s birding and prairie flowering trip to former Beaty
>> Prairie in western Benton County yielded a number of pleasant
>> surprises. One that gave me most pleasure was hearing Northern
>> Bobwhites calling from six separate places, mainly in the area of
>> Leonard Ranch X Schoolhouse roads. Overall, good bird activity
>> generally: https://ebird.org/checklist/S258607230 >> None of once extensive Beaty Prairie is in public ownership, but
>> old Beaty survives in a few spots, mainly rights-of-way along local
>> roads. It is totally blazing with native prairie flora now. I wrote
>> up a guide and suggestions for seeing this. I gave it the name Beaty
>> Prairie Botanical Area, though this designation is just mine. I
>> never managed to interest anyone in the highway department to
>> actually try and preserve this:
>>
> https://nwarkaudubon.org/Places%20to%20Bird%20PDFs/BEATIE%20PRAIRIE%20BOTANICAL%20AREA%20in%20August%202011.pdf >>
>> If you aunt and uncle, or even your second cousin, knows anyone
>> high up in highways, maybe you could whisper in their ears about
>> saving the beauty of these stands of Ashy Sunflowers, Prairie
>> Blazing Stars, and some of all the amazing rest of our native
>> prairie flora in Northwest Arkansas City.
>>
>> -------------------------
>>
>> 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]
>>
>> -------------------------
>>
>> 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]
>
> -------------------------
>
> 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]
>
> -------------------------
>
> 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]
>
> -------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
> Links:
> ------
> [1] http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 > [2]
> https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/10604-N-Highway-43-Maysville-AR-72747/70694168_zpid/?utm_campaign=zillowwebmessage&utm_medium=referral&utm_source=txtshare
We use Merlin regularly, particularly when in a new environment and find it to be a helpful companion tool. To my ears, birds sound slightly different in different regions of the country, which gives me careful pause until I learn these "regional variations." Merlin helps me learn this quicker than on my own. That being said, it does get some identifications wrong. So I always try to confirm the species on my own. And Michael? His ears aren't as good as they once were, so he finds Merlin to be very useful, especially if I'm uncertain whether we just heard a Carolina or a Black-capped Chickadee where their range overlaps. While very useful in many ways, I can't recommend relying on it for everything it flashes on the screen. I've seen too many incorrect suggestions. For instance, I can't tell you how many times I've looked for a Cerulean Warbler that Merlin suggested only to find yet another Northern Parula doing it's alternate zee-zee song. But I want to check everytime...just in case it is a Cerulean.Patty McLean
-------- Original message --------From: "<jwdavis...>" <jwdavis...> Date: 7/10/25 12:20 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Re: Merlin
Thank you, David, I agree with what you say, and it extends the birding years for those that have lost some of their hearing and is great for bird ID for those that do not know the 5,000 bird calls. I have studied and learn bird calls with the Birding By Ear
CD and other means and used that knowledge for years. Merlin is a better tool to fill in the gaps of knowledge and lost hearing. It is time to stop beating up on Merlin and for some stop trying to sound wise when they might be otherwise.
Jerry Wayne Davis
Hot Springs, AR
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of David Chapman <dchapman1245...>
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 9:56 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Merlin
<!--
p
{margin-top:0;
margin-bottom:0}
-->
Joe Neal’s post regarding his interest in how birders utilize Merlin prompts this reply. As a long-time birder, I would, without hesitation say that Merlin is the greatest boon for birders since the Introduction of guidebooks. This is particularly true to those
of us who have lost our hearing. In my case, I have been deaf in one ear for over 25 years and have slowly been losing hearing in the other. More recently, I have qualified for and received a cochlear implant. I can now hear birds, but they sound different,
and I am doing my best to relearn at least the common species. How then do I use Merlin? If I hear or see a bird, I use Merlin to listen and confirm its presence. Often Merlin will tell me that other species are also present which prompts me to look more carefully.
In my opinion, Merlin only occasionally gets things wrong. Thus, Merlin has enabled me to continue my hobby which for the hearing impaired is so valuable.
Date: 7/10/25 11:24 am From: Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
Joe, just a thought but one option might be to share your great write up with photos on the Northwest Arkansas Facebook page. https://www.facebook.com/groups/northwestarkansas/?ref=share&mibextid=NSMWBTPatty McLean
-------- Original message --------From: Michael Ferrara <00000fca8e4de7ff-dmarc-request...> Date: 7/10/25 12:06 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
Another potential option would be for somebody to mention something to Northwest Arkansas LandTrust. I have not worked with them, but I've worked with other LandTrusts that have shown interest in protecting those kinds of landscapes.
Michael Ferrara
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of <jwdavis...> <jwdavis...>
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 11:07 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
<!--
p
{margin-top:0;
margin-bottom:0}
-->
Thanks for the information. There are 2,800 Billionaires and 22,000,000 millionaires in this country. I am not one of them, but it would be nice if one would decide to do something to help the conservation of our remaining prairie and the birds that use it.
Jerry Wayne Davis
Hot Springs, AR
From: Taylor Long <mtaylorlong...>
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 8:08 AM
To: ARBIRD-L <arbird-l...>; Jerry Davis <jwdavis...>
Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
Here's some land for sale right in the area Joe has highlighted as the most botanically rich in his PDF:
Thank you for championing this cause and trying to get the word out. Why wouldn't this be something that the Audubon Chapters in the state supported and used they position to write letters? Maybe the calls of many could interest them in doing something more.
Jerry
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 6:40 AM To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: BOBWHITES
SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
Yesterday’s birding and prairie flowering trip to former Beaty Prairie in western Benton County yielded a number of pleasant surprises. One that gave me most pleasure was hearing North
ern Bobwhites calling from six separate places,
mainly in the area of Leonard Ranch X Schoolhouse roads. Overall, good bird activity generally:
https://ebird.org/checklist/S258607230
None of once extensive Beaty Prairie is in public ownership, but old Beaty survives in a few spots, mainly rights-of-way along local roads. It is totally blazing with native prairie flora now. I wrote up a guide and suggestions
for seeing this. I gave it the name Beaty Prairie Botanical Area, though this designation is just mine. I never managed to interest anyone in the highway department to actually try and preserve this:
https://nwarkaudubon.org/Places%20to%20Bird%20PDFs/BEATIE%20PRAIRIE%20BOTANICAL%20AREA%20in%20August%202011.pdf
If you aunt and uncle, or even your second cousin, knows anyone high up in highways, maybe you could whisper in their ears about saving the beauty of these stands of Ashy Sunflowers, Prairie Blazing Stars, and some of all the amazing rest of our native p
rairie
flora in Northwest Arkansas City.
Date: 7/10/25 10:14 am From: <jwdavis...> <jwdavis...> Subject: Re: Merlin
Thank you, David, I agree with what you say, and it extends the birding years for those that have lost some of their hearing and is great for bird ID for those that do not know the 5,000 bird calls. I have studied and learn bird calls with the Birding By Ear CD and other means and used that knowledge for years. Merlin is a better tool to fill in the gaps of knowledge and lost hearing. It is time to stop beating up on Merlin and for some stop trying to sound wise when they might be otherwise.
Jerry Wayne Davis
Hot Springs, AR
________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of David Chapman <dchapman1245...>
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 9:56 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Merlin
Joe Neals post regarding his interest in how birders utilize Merlin prompts this reply. As a long-time birder, I would, without hesitation say that Merlin is the greatest boon for birders since the Introduction of guidebooks. This is particularly true to those of us who have lost our hearing. In my case, I have been deaf in one ear for over 25 years and have slowly been losing hearing in the other. More recently, I have qualified for and received a cochlear implant. I can now hear birds, but they sound different, and I am doing my best to relearn at least the common species. How then do I use Merlin? If I hear or see a bird, I use Merlin to listen and confirm its presence. Often Merlin will tell me that other species are also present which prompts me to look more carefully. In my opinion, Merlin only occasionally gets things wrong. Thus, Merlin has enabled me to continue my hobby which for the hearing impaired is so valuable.
David Chapman
Date: 7/10/25 9:58 am From: Michael Ferrara <00000fca8e4de7ff-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
Another potential option would be for somebody to mention something to Northwest Arkansas LandTrust. I have not worked with them, but I've worked with other LandTrusts that have shown interest in protecting those kinds of landscapes.
Michael Ferrara
________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of <jwdavis...> <jwdavis...>
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 11:07 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
Thanks for the information. There are 2,800 Billionaires and 22,000,000 millionaires in this country. I am not one of them, but it would be nice if one would decide to do something to help the conservation of our remaining prairie and the birds that use it.
Jerry Wayne Davis
Hot Springs, AR
________________________________
From: Taylor Long <mtaylorlong...>
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 8:08 AM
To: ARBIRD-L <arbird-l...>; Jerry Davis <jwdavis...>
Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
On July 10, 2025, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
Thank you for championing this cause and trying to get the word out. Why wouldn't this be something that the Audubon Chapters in the state supported and used they position to write letters? Maybe the calls of many could interest them in doing something more.
Jerry
________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 6:40 AM To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
Yesterdays birding and prairie flowering trip to former Beaty Prairie in western Benton County yielded a number of pleasant surprises. One that gave me most pleasure was hearing Northern Bobwhites calling from six separate places, mainly in the area of Leonard Ranch X Schoolhouse roads. Overall, good bird activity generally: https://ebird.org/checklist/S258607230 None of once extensive Beaty Prairie is in public ownership, but old Beaty survives in a few spots, mainly rights-of-way along local roads. It is totally blazing with native prairie flora now. I wrote up a guide and suggestions for seeing this. I gave it the name Beaty Prairie Botanical Area, though this designation is just mine. I never managed to interest anyone in the highway department to actually try and preserve this: https://nwarkaudubon.org/Places%20to%20Bird%20PDFs/BEATIE%20PRAIRIE%20BOTANICAL%20AREA%20in%20August%202011.pdf If you aunt and uncle, or even your second cousin, knows anyone high up in highways, maybe you could whisper in their ears about saving the beauty of these stands of Ashy Sunflowers, Prairie Blazing Stars, and some of all the amazing rest of our native prairie flora in Northwest Arkansas City.
Date: 7/10/25 9:56 am From: David Chapman <dchapman1245...> Subject: Merlin
Joe Neals post regarding his interest in how birders utilize Merlin prompts this reply. As a long-time birder, I would, without hesitation say that Merlin is the greatest boon for birders since the Introduction of guidebooks. This is particularly true to those of us who have lost our hearing. In my case, I have been deaf in one ear for over 25 years and have slowly been losing hearing in the other. More recently, I have qualified for and received a cochlear implant. I can now hear birds, but they sound different, and I am doing my best to relearn at least the common species. How then do I use Merlin? If I hear or see a bird, I use Merlin to listen and confirm its presence. Often Merlin will tell me that other species are also present which prompts me to look more carefully. In my opinion, Merlin only occasionally gets things wrong. Thus, Merlin has enabled me to continue my hobby which for the hearing impaired is so valuable.
David Chapman
Date: 7/10/25 9:07 am From: <jwdavis...> <jwdavis...> Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
Thanks for the information. There are 2,800 Billionaires and 22,000,000 millionaires in this country. I am not one of them, but it would be nice if one would decide to do something to help the conservation of our remaining prairie and the birds that use it.
Jerry Wayne Davis
Hot Springs, AR
________________________________
From: Taylor Long <mtaylorlong...>
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 8:08 AM
To: ARBIRD-L <arbird-l...>; Jerry Davis <jwdavis...>
Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
On July 10, 2025, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
Thank you for championing this cause and trying to get the word out. Why wouldn't this be something that the Audubon Chapters in the state supported and used they position to write letters? Maybe the calls of many could interest them in doing something more.
Jerry
________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 6:40 AM To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
Yesterdays birding and prairie flowering trip to former Beaty Prairie in western Benton County yielded a number of pleasant surprises. One that gave me most pleasure was hearing Northern Bobwhites calling from six separate places, mainly in the area of Leonard Ranch X Schoolhouse roads. Overall, good bird activity generally: https://ebird.org/checklist/S258607230 None of once extensive Beaty Prairie is in public ownership, but old Beaty survives in a few spots, mainly rights-of-way along local roads. It is totally blazing with native prairie flora now. I wrote up a guide and suggestions for seeing this. I gave it the name Beaty Prairie Botanical Area, though this designation is just mine. I never managed to interest anyone in the highway department to actually try and preserve this: https://nwarkaudubon.org/Places%20to%20Bird%20PDFs/BEATIE%20PRAIRIE%20BOTANICAL%20AREA%20in%20August%202011.pdf If you aunt and uncle, or even your second cousin, knows anyone high up in highways, maybe you could whisper in their ears about saving the beauty of these stands of Ashy Sunflowers, Prairie Blazing Stars, and some of all the amazing rest of our native prairie flora in Northwest Arkansas City.
