During my first birding life, I made a trip to Felsenthal National Wildlife Refuge to get a glimpse of this perhaps most threatened bird in Arkansas. Back in those days that was the only place in Arkansas or much of anywhere else they could be found due to their requirements. Perhaps the main reason for their decline was that they preferred to drill cavities in living pine trees that were old enough to get a certain disease that softened the wood, typically about 80+ years. Since the timber and paper industries cut trees more on the order of 30 years the number of habitats were devastated in the 20th century. That day I got a single glimpse of one bird. Now, at least 25 years later, things have improved for the RCW. Since that time, RCWs have been actively managed so that their numbers have increased and they can now be found in a number of locations such as Warren Prairie Natural Area, Pine City, somewhere in the Ouachitas, and other places. On June 2, ASCA went to Warren Prairie and saw three individuals including this one at an artificial nest. Since it takes 80 years to get an 80 year old tree, conservationists have started creating these artificial nests, literally bird houses inserted into the living pine tree, so that the RCW doesn’t require the years it would normally take them to excavate the dwelling. Click images for larger views.
The Weekend of April 22
It was a busy weekend. First there was an ASCA field trip to Lake Sylvia which was cold and sunny. That was followed by chores to justify blowing them off earlier. Sunday I birded parts of Burns Park and Cook’s Landing. Sunday afternoon I wrapped it up with a butterfly outing to Pinnacle Mountain State Park. Below are some pictures from the weekend. Click the images to see a larger version.
The American Lady and Silver-spotted Skippers were first of season and the blue in the Prairie Lizard is a mating season accessory.
Lakes Sylvia and Huston in Ouachita National Forest
Karen Holliday, Sam, and I went to Lake Sylvia in the Ouachita National Forest Sunday. Due to the clouds and wind, the birding was slow but we did pick up FOS Summer Tanagers and a pair of nesting Red-shouldered Hawks. I did find a new life moth – the Grape Leafroller Moth. After Sylvia, we went to a forest service lake that we were told about called Lake Huston near Perryville. By the time the Sun was shining more and the insect life picked up there. I found a life butterfly, the Hoary Edge (cool name, huh?) and there were several very striking Blue Corporeal dragonflies. We also picked up FOS Chimney Swifts there and Prairie Warbler on Highway 10 on the way back. None of my bird pictures turned out but some of the insects did. I hope you like them. Right click image to see an enlargement.
