The Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society is a registered non-profit
organization serving the four-county region of northwest Arkansas
-- Benton, Carroll, Madison and Washington counties, committed to
Preserving the Natural World in Northwest Arkansas through
Education, Environmental Study and Habitat Protection.
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Upcoming Field Trips & Events
All field trips are free and open to the public. You do not have to be a member of NWAAS to attend. Questions? Email trips@nwarkaudubon.org
October 13-15, 2023 - Arkansas Audubon Society convention
Arkansas Audubon Society's fall convention will be held on Mount Sequoyah in Fayetteville from Friday, October 13th to Sunday, October 15th. In addition to speakers and social gatherings, there are twelve birding field trips around NWA offered as part of the convention.
Register at arbird.org...
November 4, 11, and 18, 2023 - Loon Boat Tours on Beaver Lake
Hobbs State Park and bird experts Joe Neal and Taylor Long will offer three educational boat trips on Beaver Lake, focusing on migrating Common Loons. These boat tours will be held on three consecutive Saturdays: November 4th, 11th, and 18th 2023, each from 10:00 AM - 12:00 PM departing from Rocky Branch Marina on Beaver Lake. In addition to Loons, other waterfowl species typically seen include Horned Grebes, several duck species, two gull species, Bald Eagles, Great Blue Herons, and other water birds. These trips are separate from the regular Hobbs Bald Eagle cruises scheduled from November through February. Each two-hour trip will be accompanied by either Joe Neal, author of “Birds in Northwest Arkansas,” or Taylor Long of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to help identify birds and answer questions. The cruise will be aboard Hobbs State Park's covered pontoon boat, which is ideal for the loon outings. Departure initiates from Rocky Branch Marina (GPS: 36.339270, -93.931760). It will be restful, slow travel for about 8 - 10 miles in one of the lake's most open and picturesque areas. If you are an experienced birder or just want to explore a large body of water with lots of bird life, get on board and bring your camera or binoculars. NOTE: To attend this trip, you must make reservations and pay through Hobbs State Park. Reservations may no be open yet (Hobbs is still working on posting the event). Call 479-789-5000 to reserve your spots. Space is limited, and tours fill quickly. The minimum age is 16 years old, and the cost is $14.00 per person plus tax.
More details...
December 2, 2023 - Winter Waterfowl at Lake Fayetteville
The Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society will host a birding field trip to Lake Fayetteville on Saturday December 2nd, 2023, starting at 9:00 AM. The focus of this trip will be winter waterfowl (ducks, geese, grebes) that accumulate on the lake at this time of year. We will meet at the parking lot of the Botanical Garden of the Ozarks and make our way along a forest trail to the Mulhollan Waterfowl Blind where birds on the lake can be comfortably and inconspicuously observed. The walk to the blind and back will be approximately 1.5 miles on flat dirt trails and boardwalks with the trip lasting no more than 2 hours. If waterfowl are congregating on the North or West sides of the lake, we may add an optional addition to the trip by driving around to the Environmental Center dock, or the main marina. The trip is free and open to the public. You do not have to be a member of NWAAS to attend.
More details...
December 17, 2023 - Fayetteville Christmas Bird Count
The 2023 Fayetteville Christmas Bird Count will be held Sunday, December 17th. This all-day bird census involves a number of teams spreading out to survey different zones around Fayetteville. At the end of the day, we reunite to gather our data into one official report to be submitted to the National Audubon Society's records that stretch back over a century. There are plenty of opportunities for new birders to join more experienced teams for some or all of the day. Check back here for instructions on how to get involved as the date approaches.
Field trips for January, February, and March will be posted in December.