Date: 7/10/25 8:54 am From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
I wish I could buy all of this right now. The future when all this native flora is gone would surely be thankful.
But, if YOU (someone out there) were in the market for 4-acres, one of the best pieces of the former Beaty is at corner of highway 72 and Schoolhouse road. This is a delta-shaped piece of land in a big curve. The part fronting highway 72 is a rich Tallgrass Prairie. The back was planted with pines at some point. The pines could be cut (and sold) so that this property would, like the front, expess the botanical wealth of Beaty. I don't know the price. I can't buy it. But it would be a good piece to have in some kind of trust or something because of ease of access and botanical wealth.
________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Taylor Long <00000455b6b08e87-dmarc-request...>
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 10:08 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
On July 10, 2025, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
Thank you for championing this cause and trying to get the word out. Why wouldn't this be something that the Audubon Chapters in the state supported and used they position to write letters? Maybe the calls of many could interest them in doing something more.
Jerry
________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 6:40 AM To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
Yesterdays birding and prairie flowering trip to former Beaty Prairie in western Benton County yielded a number of pleasant surprises. One that gave me most pleasure was hearing Northern Bobwhites calling from six separate places, mainly in the area of Leonard Ranch X Schoolhouse roads. Overall, good bird activity generally: https://ebird.org/checklist/S258607230 None of once extensive Beaty Prairie is in public ownership, but old Beaty survives in a few spots, mainly rights-of-way along local roads. It is totally blazing with native prairie flora now. I wrote up a guide and suggestions for seeing this. I gave it the name Beaty Prairie Botanical Area, though this designation is just mine. I never managed to interest anyone in the highway department to actually try and preserve this: https://nwarkaudubon.org/Places%20to%20Bird%20PDFs/BEATIE%20PRAIRIE%20BOTANICAL%20AREA%20in%20August%202011.pdf If you aunt and uncle, or even your second cousin, knows anyone high up in highways, maybe you could whisper in their ears about saving the beauty of these stands of Ashy Sunflowers, Prairie Blazing Stars, and some of all the amazing rest of our native prairie flora in Northwest Arkansas City.
On July 10, 2025, Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> wrote:
> Thank you for championing this cause and trying to get the word out.
> Why wouldn't this be something that the Audubon Chapters in the state
> supported and used they position to write letters? Maybe the calls of
> many could interest them in doing something more.
>
> Jerry
>
>
> From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-
> <L...> on behalf of Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-
> <request...> Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 6:40 AM
> To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
> Subject: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
>
> Yesterday’s birding and prairie flowering trip to former Beaty Prairie
> in western Benton County yielded a number of pleasant surprises. One
> that gave me most pleasure was hearing Northern Bobwhites calling from
> six separate places, mainly in the area of Leonard Ranch X Schoolhouse
> roads. Overall, good bird activity generally:
> <https://ebird.org/checklist/S258607230> > None of once extensive Beaty Prairie is in public ownership, but old
> Beaty survives in a few spots, mainly rights-of-way along local roads.
> It is totally blazing with native prairie flora now. I wrote up a
> guide and suggestions for seeing this. I gave it the name Beaty
> Prairie Botanical Area, though this designation is just mine. I never
> managed to interest anyone in the highway department to actually try
> and preserve this:
> <https://nwarkaudubon.org/Places%20to%20Bird%20PDFs/BEATIE%20PRAIRIE%20BOTANICAL%20AREA%20in%20August%202011.pdf> > If you aunt and uncle, or even your second cousin, knows anyone high
> up in highways, maybe you could whisper in their ears about saving the
> beauty of these stands of Ashy Sunflowers, Prairie Blazing Stars, and
> some of all the amazing rest of our native prairie flora in Northwest
> Arkansas City.
>
>
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> <http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1> >
>
> 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: 7/10/25 7:16 am From: <jwdavis...> <jwdavis...> Subject: Re: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
Thank you for championing this cause and trying to get the word out. Why wouldn't this be something that the Audubon Chapters in the state supported and used they position to write letters? Maybe the calls of many could interest them in doing something more.
Jerry
________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...>
Sent: Thursday, July 10, 2025 6:40 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
Yesterdays birding and prairie flowering trip to former Beaty Prairie in western Benton County yielded a number of pleasant surprises. One that gave me most pleasure was hearing Northern Bobwhites calling from six separate places, mainly in the area of Leonard Ranch X Schoolhouse roads. Overall, good bird activity generally: https://ebird.org/checklist/S258607230 None of once extensive Beaty Prairie is in public ownership, but old Beaty survives in a few spots, mainly rights-of-way along local roads. It is totally blazing with native prairie flora now. I wrote up a guide and suggestions for seeing this. I gave it the name Beaty Prairie Botanical Area, though this designation is just mine. I never managed to interest anyone in the highway department to actually try and preserve this: https://nwarkaudubon.org/Places%20to%20Bird%20PDFs/BEATIE%20PRAIRIE%20BOTANICAL%20AREA%20in%20August%202011.pdf If you aunt and uncle, or even your second cousin, knows anyone high up in highways, maybe you could whisper in their ears about saving the beauty of these stands of Ashy Sunflowers, Prairie Blazing Stars, and some of all the amazing rest of our native prairie flora in Northwest Arkansas City.
Date: 7/10/25 6:40 am From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: BOBWHITES SINGING IN FORMER BEATY PRAIRIE
Yesterdays birding and prairie flowering trip to former Beaty Prairie in western Benton County yielded a number of pleasant surprises. One that gave me most pleasure was hearing Northern Bobwhites calling from six separate places, mainly in the area of Leonard Ranch X Schoolhouse roads. Overall, good bird activity generally: https://ebird.org/checklist/S258607230 None of once extensive Beaty Prairie is in public ownership, but old Beaty survives in a few spots, mainly rights-of-way along local roads. It is totally blazing with native prairie flora now. I wrote up a guide and suggestions for seeing this. I gave it the name Beaty Prairie Botanical Area, though this designation is just mine. I never managed to interest anyone in the highway department to actually try and preserve this: https://nwarkaudubon.org/Places%20to%20Bird%20PDFs/BEATIE%20PRAIRIE%20BOTANICAL%20AREA%20in%20August%202011.pdf If you aunt and uncle, or even your second cousin, knows anyone high up in highways, maybe you could whisper in their ears about saving the beauty of these stands of Ashy Sunflowers, Prairie Blazing Stars, and some of all the amazing rest of our native prairie flora in Northwest Arkansas City.
Date: 7/9/25 10:03 am From: Brian Carlson <brianrcarlson...> Subject: Re: Common Gallinule, Buffalo Slough, Geridge, Lonoke County
Cindy, I am glad that you were able to find some gallinules. My wife and I drove to Broken Bow, OK on Friday. It was the 1st time we had been there so we thought we would explore the lake and large state park just north of town on Saturday. The problem was that seemingly everyone else in the area was thinking the same thing. It was very crowded with an extremely long line of backed up cars. So we decided to visit Red Slough on Saturday instead. I had been there once before in early May of 2023. We saw lots of birds, including Purple and Common Gallinule. I made a video and the link is below:
________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of CK Franklin <meshoppen...>
Sent: Wednesday, July 9, 2025 11:16 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Common Gallinule, Buffalo Slough, Geridge, Lonoke County
All,
Gallinules have been on my mind lately. The annual ASCA field trip to Bois D'Arc NWR near Hope, Arkansas in Hempstead County on July 19th for gallinules, alligators, and other wildlife.
These days I ride with two passengers, the hubs, Bill B, & Uncle Arthur. The distance from Little Rock to Hope is at the upper limits of Arthur's tolerance of riding in a car that far. The other known reliable gallinule option are the wetlands at Arkansas Post, also too far. So I began to think about large wetlands nearer to Little Rock where people don't mess around too much during the summer.
When we are out birding, I often chat up the local people I meet with the goal of learning about off the beaten path locales to be explored. Back in the winter of 2022 a guy in England mentioned the ducks at Buffalo Slough. That was catnip that could not be ignored.
Buffalo Slough is between Humnoke & Stuttgart. There are a number of duck hunting operations located along Geridge and Brummett Roads that encircle the slough & its wetlands. Both roads are well maintained because of the ducks & the income they generate. It is a round trip of about 12 miles out & back to Hwy 165. It occurred to me Buffalo Slough was the nearest place that might host a gallinule.
After looking at many egrets and herons, we arrived in the area I identified as the most likely place to see a gallinule. After looking at all the egrets & herons in the distance, we played Common Gallinule calls and began to comb through the lilly pads & rushes looking for ye olde moorhens. Within a few minutes we found our target bird feeding up against some rushes & sedges. We both got good looks at it, and I got a somewhat fuzzy photo of the bird for my eBird checklist.
We were also looking for spoonbills & Tricolored Herons but did not see any.
On the way back we stopped at Charlotte's Eats & Sweets in Keo for sandwiches and a slice of coconut cream pie.
Date: 7/9/25 9:16 am From: CK Franklin <meshoppen...> Subject: Common Gallinule, Buffalo Slough, Geridge, Lonoke County
All,
Gallinules have been on my mind lately. The annual ASCA field trip to Bois D'Arc NWR near Hope, Arkansas in Hempstead County on July 19th for gallinules, alligators, and other wildlife.
These days I ride with two passengers, the hubs, Bill B, & Uncle Arthur. The distance from Little Rock to Hope is at the upper limits of Arthur's tolerance of riding in a car that far. The other known reliable gallinule option are the wetlands at Arkansas Post, also too far. So I began to think about large wetlands nearer to Little Rock where people don't mess around too much during the summer.
When we are out birding, I often chat up the local people I meet with the goal of learning about off the beaten path locales to be explored. Back in the winter of 2022 a guy in England mentioned the ducks at Buffalo Slough. That was catnip that could not be ignored.
Buffalo Slough is between Humnoke & Stuttgart. There are a number of duck hunting operations located along Geridge and Brummett Roads that encircle the slough & its wetlands. Both roads are well maintained because of the ducks & the income they generate. It is a round trip of about 12 miles out & back to Hwy 165. It occurred to me Buffalo Slough was the nearest place that might host a gallinule.
After looking at many egrets and herons, we arrived in the area I identified as the most likely place to see a gallinule. After looking at all the egrets & herons in the distance, we played Common Gallinule calls and began to comb through the lilly pads & rushes looking for ye olde moorhens. Within a few minutes we found our target bird feeding up against some rushes & sedges. We both got good looks at it, and I got a somewhat fuzzy photo of the bird for my eBird checklist.
We were also looking for spoonbills & Tricolored Herons but did not see any.
On the way back we stopped at Charlotte's Eats & Sweets in Keo for sandwiches and a slice of coconut cream pie.
Date: 7/9/25 8:36 am From: CK Franklin <meshoppen...> Subject: Re: Merlin
I was skeptical of Merlin when it first came out, and I was slow to install it on my phone. Not out of any sense of old school purity. I wasn't sure the technology was up to the task of sonic identification. Eventually I decided to experiment with it as it kept coming up in bird conversations.
I was pleasantly surprised by the results. It did a pretty good job of identifying bird songs about 75% of the time. I started looking at the sonograms my phone recorded and compared them to prerecorded species' sonograms available in the app to see if they matched. I listened to the songs and chips my phone recorded and compared them to prerecorded songs available in the app as well as prerecorded songs in other apps. I began to appreciate the subtle and sometimes not so subtle differences in the calls of individual birds of one species as well as how songs vary across related species. Merlin has improved my sonic birding ability.
But there are caveats when using Merlin.
1.
Merlin is accurate about 75% of the time when set to the appropriate bird list in the area being birded. In our case that is the Arkansas bird recordings.
2.
That other 25% of the time, Merlin offers its best guess about the sound it is receiving. The results can be quite whimsical. Distant barking dogs = Wild Turkey. Me phishing = wrens and Tufted Titmice scolding, Osprey, Northern Mockingbird, among others. Or no suggestions at all.
3.
Beware of mocking birds & jays. Their calls often register as other species.
4.
A high noise environment overpowers Merlin's ability to record & process the natural sonic landscape.
5.
Merlin often fails to register calls that are distant or lower in tone or volume.
6.
Merlin's results may be accurate but must be evaluated based on prior birding knowledge & experience. Last week I was birding along an oxbow lake in Galloway that I had somehow overlooked. Merlin kept alerting on Black-bellied Whistling Duck. The oxbow as thick with Cypress tress and & other vegetation. I did not hear or see any ducks. I told Merlin I thought it was having one of its moments. Merlin hit on the duck again, and that very duck blasted out of a cypress right in front of me like a Ruffed Grouse out of a snow covered spruce in a Pennsylvania winter of yore. It disappeared into the murky depths of the oxbow. Score one for Merlin.
My hearing remains excellent despite getting older. I hear and process familiar as well as distant calls faster & better than Merlin most of the time. In a human high noise environment, I am on my own as artificial sound overpowers Merlin's ability to detect bird calls. It's a toss up with near sounds. Merlin does call my attention to sounds I miss as I move through an environment recording birds. It has become another tool in my birding kit to help me see/hear, identify, and record the birds around us.
Cindy F
Pulaski County
________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...>
Sent: Tuesday, July 8, 2025 10:12:40 AM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Merlin
Im always interested to hear how people use Cornells Merlin app. I compare these comments with my own experience. The current issue of Cornells Living Bird (summer 2025) has a really interesting essay by Andrew J. Lewis, Listening, Belonging, and the Patterns we live by. It is a very good read about his experience in using Merlin. I dont have a link to the article, but if anyone knows how to get a link, please post it for others who dont subscribe to the magazine.
Date: 7/9/25 7:06 am From: Ann Gordon <chesterann...> Subject: Re: Pat Moore
For a number of years Pat also designed and painted the name tags for our
meetings. I still cherish and wear one from October, 2005.
On Tue, Jul 8, 2025 at 7:12 PM Terry & Judy Butler <twbutler1941...>
wrote:
> In reading the AAS newsletter of Pat Moore, I might add that Pat designed
> and painted the Mockingbird and the flowers on the front page of the
> newsletter.
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
On an Audubon outing, a fellow participant christened Merlin's tendency to ascribe hawk-dom to blue jays as a "blue-tailed hawk." I laugh every time I think of that. Laughing now. You're welcome.
On Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at 06:46:22 AM CDT, Debra Balicki <debandronb...> wrote:
I got hearing aids a couple of years ago. I am amazed at the bird songs I now hear. Unfortunately, there is some kind of conflict between the microphone on my IPhone and my hearing aids and Bluetooth, so I don’t use Merlin when I wear my hearing aids. When I do use it, because I am familiar with the birds in my area, I know that when it says it hears a red- tailed hawk, I know that it is hearing a blue jay. It is a great resource but has to be used with a grain of salt and knowledge. I really like to use it. For example, when it hears a red eyed vireo, which I know that I have here, then I can use my binoculars to find it. I was thrilled when it heard a yellow billed cuckoo. I have them here every year but had not heard one without my hearing aids. Now I feel sure they are back.
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 8, 2025, at 3:53 PM, Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
The problem I am seeing with the use of Merlin by those who have lost their hearing, and by novice birders, is that they are using it with a surety that the birds Merlin says it’s hearing are actually there. I’m an old-school birder having learned bird calls by actually hearing them and chasing down the birds, or going home and trying to find the calls on cds. Y’all remember those? There was no stick a device up in the air and it’ll tell you what it hears. Back in the day we also had to use a field guide that had words in them that kind of read like what a bird sounded like. And there was info on where to find birds, and how they migrated, and all the different plumages were shown. There was so much to learn. Does Merlin do all that? And do we really want to learn, to actually retain the bird song? Or do we just want an instant answer, which is the way the world is trending in every aspect. Just some of my thoughts. And a thought on formal birding field trips. How difficult it has become to lead a trip only to have five phones at the same time record calls and five people at the same time are calling out different bird names. And none of the birds are being seen. I would suggest that leaders ask groups to either not use Merlin, or to have one person use it. Again…just some of my thoughts.
SandyFort Smith
On Tue, Jul 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM Gmail <butchchq8...> wrote:
Joe,
I've organized a monthly backyard bird count for the residents of Bella Vista for the past six years. About two years ago, I added a Merlin count for those that were interested in participating. Over time, we'll compare the personal ID's with the Merlin ID's, but for now, I think it is really opening up the eyes of folks by opening up their ears, causing them to realize there are soooo many more birds out there than only come to feeders. This is especially so for novices and those whose hearing isn't quite what it used to be. Merlin has been a nice addition to the birders' arsenal.
ButchBella Vista
On Jul 8, 2025, at 12:24, betty_evans <betty_evans...> wrote:
I’m always interested to hear how people use Cornell’s Merlin app. I compare these comments with my own experience. The current issue of Cornell’s Living Bird (summer 2025) has a really interesting essay by Andrew J. Lewis, “Listening, Belonging, and the Patterns we live by.” It is a very good read about his experience in using Merlin. I don’t have a link to the article, but if anyone knows how to get a link, please post it for others who don’t subscribe to the magazine.
Date: 7/8/25 6:59 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - July 8
It was mostly cloudy and warm, with a light breeze today on the bird survey. 55 species were found. Pretty much just seeing the same species that I have been seeing except for a single Fall migrant (Greater Yellowlegs). Hopefully Wood Storks will show up soon. I did see 3 partially Leucistic juvenile Common Gallinules which is a first for me. Why 3 I don't know. They were part of the same brood and were about 1/2 grown. Here is my list for today:
Date: 7/8/25 6:41 pm From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Merlin
Karen's experiences and benefits match my own. Neighbors have Guinea Fowls. These birds sound like crazy aliens - a bit reminiscent of raccoons. I wondered what Merlin would call them - Great Egret!
On Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 08:31:09 PM CDT, Karen Garrett <kjgarrett84...> wrote:
Merlin definitely has a weird sense of humor. This spring it told me, multiple times, that there was a Common Loon on the top of a ridge at Hobbs SP. I think the most interesting story is that my friend had her own personal turkey in her Fayetteville yard, and it followed her around, even to other states. But, could it identify the actual turkey sounds that we have actually heard? No, it could not, not even when it was given several chances.
It is a great tool, though, most of the time. Like Joe, I have lost my ability to hear the high-pitched calls of gnatcatchers and many warblers. But, I can play back my own recordings on Merlin, and can verify that those birds are, indeed, present. That's a great gift.
On Tue, Jul 8, 2025 at 5:50 PM Debra Balicki <debandronb...> wrote:
I got hearing aids a couple of years ago. I am amazed at the bird songs I now hear. Unfortunately, there is some kind of conflict between the microphone on my IPhone and my hearing aids and Bluetooth, so I don’t use Merlin when I wear my hearing aids. When I do use it, because I am familiar with the birds in my area, I know that when it says it hears a red- tailed hawk, I know that it is hearing a blue jay. It is a great resource but has to be used with a grain of salt and knowledge. I really like to use it. For example, when it hears a red eyed vireo, which I know that I have here, then I can use my binoculars to find it. I was thrilled when it heard a yellow billed cuckoo. I have them here every year but had not heard one without my hearing aids. Now I feel sure they are back.
Sent from my iPhone
On Jul 8, 2025, at 3:53 PM, Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
The problem I am seeing with the use of Merlin by those who have lost their hearing, and by novice birders, is that they are using it with a surety that the birds Merlin says it’s hearing are actually there. I’m an old-school birder having learned bird calls by actually hearing them and chasing down the birds, or going home and trying to find the calls on cds. Y’all remember those? There was no stick a device up in the air and it’ll tell you what it hears. Back in the day we also had to use a field guide that had words in them that kind of read like what a bird sounded like. And there was info on where to find birds, and how they migrated, and all the different plumages were shown. There was so much to learn. Does Merlin do all that? And do we really want to learn, to actually retain the bird song? Or do we just want an instant answer, which is the way the world is trending in every aspect. Just some of my thoughts. And a thought on formal birding field trips. How difficult it has become to lead a trip only to have five phones at the same time record calls and five people at the same time are calling out different bird names. And none of the birds are being seen. I would suggest that leaders ask groups to either not use Merlin, or to have one person use it. Again…just some of my thoughts.
SandyFort Smith
On Tue, Jul 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM Gmail <butchchq8...> wrote:
Joe,
I've organized a monthly backyard bird count for the residents of Bella Vista for the past six years. About two years ago, I added a Merlin count for those that were interested in participating. Over time, we'll compare the personal ID's with the Merlin ID's, but for now, I think it is really opening up the eyes of folks by opening up their ears, causing them to realize there are soooo many more birds out there than only come to feeders. This is especially so for novices and those whose hearing isn't quite what it used to be. Merlin has been a nice addition to the birders' arsenal.
ButchBella Vista
On Jul 8, 2025, at 12:24, betty_evans <betty_evans...> wrote:
I’m always interested to hear how people use Cornell’s Merlin app. I compare these comments with my own experience. The current issue of Cornell’s Living Bird (summer 2025) has a really interesting essay by Andrew J. Lewis, “Listening, Belonging, and the Patterns we live by.” It is a very good read about his experience in using Merlin. I don’t have a link to the article, but if anyone knows how to get a link, please post it for others who don’t subscribe to the magazine.
Date: 7/8/25 5:12 pm From: Terry & Judy Butler <twbutler1941...> Subject: Pat Moore
In reading the AAS newsletter of Pat Moore, I might add that Pat designed and painted the Mockingbird and the flowers on the front page of the newsletter.
Merlin definitely has a weird sense of humor. This spring it told me,
multiple times, that there was a Common Loon on the top of a ridge at Hobbs
SP. I think the most interesting story is that my friend had her own
personal turkey in her Fayetteville yard, and it followed her around, even
to other states. But, could it identify the actual turkey sounds that we
have actually heard? No, it could not, not even when it was given several
chances.
It is a great tool, though, most of the time. Like Joe, I have lost my
ability to hear the high-pitched calls of gnatcatchers and many warblers.
But, I can play back my own recordings on Merlin, and can verify that those
birds are, indeed, present. That's a great gift.
On Tue, Jul 8, 2025 at 5:50 PM Debra Balicki <debandronb...>
wrote:
> I got hearing aids a couple of years ago. I am amazed at the bird songs I
> now hear. Unfortunately, there is some kind of conflict between the
> microphone on my IPhone and my hearing aids and Bluetooth, so I don’t use
> Merlin when I wear my hearing aids. When I do use it, because I am familiar
> with the birds in my area, I know that when it says it hears a red- tailed
> hawk, I know that it is hearing a blue jay. It is a great resource but has
> to be used with a grain of salt and knowledge. I really like to use it. For
> example, when it hears a red eyed vireo, which I know that I have here,
> then I can use my binoculars to find it. I was thrilled when it heard a
> yellow billed cuckoo. I have them here every year but had not heard one
> without my hearing aids. Now I feel sure they are back.
> Sent from my iPhone
>
> On Jul 8, 2025, at 3:53 PM, Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
>
>
> The problem I am seeing with the use of Merlin by those who have lost
> their hearing, and by novice birders, is that they are using it with a
> surety that the birds Merlin says it’s hearing are actually there.
> I’m an old-school birder having learned bird calls by actually hearing
> them and chasing down the birds, or going home and trying to find the calls
> on cds. Y’all remember those? There was no stick a device up in the air and
> it’ll tell you what it hears.
> Back in the day we also had to use a field guide that had words in them
> that kind of read like what a bird sounded like. And there was info on
> where to find birds, and how they migrated, and all the different plumages
> were shown. There was so much to learn. Does Merlin do all that? And do we
> really want to learn, to actually retain the bird song? Or do we just want
> an instant answer, which is the way the world is trending in every aspect.
> Just some of my thoughts.
> And a thought on formal birding field trips. How difficult it has become
> to lead a trip only to have five phones at the same time record calls and
> five people at the same time are calling out different bird names. And none
> of the birds are being seen. I would suggest that leaders ask groups to
> either not use Merlin, or to have one person use it. Again…just some of my
> thoughts.
>
> Sandy
> Fort Smith
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Jul 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM Gmail <butchchq8...> wrote:
>
>> Joe,
>>
>> I've organized a monthly backyard bird count for the residents of Bella
>> Vista for the past six years. About two years ago, I added a Merlin count
>> for those that were interested in participating. Over time, we'll compare
>> the personal ID's with the Merlin ID's, but for now, I think it is really
>> opening up the eyes of folks by opening up their ears, causing them to
>> realize there are soooo many more birds out there than only come to
>> feeders. This is especially so for novices and those whose hearing isn't
>> quite what it used to be. Merlin has been a nice addition to the birders'
>> arsenal.
>>
>> Butch
>> Bella Vista
>>
>> On Jul 8, 2025, at 12:24, betty_evans <betty_evans...> wrote:
>>
>>
>>
>> https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/listening-with-merlin-bird-id-patterns/ >>
>> Here is the article.
>>
>> On Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 10:30:59 AM CDT, Joseph Neal <
>> <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> I’m always interested to hear how people use Cornell’s Merlin app. I
>> compare these comments with my own experience. The current issue of
>> Cornell’s Living Bird (summer 2025) has a really interesting essay by
>> Andrew J. Lewis, “Listening, Belonging, and the Patterns we live by.” It is
>> a very good read about his experience in using Merlin. I don’t have a link
>> to the article, but if anyone knows how to get a link, please post it for
>> others who don’t subscribe to the magazine.
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
>
> ------------------------------
>
> 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: 7/8/25 3:58 pm From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Merlin
I agree with everything that Sandy says. Still, I find Merlin very helpful by calling my attention to the presence of a bird, or even teaching me the call of a bird. Here's an example: I am used to identifying Clay-colored Sparrows by sight, not sound, Donald too. Once he thought he heard a bird, but dismissed it as an insect. Merlin ID'd "Clay-colored Sparrow". First we listened to the Merlin vocals. Ahah! There was the "insect" call Donald had heard. Then we listened to the actual recording just made - and there it was. So we learned the Clay-colored Sparrow call. Since then Merlin has accurately identified this species, but also has called my pishing a Clay-colored Sparrow often enough that I hesitate to pish. I think Merlin is pretty accurate, but not by any means infallible. A few nights ago we heard an Eastern Whip-or-will. Merlin listed it before we heard it. Merlin is a very helpful teaching tool coupled with a real hunger to learn, not an answer in and of itself.
On Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 04:31:06 PM CDT, Sandy Berger <sndbrgr...> wrote:
The problem I am seeing with the use of Merlin by those who have lost their hearing, and by novice birders, is that they are using it with a surety that the birds Merlin says it’s hearing are actually there. I’m an old-school birder having learned bird calls by actually hearing them and chasing down the birds, or going home and trying to find the calls on cds. Y’all remember those? There was no stick a device up in the air and it’ll tell you what it hears. Back in the day we also had to use a field guide that had words in them that kind of read like what a bird sounded like. And there was info on where to find birds, and how they migrated, and all the different plumages were shown. There was so much to learn. Does Merlin do all that? And do we really want to learn, to actually retain the bird song? Or do we just want an instant answer, which is the way the world is trending in every aspect. Just some of my thoughts. And a thought on formal birding field trips. How difficult it has become to lead a trip only to have five phones at the same time record calls and five people at the same time are calling out different bird names. And none of the birds are being seen. I would suggest that leaders ask groups to either not use Merlin, or to have one person use it. Again…just some of my thoughts.
SandyFort Smith
On Tue, Jul 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM Gmail <butchchq8...> wrote:
Joe,
I've organized a monthly backyard bird count for the residents of Bella Vista for the past six years. About two years ago, I added a Merlin count for those that were interested in participating. Over time, we'll compare the personal ID's with the Merlin ID's, but for now, I think it is really opening up the eyes of folks by opening up their ears, causing them to realize there are soooo many more birds out there than only come to feeders. This is especially so for novices and those whose hearing isn't quite what it used to be. Merlin has been a nice addition to the birders' arsenal.
ButchBella Vista
On Jul 8, 2025, at 12:24, betty_evans <betty_evans...> wrote:
I’m always interested to hear how people use Cornell’s Merlin app. I compare these comments with my own experience. The current issue of Cornell’s Living Bird (summer 2025) has a really interesting essay by Andrew J. Lewis, “Listening, Belonging, and the Patterns we live by.” It is a very good read about his experience in using Merlin. I don’t have a link to the article, but if anyone knows how to get a link, please post it for others who don’t subscribe to the magazine.
The problem I am seeing with the use of Merlin by those who have lost their
hearing, and by novice birders, is that they are using it with a surety
that the birds Merlin says it’s hearing are actually there.
I’m an old-school birder having learned bird calls by actually hearing them
and chasing down the birds, or going home and trying to find the calls on
cds. Y’all remember those? There was no stick a device up in the air and
it’ll tell you what it hears.
Back in the day we also had to use a field guide that had words in them
that kind of read like what a bird sounded like. And there was info on
where to find birds, and how they migrated, and all the different plumages
were shown. There was so much to learn. Does Merlin do all that? And do we
really want to learn, to actually retain the bird song? Or do we just want
an instant answer, which is the way the world is trending in every aspect.
Just some of my thoughts.
And a thought on formal birding field trips. How difficult it has become to
lead a trip only to have five phones at the same time record calls and five
people at the same time are calling out different bird names. And none of
the birds are being seen. I would suggest that leaders ask groups to either
not use Merlin, or to have one person use it. Again…just some of my
thoughts.
Sandy
Fort Smith
On Tue, Jul 8, 2025 at 3:13 PM Gmail <butchchq8...> wrote:
> Joe,
>
> I've organized a monthly backyard bird count for the residents of Bella
> Vista for the past six years. About two years ago, I added a Merlin count
> for those that were interested in participating. Over time, we'll compare
> the personal ID's with the Merlin ID's, but for now, I think it is really
> opening up the eyes of folks by opening up their ears, causing them to
> realize there are soooo many more birds out there than only come to
> feeders. This is especially so for novices and those whose hearing isn't
> quite what it used to be. Merlin has been a nice addition to the birders'
> arsenal.
>
> Butch
> Bella Vista
>
> On Jul 8, 2025, at 12:24, betty_evans <betty_evans...> wrote:
>
>
>
> https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/listening-with-merlin-bird-id-patterns/ >
> Here is the article.
>
> On Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 10:30:59 AM CDT, Joseph Neal <
> <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>
> I’m always interested to hear how people use Cornell’s Merlin app. I
> compare these comments with my own experience. The current issue of
> Cornell’s Living Bird (summer 2025) has a really interesting essay by
> Andrew J. Lewis, “Listening, Belonging, and the Patterns we live by.” It is
> a very good read about his experience in using Merlin. I don’t have a link
> to the article, but if anyone knows how to get a link, please post it for
> others who don’t subscribe to the magazine.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> 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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>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
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I've organized a monthly backyard bird count for the residents of Bella Vista for the past six years. About two years ago, I added a Merlin count for those that were interested in participating. Over time, we'll compare the personal ID's with the Merlin ID's, but for now, I think it is really opening up the eyes of folks by opening up their ears, causing them to realize there are soooo many more birds out there than only come to feeders. This is especially so for novices and those whose hearing isn't quite what it used to be. Merlin has been a nice addition to the birders' arsenal.
Butch
Bella Vista
> On Jul 8, 2025, at 12:24, betty_evans <betty_evans...> wrote:
>
>
> https://www.allaboutbirds.org/news/listening-with-merlin-bird-id-patterns/ >
> Here is the article.
>
> On Tuesday, July 8, 2025 at 10:30:59 AM CDT, Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>
> I’m always interested to hear how people use Cornell’s Merlin app. I compare these comments with my own experience. The current issue of Cornell’s Living Bird (summer 2025) has a really interesting essay by Andrew J. Lewis, “Listening, Belonging, and the Patterns we live by.” It is a very good read about his experience in using Merlin. I don’t have a link to the article, but if anyone knows how to get a link, please post it for others who don’t subscribe to the magazine.
>
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
I’m always interested to hear how people use Cornell’s Merlin app. I compare these comments with my own experience. The current issue of Cornell’s Living Bird (summer 2025) has a really interesting essay by Andrew J. Lewis, “Listening, Belonging, and the Patterns we live by.” It is a very good read about his experience in using Merlin. I don’t have a link to the article, but if anyone knows how to get a link, please post it for others who don’t subscribe to the magazine.
Date: 7/8/25 9:46 am From: Charles H Mills <00000218c727d931-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Merlin
I have 45+ years of serious field birding under my belt. I also have Merlin installed on my iPhone.
If used properly, Merlin is a good tool that can broaden or enhance the capabilities of many if not all birders. However, It can and not uncommonly does suggest bogus audio or visual IDs. That being said, as its underlying technology improves as it certainly will, I believe that so to will its level of accuracy.
At the moment, I monitor a few Facebook groups devoted to Arkansas birds. It’s not uncommon to encounter posts with a photo(s) correctly identified by Merlin and others that aren’t. Those that aren’t usually fall into one of two categories. They either are to technically poor (lacking good focus or exposure) to be useful for Merlin or the subject wasn’t enlarged to properly fit within it’s square ID window. Either way, Merlin can come up with some truly off the wall suggested IDs.
My Achilles Heel as a birder is song recognition so, when I take walks, I’ll often use Merlin’s song recognition. Much of the time, it’s accurate but not always. For example, it has reported Scarlet Tanagers in SW AR in mid-summer. They occur here as migrants only. So, in such cases where I cannot put eyes on a claimed bird and confirm Merlin’s ID, I don’t include it on my list for that trip.
Charles Mills
Texarkana TX
Sent from my iPhone
> On Jul 8, 2025, at 10:12 AM, Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
> I’m always interested to hear how people use Cornell’s Merlin app. I compare these comments with my own experience. The current issue of Cornell’s Living Bird (summer 2025) has a really interesting essay by Andrew J. Lewis, “Listening, Belonging, and the Patterns we live by.” It is a very good read about his experience in using Merlin. I don’t have a link to the article, but if anyone knows how to get a link, please post it for others who don’t subscribe to the magazine.
>
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1
Title is not exactly the same but I think it's the one you mean.
On Tue, Jul 8, 2025 at 10:12 AM Joseph Neal <
<0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> I’m always interested to hear how people use Cornell’s Merlin app. I
> compare these comments with my own experience. The current issue of
> Cornell’s Living Bird (summer 2025) has a really interesting essay by
> Andrew J. Lewis, “Listening, Belonging, and the Patterns we live by.” It is
> a very good read about his experience in using Merlin. I don’t have a link
> to the article, but if anyone knows how to get a link, please post it for
> others who don’t subscribe to the magazine.
>
>
> ------------------------------
>
> 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: 7/8/25 8:12 am From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Merlin
Im always interested to hear how people use Cornells Merlin app. I compare these comments with my own experience. The current issue of Cornells Living Bird (summer 2025) has a really interesting essay by Andrew J. Lewis, Listening, Belonging, and the Patterns we live by. It is a very good read about his experience in using Merlin. I dont have a link to the article, but if anyone knows how to get a link, please post it for others who dont subscribe to the magazine.
Date: 7/7/25 6:29 am From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: TALLGRASS PRAIRIE FLOWERS AND BIRDS AT CAMP ROBINSON
It was for certain blazing hot/humid yesterday (96F at 5 PM), but thats just what the native flora of our Tallgrass Prairies wants. And birds seemed to do OK, too, based upon our almost 4-hours yesterday afternoon on Camp Robinson Special Use Area tour. eBird list here: https://ebird.org/checklist/S257786313.
There are some truly dramatic flowers in bloom along the tour road. Several that caught my eye: tall purple Blazing Stars (or Gayfeathers as they used to be called, before gay became a hot button issue of our unfortunate culture wars) and stunning Rudbeckia grandiflora, a spectacular coneflower. In a few fields there were patches of both.
Hard to take it all in. Plus: lovely pink patches of Sabatias, Blue Hearts, and lots and lots of purple Ironweeds.
Our botanists yesterday stayed very busy with all of this, plus helping me identify what I can no longer effectively hear. I truly love all of this. It reminds me of how I used to feel going to a carnival when I was a kid. So much novelty and excitement. So many colors. So many wonderful surprises.
You could do all this with the windows up and AC blowing, but then youd miss all the bird vocalizations. Even in a blazing hot July, lots of bird vocalizations still to be heard. We never did decide if we actually heard Northern Bobwhites or just a trick from the many Yellow-breasted Chats. You might also miss quite a few of the dragonflies lots and lots yesterday. You can also do it the way we did a few times: put down the windows and let the AC blow.
One very interesting bird was Orchard Oriole. We saw one perched up, then a second, then next to Number 2, one of those second year males with a black throat. I assume this is the nesting male and if so, that answers a question for me do these black-throated Orchards nest? Well yes, seems so.
Date: 7/5/25 10:55 am From: Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Probable Wood Stork at Bald Knob NWR
We saw what looked good for a Wood Stork in flight along Coal Chute, about 1/2 mile south of the grain bins. We got out of the car to get better looks and hopefully snap a few pictures, but it quickly disappeared into the bright sun and clouds. The eBird Bar Chart shows that Wood Storks should start showing up any day now, so we'll wait until our next visit to hopefully see and photograph one. There are three flooded fields around the grain bins that are attracting a variety of waders, including Snowy Egrets and Little Blue Herons. One is Cell 5, northwest of the grain bins. Another is on Coal Chute, about a mile south of the grain bins, and the third one is on the south end of Ditch 13. Any of these could easily attract the next round of visiting and hungry waders.Here's info on birding the refuge ... and be sure to check the pages for the various sub-locations.https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L218758Patty McLean and Michael Linz The Roadrunners
Date: 7/5/25 5:29 am From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Small leucistic bird at Fayetteville
A small, leucistic bird has been visiting feeders in Fayetteville, a few blocks north of Wilson Park (Adams X Vandeventer streets). It has been seen in association with House Finches and also with Carolina Chickadees. Small size, bill shape, and a slight gray wash suggest it is a chickadee, but still working on ID.
Date: 7/5/25 5:23 am From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Common Loon at Beaver Lake
Alan Bland photographed a COMMON LOON at Rocky Branch Park, Beaver Lake, yesterday. Alan is long time Ranger for US Army Corps of Engineers (Retired).
We have seen them in Arkansas, in summer, on occasion. These seem to involve individuals that did not make the complete northern migration. One explanation for this is that they are young birds that have not yet obtained a territory in northern breeding habitat.
Date: 7/3/25 12:44 pm From: Joseph Neal <0000078cbd583d7c-dmarc-request...> Subject: a very good deal on a Zeiss Terra bin (message from Scott Simon)
If you are looking to upgrade your bins, Zeiss 10x42 Terra ED binoculars would be a great and very affordable choice. Bought new in Sept 2024 from a Zeiss dealer (so warranty transfers to new owner). Excellent condition except for a tear in the left loop of the lens cap. (Images available from Scott if interested). $500 or best offer. Scott 501-804-4081 or <Scott2664...><mailto:<Scott2664...>
Date: 7/3/25 6:39 am From: Jeffrey Short <bashman...> Subject: Osprey--FOS
Enjoying a short float on the Ouachita River late on Mon (23 Jun), we saw a single Osprey flying upstream about 2 miles downstream of Remmel Dam.
We usually see a pair together heading upstream earlier in the Spring and downstream in the Fall. Perhaps the delay is due to the higher than normal river flows this year.
We are also seeing--and hearing--daily a pair of immature Bald Eagles with only a single mature adult tending them. Maybe that is why the Ospreys don’t hang around…
Date: 7/2/25 7:14 pm From: Kevin Krajcir <kjkrajcir...> Subject: ASCA July 2025 Presentation - Effects of Urbanization of Eastern Screech-Owls
Good evening!
Please join the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas next Thursday July 10th at 7 PM to hear from Mitchell Pruitt, Ph.D., about the effects of urbanization on space use and survival of Eastern Screech-Owls.
Mitchell is studying how urbanization affects the Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio). This species has historically been considered tolerant to urban environments, but citizen science data suggests this is not universally true, including in the Northwest Arkansas Metro Area. In addition to an overall lack of understanding how this species is affected by urbanization, relatively little is known about its basic life history despite being widespread. Through this work, Mitchell and an undergraduate student at the U of A are using GPS and radio transmitters to study habitat selection, nest site selection, and survival at sites around Northwest Arkansas. 2025 marks the first of three years for this project.
Mitchell is an avian ecologist who received his PhD in Biology (2024) from the University of Arkansas, where he is currently a visiting assistant professor and co-coordinator of the NSF-funded EcoREU undergrad mentorship program. Mitchell is also director and co-founder of Ozark Bird Conservancy, a new 501c3 research organization that seeks to conserve birds and their habitats through research, education, and outreach in the Interior Highlands. Mitchell has studied birds for a decade and specializes in raptors.
Date: 6/30/25 6:20 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - June 30
It was partly cloudy, very warm, and a bit windy on the bird survey today. 64 species were found. Not much out of the ordinary except for a pair of House Finches which we seldom see at Red Slough. Some of the wetlands are drying up and have large feeding swarms of herons and egrets feeding in what little water is left. Here is my list for today:
Is There Dusting At Your House?
Jerry Wayne Davis
June 7, 1990
Is there dusting at your house? No, I am not checking to see what kind of housekeeper you are and if you have been running around with a rag and a can of Pledge.
What I am asking is, do you have a place in your yard for the birds to do their dusting, sunbathing, and anting? We are not meeting our birds needs just by providing nest boxes, feeders and water. Dusting is important to help remove external parasites, dry feathers, and help realign feather barbs and barbules. And anting has been observed in over 250 species of birds and is said to rid or reduce bird external parasites and possible soothe skin irritations. You may have observed birds sunbathing by spreading their tail and wing feathers. This can also help drive out external parasites and increase body temperature.
It is insightful for me to watch various resident and migratory birds going through the dusting and sunbathing behavior. I have even had a family of eastern cottontail rabbits and several species of lizards come on an almost daily basis to stretch out in the hot sand for maybe some of the same reasons.
If you do not have a dusting, anting and sunbathing area for your birds, it is time to consider it.
Go into that beautiful green monoculture lawn that you have worked so hard to weed, feed, water, spray and mow. Select an area close to your bird bath(s) and / or feeders, where the birds are already coming. Pulverize the area to about a foot deep so that it looks similar to a horseshoe pitching trap; a size 4 feet by 4 feet square is a start. If you are lucky enough to already have sandy soil that is a plus. If not, you may need to dig out the fertile soil that you have cultivated for so long and replace it with fine white sand. The smaller the sand particles and the higher the reflective value, the better it will be for dusting and sunbathing. The sand is droughty enough to discourage grass and weeds, but if you need to retard grass encroachment, you can put a border around it. If you do not have a natural source of sand, you can obtain mortar sand from a ready-mix company or use the play sand sold at home supply or landscape retailers. The finer the grain size the better it will be for dusting and the whiter it is the better for sun bathing and heat radiation.
Once this is in place, sit back and enjoy the insight that you can gain in summer and winter from yet another element of the birds world and rabbits, squirrels, and other wildlife use can be an extra bonus.
Date: 6/29/25 6:20 am From: Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Unified Checklist of the Birds of the World
Have you all seen the new AviList list of the birds of the world? I remember when the official number of bird species was around 8,600. The 2025 list includes 11,131 species,
Updating a personal world list will be a heavy task so I'm contracting with Dan Scheiman for help. My lists are scattered in old field guides, regional checklists, and notes in the original copy of Clements. Someday I'm going to get organized.
https://www.avilist.org/checklist/v2025/
Below are the July, and August field trips sponsored by the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas (ASCA). Anyone can join us. You don't have to be a member of ASCA to participate in the field trips. All levels of birders are welcome. I have extra pairs of binoculars for anyone to use if you don't have your own binoculars. Please feel free to contact me off-list list if you have any questions. I'll be out of the state from June 29 until July 14 and will have limited access to check my phone, so I'll be slow responding to any questions. Karen Holliday ASCA field trip coordinator ASCA Field Trips July, August July 19Dr. Lester Sitzes III Bois D’Arc WMAHope, Hempstead Co. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the south end of the commuter parking lot at the I-630/I-430 intersection at Shackleford Road in Little Rock. We’ll stop at the McDonalds in Hope (Exit 30 off I-30) around 8:45 a.m. for those in south Arkansas who would like to join us. Look for Great-tailed Grackles at McDonalds. We should arrive at the Bois D’Arc WMA at 9:15 a.m. Our target birds will be Purple and Common Gallinules and their chicks, Anhingas, Black-bellied Whistling Ducks, Least Bitterns, herons, egrets, and possibly an alligator or two! Very little walking will be involved. Bring scopes, plenty of water, snacks, and lunch. There are several restaurants in Hope if you prefer to eat lunch in town. Bois D‘Arc WMA is located 10 miles south of Hope. Take Exit 30 off I-30 and go east. Continue past McDonald’s, then under the railroad overpass. At the light at the big intersection, turn right onto Hwy. 67. Go 1/3 of a mile. At the brown sign, turn left onto Hwy. 174. Take Hwy. 174 south 6 miles to the 3-way stop sign at Spring Hill. Turn right onto Hwy. 355. Go west for 4 miles. Turn right at the white wooden WMA sign just before the highway ends in the lake. Follow the paved road, then turn left onto the first gravel road and go down to the lake. GPS: 33.558062, -93.694239August 23Bald Knob National Wildlife RefugeBald Knob, White Co. Meet at 7:00 a.m. in North Little Rock on the east side of the Other Center, in the parking lot below McDonald’s. The Other Center is on McCain Blvd. across from McCain Mall. Take Exit 1 west off US-67/167. We’ll arrive at Bald Knob NWR headquarters building around 8:30 a.m. for those who want to meet us there. If running late, look for the line of cars parked on Coal Chute Road. This federal refuge is also a National Audubon Important Bird Area. We expect to see shorebirds, herons, night-herons, egrets, and possibly Wood Storks and Roseate Spoonbills. It will be very hot so bring plenty of water, snacks, sunscreen, and a hat. If you have a scope, bring it. Very little walking will be involved. There is no bathroom on-site. There is a McDonald’s just off Hwy. 67/167 at Bald Knob Exit 55. Go to www.fws.gov/baldknob/ for driving directions and more information about the refuge. GPS: 35.260233, -91.571903
Date: 6/25/25 8:22 pm From: Lucy c Weberling <000002a0405ec27a-dmarc-request...> Subject: Banded pigeon here
There is a banded pigeon hanging out on our road. We live a mile west of the casino on Highway 20 just west of Skiatook. He has been seen in different people’s yards. I am sure he belongs to someone or some project. Do you all have any ideas of what I should do?
Thank you
Lucy weberling
Sent from my iPhone
<Lucyoga...>
918-633-8890
############################
Date: 6/25/25 5:51 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - June 25
It was partly cloudy and warm, with a light wind, on the bird survey today. 64 species were found. Nothing out of the ordinary except for a singing Wood Thrush which are rare in Summer at Red Slough. Several fledged Neotropic Cormorants were seen making short distance flights chasing their parents and begging to be fed. Anhingas were very busy today making flights in and out of the heronry feeding their young of which some are close to fledging also. Lots of gallinule broods and as I scanned the lakes I noted several Common Gallinules sitting on floating nests. Green Herons were really busy feeding young today too. Concerning the Ring-necked Ducks I have been reporting, not only this summer and basically every Summer; they are hold overs from duck season. They probably have some steel shot in them that makes them unable to migrate north even though they seem fine otherwise. Was really cool to see a couple Minks following each other today. They were near the photo blind on Pintail Lake. Lots of Swamp Rabbits hanging out on the Pintail Lake levee road this year too. Been seeing some good photo ops for them. Here is my list for today:
Date: 6/24/25 11:18 am From: Brian Carlson <brianrcarlson...> Subject: Re: Orchard Oriole song
Perhaps I did not describe it well. If you have the Merlin app and search for Orchard Oriole you can then select on the 9 sounds. Then select the song for the Fuertes's subspecies. While playing that song you will see a diagram of the song as well as hear the song. In that particular song recording it seems like there are 2 different birds singing. One of them is closer and louder and the diagram of that sound is darker and bolder whereas the softer sound is not as dark. I was hearing that softer sound. Brian
________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Ian MacGregor <00000489141846bd-dmarc-request...>
Sent: Monday, June 23, 2025 8:04 PM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Re: Orchard Oriole song
Do Orchard Orioles have whisper song?. I once saw and heard a Hooded Oriole, not in Arkansas, delivering one; soft warbles sung with the bill closed. The only other bird I ever saw do this was a California Scrub-Jay. The song was surprisingly soft and musical.
I find whisper songs interesting as they can be delivered by birds whose normal repertoire lacks a true song. I also think they are not often heard, but that may be my personal experience.
Ian MacGregor Bella Vista
On Sun, Jun 22, 2025 at 4:43 PM, Brian Carlson < <brianrcarlson...><mailto:On%20Sun,%20Jun%2022,%202025%20at%204:43%20PM,%20Brian%20Carlson%20<<a%20href=>> wrote:
I saw and heard an Orchard Oriole today. The song it was singing was the softer notes that Merlin has for the Fuertes subspecies. It was along Plum Street near Denning. It looked like a regular Orchard. I guess they learn other songs.
Date: 6/23/25 6:04 pm From: Ian MacGregor <00000489141846bd-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Orchard Oriole song
Do Orchard Orioles have whisper song?. I once saw and heard a Hooded Oriole, not in Arkansas, delivering one; soft warbles sung with the bill closed. The only other bird I ever saw do this was a California Scrub-Jay. The song was surprisingly soft and musical.
I find whisper songs interesting as they can be delivered by birds whose normal repertoire lacks a true song. I also think they are not often heard, but that may be my personal experience.
Ian MacGregor Bella Vista
On Sun, Jun 22, 2025 at 4:43 PM, Brian Carlson < [<brianrcarlson...>](mailto:On Sun, Jun 22, 2025 at 4:43 PM, Brian Carlson <<a href=)> wrote:
> I saw and heard an Orchard Oriole today. The song it was singing was the softer notes that Merlin has for the Fuertes subspecies. It was along Plum Street near Denning. It looked like a regular Orchard. I guess they learn other songs.
>
> ---------------------------------------------------------------
>
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Date: 6/23/25 2:01 pm From: Taylor Long <00000455b6b08e87-dmarc-request...> Subject: NWAAS Field Trip: Intro to Mill Branch Park - Sat, Jun 28th at 8am
Greetings Birders!
The Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society is hosting a field trip to Mill
Branch Park <https://maps.app.goo.gl/B3TtYzj6vnWKghg4A> in Goshen, AR
this Saturday, June 28th at 8:00 AM. Our first attempt at this trip was
rained out, but the weather this Saturday is looking great. Full details
below. Hope to see some of you there!
-Taylor Long
NWAAS Field Trip Coordinator
Intro to Mill Branch Park
The Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society will host a birding field trip to
Mill Branch Park in Goshen on Saturday, June 28th at 8:00 AM. This
gorgeous birder-friendly park opened in 2022 and offers well-maintained
trails through 111 acres of varied habitat including ponds and spring-
fed creeks, open fields, and wooded north-facing slopes. There are
already over 100 bird species documented on the eBird Hotspot
<https://ebird.org/hotspot/L18722300>, with plenty of potential to add
more as birders continue to discover this special park. Goshen resident
and park steward Mary Smith will join us to discuss the park’s history
and ongoing projects. Meet at 8:00 AM in the paved parking lot at GPS:
36.104104, -93.983367 <https://maps.app.goo.gl/G7Sh3LZEh97zjs5X9>.
Expect to spend 2 hours walking ~2 miles over mown grass trails that
include some steep slopes and one creek crossing (with large flat
stepping stones that are usually dry). Hiking boots, insect repellant,
sun protection, and water are recommended.
RSVP
This trip is free and open to the public. There is no participant limit.
Please RSVP by 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.
Directions
From Fayetteville, head East on HWY 45 toward Goshen (~10 miles).
Continue past downtown Goshen just 0.3 miles and watch on the right for
a small sign for “Mill Branch Park” followed by paved driveway off to
the right. Park in the paved lot where you will see a kiosk sign for the
park.
Inclement weather plan
When the weather is bad for humans, it’s usually bad for birds too.
We’ll cancel the trip at least 12 hours in advance if the weather is
forecasted to be dangerous or unsuitable for birding. Field trip
cancellations will be emailed to the NWAAS field trip list (email
<trips...> <mailto:<trips...> to be added to
this list). We’ll also try to post wherever else we can in a timely
manner (Facebook <https://www.facebook.com/Northwest-Arkansas-Audubon- Society-172133076185122>, etc.)
Contact
Contact info for questions about the trip.
* NWAAS Field Trip Coordinator: Taylor Long
* Email: <trips...> <mailto:<trips...> * Cell number (for day-of questions): 479-530-9084
Date: 6/23/25 11:19 am From: Allan Mueller <akcmueller...> Subject: Re: Barn Swallow cooperative breeding
Much better explanation.
Allan
On Mon, Jun 23, 2025 at 7:41 AM Robert Day <rhday52...> wrote:
> I agree with Butch. For example, divorce is common in seabirds if the
> nesting is unsuccessful, regardless of the reason for being unsuccessful.
>
> RHD
>
>
> Sent from my iPad
>
> On Jun 23, 2025, at 5:57 AM, Gmail <butchchq8...> wrote:
>
>
> Nestling death can have nothing to do with "blaming" the mate. More likely
> they are just using a rule of thumb "if nest is not completely successful,
> go somewhere else". Many species do this, so it's not unique to Barn
> Swallows.
>
> Butch Tetzlaff
> Bella Vista
>
> On Jun 22, 2025, at 19:43, Allan Mueller <akcmueller...> wrote:
>
>
> One of the impressive things about this behavior is that
> having dead nestlings causes a divorce. This implies that the paired
> swallows can "blame" their mate for the death of the nestlings.
>
> Amazing!
>
> Allan
>
> On Sun, Jun 22, 2025 at 6:23 PM Ragupathy Kannan <
> <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>> You learn something new everyday. Today I learned that Barn Swallows can
>> breed cooperatively.
>>
>> It started when I observed 3 adults building a nest in my porch. I looked
>> up Birds of the World.
>>
>> So, yes, a nonparent adult can help a pair build a nest and attend to
>> other chores.
>>
>> But before you go "awww"--it becomes sinister the more you dig into it.
>>
>> Some male helpers kill nestlings to induce divorce among the parents.
>> They then take over the brooding female.
>>
>> As I often tell my ornithology students, DNA evidence has unearthed a lot
>> of "dirty laundry" in the bird world.
>>
>> For more on this, click here
>> <https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/barswa/cur/breeding#coopbr>.
>>
>> Kannan
>> Ft. 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 >>
>
>
> --
> Allan Mueller (It)
> 20 Moseley Lane, Conway, AR
> Home of the Arkansas State Champion Winged Elm
> 501-339-8071
> *BLOG* birdsnonsense.blogspot.com
> Pura Vida
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
--
Allan Mueller (It)
20 Moseley Lane, Conway, AR
Home of the Arkansas State Champion Winged Elm
501-339-8071
*BLOG* birdsnonsense.blogspot.com
Pura Vida
Date: 6/22/25 8:41 pm From: Allan Mueller <akcmueller...> Subject: Re: Barn Swallow cooperative breeding
In BOTW read the last paragraph of "Breeding Range". The breeding Barn
Swallows in Argentina breed during the Boreal Winter (Dec-Feb). During the
Austral Winter (June-Aug) they only migrate as far north as northern South
America, but do not breed there. Still a recent and amazing event.
Allan
On Sun, Jun 22, 2025 at 9:05 PM Ian MacGregor <
<00000489141846bd-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> I think non-subscribers to the Birds of the World website can see the
> range maps. Surprisingly there’s a section of Argentina where they
> breed. These birds are breeding twice a year, once somewhere in their
> normal breeding range and again in Argentina.
>
> Ian MacGregor Bella Vists
> On Sun, Jun 22, 2025 at 6:23 PM, Ragupathy Kannan <
> <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...>
> <On+Sun,+Jun+22,+2025+at+6:23+PM,+Ragupathy+Kannan+%3C%3Ca+href=>> wrote:
>
> You learn something new everyday. Today I learned that Barn Swallows can
> breed cooperatively.
>
> It started when I observed 3 adults building a nest in my porch. I looked
> up Birds of the World.
>
> So, yes, a nonparent adult can help a pair build a nest and attend to
> other chores.
>
> But before you go "awww"--it becomes sinister the more you dig into it.
>
> Some male helpers kill nestlings to induce divorce among the parents.
> They then take over the brooding female.
>
> As I often tell my ornithology students, DNA evidence has unearthed a lot
> of "dirty laundry" in the bird world.
>
> For more on this, click here
> <https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/barswa/cur/breeding#coopbr>.
>
> Kannan
> Ft. 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 >
>
> ------------------------------
>
> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
--
Allan Mueller (It)
20 Moseley Lane, Conway, AR
Home of the Arkansas State Champion Winged Elm
501-339-8071
*BLOG* birdsnonsense.blogspot.com
Pura Vida
Date: 6/22/25 7:05 pm From: Ian MacGregor <00000489141846bd-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Barn Swallow cooperative breeding
I think non-subscribers to the Birds of the World website can see the range maps. Surprisingly there’s a section of Argentina where they breed. These birds are breeding twice a year, once somewhere in their normal breeding range and again in Argentina.
Ian MacGregor Bella Vists
On Sun, Jun 22, 2025 at 6:23 PM, Ragupathy Kannan <[<0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...>](mailto:On Sun, Jun 22, 2025 at 6:23 PM, Ragupathy Kannan <<a href=)> wrote:
> You learn something new everyday. Today I learned that Barn Swallows can breed cooperatively.
>
> It started when I observed 3 adults building a nest in my porch. I looked up Birds of the World.
>
> So, yes, a nonparent adult can help a pair build a nest and attend to other chores.
>
> But before you go "awww"--it becomes sinister the more you dig into it.
>
> Some male helpers kill nestlings to induce divorce among the parents. They then take over the brooding female.
>
> As I often tell my ornithology students, DNA evidence has unearthed a lot of "dirty laundry" in the bird world.
>
> For more on this, click [here](https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/barswa/cur/breeding#coopbr).
>
> Kannan
> Ft. 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
Just as it has unearthed a lot of dirty laundry in our human world!
On Sun, Jun 22, 2025 at 6:23 PM Ragupathy Kannan <
<0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> You learn something new everyday. Today I learned that Barn Swallows can
> breed cooperatively.
>
> It started when I observed 3 adults building a nest in my porch. I looked
> up Birds of the World.
>
> So, yes, a nonparent adult can help a pair build a nest and attend to
> other chores.
>
> But before you go "awww"--it becomes sinister the more you dig into it.
>
> Some male helpers kill nestlings to induce divorce among the parents.
> They then take over the brooding female.
>
> As I often tell my ornithology students, DNA evidence has unearthed a lot
> of "dirty laundry" in the bird world.
>
> For more on this, click here
> <https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/barswa/cur/breeding#coopbr>.
>
> Kannan
> Ft. 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: 6/22/25 5:43 pm From: Allan Mueller <akcmueller...> Subject: Re: Barn Swallow cooperative breeding
One of the impressive things about this behavior is that
having dead nestlings causes a divorce. This implies that the paired
swallows can "blame" their mate for the death of the nestlings.
Amazing!
Allan
On Sun, Jun 22, 2025 at 6:23 PM Ragupathy Kannan <
<0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> You learn something new everyday. Today I learned that Barn Swallows can
> breed cooperatively.
>
> It started when I observed 3 adults building a nest in my porch. I looked
> up Birds of the World.
>
> So, yes, a nonparent adult can help a pair build a nest and attend to
> other chores.
>
> But before you go "awww"--it becomes sinister the more you dig into it.
>
> Some male helpers kill nestlings to induce divorce among the parents.
> They then take over the brooding female.
>
> As I often tell my ornithology students, DNA evidence has unearthed a lot
> of "dirty laundry" in the bird world.
>
> For more on this, click here
> <https://birdsoftheworld.org/bow/species/barswa/cur/breeding#coopbr>.
>
> Kannan
> Ft. 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 >
--
Allan Mueller (It)
20 Moseley Lane, Conway, AR
Home of the Arkansas State Champion Winged Elm
501-339-8071
*BLOG* birdsnonsense.blogspot.com
Pura Vida
You learn something new everyday. Today I learned that Barn Swallows can breed cooperatively.
It started when I observed 3 adults building a nest in my porch. I looked up Birds of the World.
So, yes, a nonparent adult can help a pair build a nest and attend to other chores.
But before you go "awww"--it becomes sinister the more you dig into it.
Some male helpers kill nestlings to induce divorce among the parents. They then take over the brooding female.
As I often tell my ornithology students, DNA evidence has unearthed a lot of "dirty laundry" in the bird world.
For more on this, click here.
KannanFt. Smith
Date: 6/22/25 2:43 pm From: Brian Carlson <brianrcarlson...> Subject: Orchard Oriole song
I saw and heard an Orchard Oriole today. The song it was singing was the softer notes that Merlin has for the Fuertes subspecies. It was along Plum Street near Denning. It looked like a regular Orchard. I guess they learn other songs.
Date: 6/22/25 9:10 am From: Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> Subject: Re: Dark-eyed Junco
I appreciate your reporting the June 10 and 11th Dark-eyed Junco and providing documentation pictures for me to put it on eBird for you. I expect there are many sightings of birds beyond their usual time periods that go unreported. Many may not know when such sightings are out of the ordinary expected timeframe.
Thank you
Jerry Wayne Davis Hot Springs, AR
On 2025-06-22 9:32 am, Terry & Judy Butler wrote: > The Junco I reported in the yard the 1th of June stayed through the > 11th and haven't been seen since the evening of the 11th of June. > > ------------------------- > > 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: 6/19/25 7:44 pm From: Ashlyn Ohm <4ever4hiskingdom...> Subject: Re: Red Slough Bird Survey - June 18
Thank you so much! That helps a lot. I look forward to visiting!
Ashlyn
> On Jun 19, 2025, at 9:39 PM, <jwdavis...> wrote:
>
> You need to go to the links below David Arbour's report to grasp what Red Slough is about and it will answer a lot of your question. I suggest that to see the birds that David reported, there is a lot of walking. There are observation platforms in some locations. Spray down with bug spray and plan for a great day of birding. Red Slough is known internationally and is on the Ouachita National Forest and is an Oklahoma birding Hot Spot.
>
> Jerry Wayne Davis
> Hot Springs, AR
> From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Ashlyn Ohm <4ever4hiskingdom...>
> Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2025 6:47 PM
> To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
> Subject: Re: Red Slough Bird Survey - June 18
>
> Thank you so much for the detailed reports from Red Slough!
>
> I am interested in seeing many of these species for my bird year and life lists. However, I have never been to Red Slough. What is the access like there? Can the birds be seen from a car, or is walking required? I don’t mind walking but would like to avoid ticks and chiggers this time of year!
>
> Also, can I see the birds with bins, or do I need a scope?
>
> Thank you so much!
>
> Ashlyn
>
>> On Jun 18, 2025, at 7:08 PM, <arbour...> <arbour...> wrote:
>>
>>
>> The bird survey started off overcast, mild, and windy, with a couple rain showers, then turned partly cloudy, warm, and calm around noon. 65 species were found. Lots of nesting activity going on in the heronries on Pintail and Otter Lakes and gallinule chicks everywhere. Here is my list for today:
>>
>> Black-bellied Whistling Ducks - 9
>> Wood Duck - 10
>> Mallard - 1 drake
>> Ring-necked Duck - 8 (7 males & 1 female.)
>> Pied-billed Grebe – 5
>> Neotropic Cormorant - 16
>> Anhinga - 106
>> Least Bittern - 5
>> Great-blue Heron - 2
>> Great Egret - 8
>> Snowy Egret - 8
>> Little-blue Heron - 69
>> Cattle Egret - 1300
>> Green Heron - 18
>> Black-crowned Night Heron - 1
>> Yellow-crowned Night Heron - 1
>> White Ibis - 10
>> Black Vulture - 6
>> Turkey Vulture – 7
>> Mississippi Kite - 1
>> Red-shouldered Hawk - 1
>> Purple Gallinule - 127
>> Common Gallinule - 108
>> American Coot – 6
>> Mourning Dove - 17
>> Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 4
>> Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
>> Belted Kingfisher - 1
>> Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2
>> Downy Woodpecker - 1
>> Acadian Flycatcher - 2
>> Eastern Phoebe - 2
>> Eastern Kingbird - 1
>> Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - 3
>> White-eyed Vireo - 11
>> Bell's Vireo - 1
>> Yellow-throated Vireo - 1
>> Red-eyed Vireo - 3
>> American Crow - 3
>> Fish Crow - 1
>> Tree Swallow - 16
>> Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 5
>> Cliff Swallow - 10
>> Barn Swallow - 15
>> Carolina Chickadee - 3
>> Tufted Titmouse - 4
>> Carolina Wren - 10
>> Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1
>> Yellow-throated Warbler - 1
>> Prairie Warbler - 1
>> Black-and-white Warbler - 2
>> Prothonotary Warbler - 13
>> Common Yellowthroat - 7
>> Yellow-breasted Chat - 6
>> Summer Tanager - 2
>> Eastern Towhee - 1
>> Northern Cardinal – 22
>> Blue Grosbeak - 2
>> Indigo Bunting - 20
>> Painted Bunting - 4
>> Dickcissel - 3
>> Red-winged Blackbird – 18
>> Common Grackle - 18
>> Brown-headed Cowbird - 10
>> Orchard Oriole - 3
>>
>>
>>
>> Odonates:
>>
>> Prince Baskettail
>> Eastern Pondhawk
>> Blue Dasher
>> Great-blue Skimmer
>> Common Whitetail
>> "red" Saddlebags
>> Black Saddlebags
>>
>>
>>
>> Herps:
>>
>> Three-toed Box Turtle
>> Blanchard's Cricket Frog
>> Green Treefrog
>> Green Frog
>> Bullfrog
>>
>>
>> Good birding!
>>
>> David Arbour
>> De Queen, AR
>>
>>
>> Check out the Red Slough Photo Gallery: https://pbase.com/red_slough_wma >>
>> Birders Guide to the Red Slough WMA: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/ouachita/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=fseprd1043423 >>
>>
>> To unsubscribe from the ARBIRD-L list, click the following link:
>> http://listserv.uark.edu/scripts/wa-UARKEDU.exe?SUBED1=ARBIRD-L&A=1 >
>
> 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: 6/19/25 7:39 pm From: <jwdavis...> <jwdavis...> Subject: Re: Red Slough Bird Survey - June 18
You need to go to the links below David Arbour's report to grasp what Red Slough is about and it will answer a lot of your question. I suggest that to see the birds that David reported, there is a lot of walking. There are observation platforms in some locations. Spray down with bug spray and plan for a great day of birding. Red Slough is known internationally and is on the Ouachita National Forest and is an Oklahoma birding Hot Spot.
Jerry Wayne Davis
Hot Springs, AR
________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Ashlyn Ohm <4ever4hiskingdom...>
Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2025 6:47 PM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Re: Red Slough Bird Survey - June 18
Thank you so much for the detailed reports from Red Slough!
I am interested in seeing many of these species for my bird year and life lists. However, I have never been to Red Slough. What is the access like there? Can the birds be seen from a car, or is walking required? I don’t mind walking but would like to avoid ticks and chiggers this time of year!
Also, can I see the birds with bins, or do I need a scope?
Thank you so much!
Ashlyn
On Jun 18, 2025, at 7:08 PM, <arbour...> <arbour...> wrote:
The bird survey started off overcast, mild, and windy, with a couple rain showers, then turned partly cloudy, warm, and calm around noon. 65 species were found. Lots of nesting activity going on in the heronries on Pintail and Otter Lakes and gallinule chicks everywhere. Here is my list for today:
Date: 6/19/25 6:48 pm From: Ashlyn Ohm <4ever4hiskingdom...> Subject: Re: Red Slough Bird Survey - June 18
Thank you so much for the detailed reports from Red Slough!
I am interested in seeing many of these species for my bird year and life lists. However, I have never been to Red Slough. What is the access like there? Can the birds be seen from a car, or is walking required? I don’t mind walking but would like to avoid ticks and chiggers this time of year!
Also, can I see the birds with bins, or do I need a scope?
Thank you so much!
Ashlyn
> On Jun 18, 2025, at 7:08 PM, <arbour...> <arbour...> wrote:
>
>
> The bird survey started off overcast, mild, and windy, with a couple rain showers, then turned partly cloudy, warm, and calm around noon. 65 species were found. Lots of nesting activity going on in the heronries on Pintail and Otter Lakes and gallinule chicks everywhere. Here is my list for today:
>
> Black-bellied Whistling Ducks - 9
> Wood Duck - 10
> Mallard - 1 drake
> Ring-necked Duck - 8 (7 males & 1 female.)
> Pied-billed Grebe – 5
> Neotropic Cormorant - 16
> Anhinga - 106
> Least Bittern - 5
> Great-blue Heron - 2
> Great Egret - 8
> Snowy Egret - 8
> Little-blue Heron - 69
> Cattle Egret - 1300
> Green Heron - 18
> Black-crowned Night Heron - 1
> Yellow-crowned Night Heron - 1
> White Ibis - 10
> Black Vulture - 6
> Turkey Vulture – 7
> Mississippi Kite - 1
> Red-shouldered Hawk - 1
> Purple Gallinule - 127
> Common Gallinule - 108
> American Coot – 6
> Mourning Dove - 17
> Yellow-billed Cuckoo - 4
> Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 2
> Belted Kingfisher - 1
> Red-bellied Woodpecker - 2
> Downy Woodpecker - 1
> Acadian Flycatcher - 2
> Eastern Phoebe - 2
> Eastern Kingbird - 1
> Scissor-tailed Flycatcher - 3
> White-eyed Vireo - 11
> Bell's Vireo - 1
> Yellow-throated Vireo - 1
> Red-eyed Vireo - 3
> American Crow - 3
> Fish Crow - 1
> Tree Swallow - 16
> Northern Rough-winged Swallow - 5
> Cliff Swallow - 10
> Barn Swallow - 15
> Carolina Chickadee - 3
> Tufted Titmouse - 4
> Carolina Wren - 10
> Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1
> Yellow-throated Warbler - 1
> Prairie Warbler - 1
> Black-and-white Warbler - 2
> Prothonotary Warbler - 13
> Common Yellowthroat - 7
> Yellow-breasted Chat - 6
> Summer Tanager - 2
> Eastern Towhee - 1
> Northern Cardinal – 22
> Blue Grosbeak - 2
> Indigo Bunting - 20
> Painted Bunting - 4
> Dickcissel - 3
> Red-winged Blackbird – 18
> Common Grackle - 18
> Brown-headed Cowbird - 10
> Orchard Oriole - 3
>
>
>
> Odonates:
>
> Prince Baskettail
> Eastern Pondhawk
> Blue Dasher
> Great-blue Skimmer
> Common Whitetail
> "red" Saddlebags
> Black Saddlebags
>
>
>
> Herps:
>
> Three-toed Box Turtle
> Blanchard's Cricket Frog
> Green Treefrog
> Green Frog
> Bullfrog
>
>
> Good birding!
>
> David Arbour
> De Queen, AR
>
>
> Check out the Red Slough Photo Gallery: https://pbase.com/red_slough_wma >
> Birders Guide to the Red Slough WMA: https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/ouachita/landmanagement/resourcemanagement/?cid=fseprd1043423 >
>
> 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: 6/18/25 9:12 pm From: Barry Haas <bhaas...> Subject: Re: Birds and the Big Beautiful Bill
The budget bill webinar was recorded. E-mail Ark. Audubon Society President Lynn Foster at <lfoster5211...> <mailto:<lfoster5211...> or Sierra Club Central Arkansas Group Chair George Wise at <bgcdwise...> <mailto:<bgcdwise...> to get the recording.
Date: 6/18/25 8:15 pm From: Donna Haynes <00000003bd9d64d2-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Birds and the Big Beautiful Bill
I didn't get to attend, was the meeting recorded? If so, could a link to watch be provided? Donna HaynesWest Pulaski Co.
Yahoo Mail: Search, Organize, Conquer
On Wed, Jun 18, 2025 at 6:58 PM, Gmail<butchchq8...> wrote: Maybe someone can give us a written summary?
ButchBella Vista
On Jun 18, 2025, at 15:03, Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> wrote:
If, like me you have not read the entire budget bill (Big Beautiful Bill) passed by the House and now before the Senate, tonight is your chance to learn what is in this bill that will impact birds and by extension the environment. Presenters include Arkansas Audubon Society President Lynn Foster.You are urged to check in at 7 tonight June 18.This link should take you there;
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83755989678
Jack StewartEducation Chair Arkansas Audubon Society
Date: 6/18/25 5:08 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - June 18
The bird survey started off overcast, mild, and windy, with a couple rain showers, then turned partly cloudy, warm, and calm around noon. 65 species were found. Lots of nesting activity going on in the heronries on Pintail and Otter Lakes and gallinule chicks everywhere. Here is my list for today:
Date: 6/18/25 4:58 pm From: Gmail <butchchq8...> Subject: Re: Birds and the Big Beautiful Bill
Maybe someone can give us a written summary?
Butch
Bella Vista
> On Jun 18, 2025, at 15:03, Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> wrote:
>
>
> If, like me you have not read the entire budget bill (Big Beautiful Bill) passed by the House and now before the Senate, tonight is your chance to learn what is in this bill that will impact birds and by extension the environment. Presenters include Arkansas Audubon Society President Lynn Foster.
> You are urged to check in at 7 tonight June 18.
> This link should take you there;
>
> https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83755989678 >
> Jack Stewart
> Education Chair
> Arkansas Audubon Society
>
> 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: 6/18/25 1:03 pm From: Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Birds and the Big Beautiful Bill
If, like me you have not read the entire budget bill (Big Beautiful Bill) passed by the House and now before the Senate, tonight is your chance to learn what is in this bill that will impact birds and by extension the environment. Presenters include Arkansas Audubon Society President Lynn Foster.You are urged to check in at 7 tonight June 18.This link should take you there;
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83755989678
Jack StewartEducation Chair Arkansas Audubon Society
Date: 6/17/25 2:12 pm From: Carol Joan Patterson <0000003a0ccbe138-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Limpkin expansion paper
Speaking of LImpkins, has anybody seen any in northwestern Arkansas or thereabouts this year?
On Saturday, June 14, 2025 at 12:20:22 PM CDT, Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Two Ft. Smith high schoolers spearheaded this project documenting the rapid expansion of Limpkins across America. The cover of the journal features a photo of a limpkin with a mollusk in its bill, taken by Karen McGee in Lee Creek.
The full paper is here: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3554&context=jaas You can see the cover here:https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/
KannanFt. Smith
Excellent paper by these high school students. It serves as a great reminder why complete data entry into eBird is so important (numbers especially) and the value of citizen science. Patty McLean Patty
-------- Original message --------From: "DUNN, JANE" <DUNNJ...> Date: 6/14/25 12:34 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Re: Limpkin expansion paper
This is wonderful on several levels. Jane D
Get Outlook for iOS
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...>
Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2025 12:19:41 PM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Limpkin expansion paper
Two Ft. Smith high schoolers spearheaded this project documenting the rapid expansion of Limpkins across America. The cover of the journal features a photo of a limpkin with a mollusk in its bill, taken by Karen McGee in Lee
Creek.
Date: 6/14/25 10:34 am From: DUNN, JANE <DUNNJ...> Subject: Re: Limpkin expansion paper
This is wonderful on several levels. Jane D
Get Outlook for iOS<https://aka.ms/o0ukef> ________________________________
From: The Birds of Arkansas Discussion List <ARBIRD-L...> on behalf of Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...>
Sent: Saturday, June 14, 2025 12:19:41 PM
To: <ARBIRD-L...> <ARBIRD-L...>
Subject: Limpkin expansion paper
Two Ft. Smith high schoolers spearheaded this project documenting the rapid expansion of Limpkins across America. The cover of the journal features a photo of a limpkin with a mollusk in its bill, taken by Karen McGee in Lee Creek.
Date: 6/14/25 10:20 am From: Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> Subject: Limpkin expansion paper
Two Ft. Smith high schoolers spearheaded this project documenting the rapid expansion of Limpkins across America. The cover of the journal features a photo of a limpkin with a mollusk in its bill, taken by Karen McGee in Lee Creek.
The full paper is here: https://scholarworks.uark.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=3554&context=jaas You can see the cover here:https://scholarworks.uark.edu/jaas/
KannanFt. Smith
Date: 6/13/25 10:10 am From: Jack and Pam <00000064a46c579c-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Panama AAST tour raises $600 for the trust
On Thursday, June 12, 2025 at 11:28:22 PM CDT, Lynn Foster <lfoster5211...> wrote:
This is such wonderful news, Kannan. Thanks for sharing it with us, and thanks for all your work on behalf of the Trust.
On Wed, Jun 11, 2025 at 11:09 AM Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Ten Auduboners from Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas did a birding tour in Panama based at the Canopy Tower June 1-8, 2025. The tour raised $600 for the Arkansas Audubon Society Trust.
Highlights of the tour include:
Over 200 species of birds, including rare encounters like Rufous-vented Ground Cuckoo, Northern Potoo, and Green Shrike-vireo: https://ebird.org/tripreport/380635Antbirds galore with several species around army ant swarms Several herps including a close sighting of a Boa Constrictor Over 400 species of plants and animals documented in our bioblitz project: Panama June 2025 Arkansas Audubon group
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Panama June 2025 Arkansas Audubon group
Wild flora and fauna documented during Dr. R. Kannan's Arkansas Audubon Society Trust fund raiser nature tour to...
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KannanFt. Smith
My favorite photo is the Bridled Forest Gecko on the termite tunnel. Took me a minute to find it. Clever Gecko
Jack StewartErbie
No doubt about it, theres a building boom in Northwest Arkansas. More homes and buildings mean more panes of glass are going up.
Bird-window collissions are also on the rise.
Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society is on a mission to ask citizens to install collision deterrents on their windows. Installing decals on glass is one easy way. A little computer research reveals all kinds of artsy stickers that birds will see and hopefully not fly into the glass. Its a crash thats often fatal to our feathered friends.
Another idea is to install lengths of parachute cord to hang vertically from the top of a window to near the bottom of a window or lower. The group has step by step instructions on its website, nwarkaudubon.org, for creating this stringed collision prevention. Cords dont take long to install and its an inexpensive prevention, as Joe Neal of Fayetteville writes on nwarkaudubon.org.
For the past 30 years, I have been looking at birds through a large picture window at my home in Fayetteville. For about half that time birds paid the price of my hobby, Neal writes.
Occasionally a hawk would try to grab an easy meal of a bird on the feeder. Sometimes the escaping bird would fly into Neals window.
What has slowed this way, way down has been installation of some long green strings of parachute cord. I cut the cords I needed to appropriate lengths, then stapled them on a 1-by-2-inch board four inches apart. I fixed this board with strings across the top of my picture window. Id say the whole business cost maybe $5. Most importantly, it slowed down window strikes.
The cord is placed on the outside of the window.
Later, Neal found out the cord is more effective if the strings are placed two inches apart instead of four. It didnt take long for him to modify his set up. Neal stapled his strings to a board, but the vertical strings can also be attached to a horizontal string of cord placed across the top of the window. Its effective on windows and patio doors of homes or giant panes on tall buildings.
I call this a type of work Ozark engineering. Its not beautiful, but it has helped, Neal writes. I used inexpensive materials and wasnt too fussy in terms of how I put them up. This may work for some of you. It will help reduce bird strikes on your windows.
Birds fly into windows because they see reflection of the sky or vegetation in the window. They think its the real thing, not a reflection, and fly into it, according to the National Audubon Society. During mating season, birds may see their reflection in the window. They think its another bird and attack the image. Collisions with glass kill millions of birds each year, Audubon says.
Windows that are especially worthy of attention are windows that have already caused collissions, large windows and glass doors and windows near feeders, bird baths and fruit-bearing plants, says the NWA Audubon website.
People should be able to see the pattern from a distance of 10 feet. Birds need this distance to detect decals or cord so they have time to change course away from the window. The larger the window decal the more effective it will be.
Get even more advice on saving the lives of birds at the Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society website. Click on Preventing window collissions at home for more ideas.
Date: 6/12/25 9:28 pm From: Lynn Foster <lfoster5211...> Subject: Re: Panama AAST tour raises $600 for the trust
This is such wonderful news, Kannan. Thanks for sharing it with us, and
thanks for all your work on behalf of the Trust.
On Wed, Jun 11, 2025 at 11:09 AM Ragupathy Kannan <
<0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
> Ten Auduboners from Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas did a birding tour in
> Panama based at the Canopy Tower June 1-8, 2025. The tour raised $600 for
> the Arkansas Audubon Society Trust.
>
> Highlights of the tour include:
>
> Over 200 species of birds, including rare encounters like Rufous-vented
> Ground Cuckoo, Northern Potoo, and Green Shrike-vireo:
> https://ebird.org/tripreport/380635 > Antbirds galore with several species around army ant swarms
> Several herps including a close sighting of a Boa Constrictor
> Over 400 species of plants and animals documented in our bioblitz project: Panama
> June 2025 Arkansas Audubon group
> <https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/panama-june-2025-arkansas-audubon-group> >
> Panama June 2025 Arkansas Audubon group
>
> Wild flora and fauna documented during Dr. R. Kannan's Arkansas Audubon
> Society Trust fund raiser nature tour to...
>
> <https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/panama-june-2025-arkansas-audubon-group> >
> Kannan
> Ft. 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: 6/12/25 6:39 pm From: Patty McLean <000008e6fff5e5c8-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Panama AAST tour raises $600 for the trust
Dr. Kannan, you did a great job coordinating this trip to raise funds for the AAS Trust. Great birds, fun friends and a lovely country!. Patty McLean
-------- Original message --------From: Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> Date: 6/12/25 6:47 PM (GMT-06:00) To: <ARBIRD-L...> Subject: Re: Panama AAST tour raises $600 for the trust
Oops I meant Great Potoo, not Northern Potoo. Thanks to Patty McLean for correcting me!
On Wednesday 11 June, 2025 at 11:09:36 am GMT-5, Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Ten Auduboners from Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas did a birding tour in Panama based at the Canopy Tower June 1-8, 2025. The tour raised $600 for the Arkansas Audubon Society Trust. Highlights of the tour include: Over 200 species of birds, including rare encounters like Rufous-vented Ground Cuckoo, Northern Potoo, and Green Shrike-vireo: https://ebird.org/tripreport/380635Antbirds galore with several species around army ant swarms Several herps including a close sighting of a Boa Constrictor Over 400 species of plants and animals documented in our bioblitz project: Panama June 2025 Arkansas Audubon groupPanama June 2025 Arkansas Audubon groupWild flora and fauna documented during Dr. R. Kannan's Arkansas Audubon Society Trust fund raiser nature tour to...KannanFt. Smith
Date: 6/12/25 4:47 pm From: Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> Subject: Re: Panama AAST tour raises $600 for the trust
Oops I meant Great Potoo, not Northern Potoo. Thanks to Patty McLean for correcting me!
On Wednesday 11 June, 2025 at 11:09:36 am GMT-5, Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> wrote:
Ten Auduboners from Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas did a birding tour in Panama based at the Canopy Tower June 1-8, 2025. The tour raised $600 for the Arkansas Audubon Society Trust.
Highlights of the tour include:
Over 200 species of birds, including rare encounters like Rufous-vented Ground Cuckoo, Northern Potoo, and Green Shrike-vireo: https://ebird.org/tripreport/380635Antbirds galore with several species around army ant swarms Several herps including a close sighting of a Boa Constrictor Over 400 species of plants and animals documented in our bioblitz project: Panama June 2025 Arkansas Audubon group
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Panama June 2025 Arkansas Audubon group
Wild flora and fauna documented during Dr. R. Kannan's Arkansas Audubon Society Trust fund raiser nature tour to...
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Date: 6/11/25 5:26 pm From: <arbour...> <arbour...> Subject: Red Slough Bird Survey - June 11
The bird survey started off partly cloudy, calm, and warm. Halfway through the survey, rain set in and after about 3.5 hours of pour-downs and moderate rain it finally let up enough for me to finish the survey, although it still sprinkled the whole time. 62 species were found. Some Purple Gallinule broods are hatched out now, joining the numerous Common Gallinule broods that have been out at least two weeks. The Anhinga and Neotropic Cormorant young are large enough now that they can easily be seen in the nests. Some of the anhinga young have even climbed up out of their nests and onto nearby higher limbs in an effort to be the first to meet their parents when they return with food. I was run off by lightning as I was starting to count gallinules on Lotus Lake and never made it back there so gallinule numbers are lower than they would have been. Here is my list for today:
Black-bellied Whistling Ducks - 17
Canada Geese - 4
Wood Duck - 17
Ring-necked Duck - 8 males
Pied-billed Grebe – 3
Neotropic Cormorant - 21 (at least 14 nests with birds on them.)
Date: 6/11/25 10:02 am From: Jerry Davis <jwdavis...> Subject: Re: Panama AAST tour raises $600 for the trust
Great trip and dedication to helping fund the Trust and increase knowledge of birds beyond our borders.
Jerry Wayne Davis Hot Springs.
On 2025-06-11 11:08 am, Ragupathy Kannan wrote: > Ten Auduboners from Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas did a birding > tour in Panama based at the Canopy Tower June 1-8, 2025. The tour > raised $600 for the Arkansas Audubon Society Trust. > > Highlights of the tour include: > > Over 200 species of birds, including rare encounters like > Rufous-vented Ground Cuckoo, Northern Potoo, and Green Shrike-vireo: > https://ebird.org/tripreport/380635 > Antbirds galore with several species around army ant swarms > Several herps including a close sighting of a Boa Constrictor > Over 400 species of plants and animals documented in our bioblitz > project: Panama June 2025 Arkansas Audubon group [1] > > PANAMA JUNE 2025 ARKANSAS AUDUBON GROUP > > Wild flora and fauna documented during Dr. R. Kannan's Arkansas > Audubon Society Trust fund raiser nature tour to... > > Kannan > Ft. 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 > > Links: > ------ > [1] > https://www.inaturalist.org/projects/panama-june-2025-arkansas-audubon-group
Date: 6/11/25 9:09 am From: Ragupathy Kannan <0000013b0ad14faf-dmarc-request...> Subject: Panama AAST tour raises $600 for the trust
Ten Auduboners from Arkansas, Mississippi, and Texas did a birding tour in Panama based at the Canopy Tower June 1-8, 2025. The tour raised $600 for the Arkansas Audubon Society Trust.
Highlights of the tour include:
Over 200 species of birds, including rare encounters like Rufous-vented Ground Cuckoo, Northern Potoo, and Green Shrike-vireo: https://ebird.org/tripreport/380635Antbirds galore with several species around army ant swarms Several herps including a close sighting of a Boa Constrictor Over 400 species of plants and animals documented in our bioblitz project: Panama June 2025 Arkansas Audubon group
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Panama June 2025 Arkansas Audubon group
Wild flora and fauna documented during Dr. R. Kannan's Arkansas Audubon Society Trust fund raiser nature tour to...
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A movement outside my window caught my eye. I planted a snaky, helical red metal pole (originally intended to train up twining vines or tomato plants), to signal the mowers to stay away from a red-bud sapling.
A male cardinal landed on the pole. The pole began to oscillate. I could see him compensating with a side-to-side movement of his head, to keep his eyes trained steadily forward. I pictured what his spine must be doing.
This reminded me of a brilliant Mercedes commercial showing the same kind of function in chickens. Find it and laugh. It’s really pretty marvelous. Look for “youtube mercedes chicken commercial.”
As was my little male cardinal, pretty marvelous. Who flew off, apparently unimpressed by his own brilliance.
