Arkansas – Page 18 – Memos for Me

Wapanocca NWR I

July 9, 2013

My aunt has lived in Marion since I was a little girl. My sister and I would stay with her to make cookies at Christmastime and to visit the Memphis Zoo. I have tons of memories of visiting her house, however, none of them include Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge in Turrell.

Wapanocca is about 15 minutes north of her house and, apparently has a long history with my family. My grandmother and dad both visited the refuge from time to time. I was just introduced this year.

Previously the site of the Wapanocca Outing Club (a hunting club), the 5,485-acre refuge was established in 1961 to provide habitat for migrating and wintering waterfowl and consists of mainly agricultural land, bottomland hardwood forest, reforested hardwoods, open water and flooded cypress/willow swamp.

My first visit there was with fellow birders. I spent the night with my aunt and slowly made my way to the refuge to meet the others. I knew it was going to be a great trip when I spotted the below coyotes (oddly, my first viewing) just outside of the refuge.

Here’s some more of my non-bird sighting:

Menard Mounds

July 5, 2013

I’m fascinated with the history of Arkansas County. It’s been a focal point for me in the recent months since the county is celebrating its bicentennial this year and Arkansas Post National Memorial has started work to open its Osotouy Unit up to the public.

The Osotouy Unit covers 400 acres just a quarter of a mile north of where the Quapaw village of Osotouy once sat (now known as Wallace Bottoms). It’s the village that Henri de Tonti established the original “Poste de Arkansea” near in 1686. Today, all that remains are nine known mounds (known as the Menard Mounds) that are listed on the National Register of Historic Places and as a National Historic Landmark.
Arkansas Post has now started working on its document that would guide management of Osotouy Unit and allow the national park to receive funding to develop pedestrian trails and interpretive opportunities linking the two sites. It’s a project park officials say will take a while to complete.However, once done, it will be a fascinating place to visit. I simply couldn’t wait until then so Izzie and I traveled to the site with my visiting parents. I would have gotten lost if it weren’t for them.In past years, it was owned by a logging company so the roads were rough and it took me a while to find the nearest community — the unincorporated town of Nady. Here’s some pictures once I found it:

Menard Mounds3 4-24 — We originally passed the gate to Menard Mounds and continued on driving down the logging road. We just happened to see the gate as we were returning.

Menard Mounds4 4-24 — A not-so-unusual view.

Menard Mounds7 4-24 — The drive down was beautiful just by itself.

Menard Mounds8 4-24 — View by the mounds.

Menard Mounds9 4-24 — More flowers in the field.

Menard Mounds11 4-24 — Izzie was a mess by the time we left.

Menard Mounds12-blackbird — Back at home, this Red-Winged Blackbird greeted me at the feeder.

Menard Mounds13-blackbird2 — Red-Winged Blackbird outburst.

Change of pace

July 2, 2013

I moved to Stuttgart nearly three years ago. It’s been a great home, especially with Arkansas Post National Memorial, Bayou Meto, Potlatch Conservation Education Center at Cook’s Lake and the White River National Wildlife Refuge being so close. However, it’s now time for me to leave Arkansas County and the Grand Prairie.

I have accepted a job with the same newspaper that I previously interned at for over three years. I’m nervous, yet excited to be able to call Jonesboro home once more.

The move is coming up — my last day in Stuttgart is the 10th. So … wish me luck and get ready to become reacquainted with the delta – NEA style. 🙂

Photo essay: Gigi & I (July 2013)
150 years: Battle of Arkansas Post (January 2013)
Photo essay: 1st CBC (January 2013)
200th anniversary (November 2012)
Introducing … Aqua (MAN!!) (April 2012)
Spring Bayou Float (April 2012)
Why I love journalism (March 2012)
High winds, sunsets and destruction (February 2012)
Sampling ‘coon’ (January 2012)
Wings Over the Prairie (November 2011)
Going wild (October 2011)
Hear me roar! (June 2011)

Photo essay: Gigi & I

July 1, 2013

My grandmother, Gigi, and I share a love of birds. So, a hummingbird banding workshop was the perfecting outing for us to spend some time together. Luckily, the Saturday workshop was from 1-4 p.m. at the Potlatch Conservation Education Center in Casscoe, which gave me plenty of time to pick her up in Jonesboro and stop at Jack Ryan’s Convenience store to pick up some of their oh-so-good sandwiches for lunch.

I’ve been going to the workshop for three years now and I don’t think I’ll ever get bored with it. There were no little kids this time so Gigi and I were both able to release a Ruby-Throated Hummingbird after they were banded. It was a pretty neat experience since the hummingbirds sat for a moment before flying off. Later, we drove down to the dock to see how high the White River was.

Here’s pictures:

Banding the first Ruby-Throated Hummingbird.

Gigi releasing the first hummingbird. — Gigi releasing the first hummingbird, a male.

I got to release the last. — I got to release the last, a female who was also the rowdiest.

Cooks Lake-hummingbird3 6-15 — Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Cooks Lake-hummingbird1 6-15 — Ruby-Throated Hummingbird

Already banded. — Another look at the already-banded hummingbird.

Eastern Bluebird that posed as we headed down to the dock.

The White River water level is pretty high right now.

The dock at the White River. We were still able to access the floating ramp.

We found this lady bug on the floating ramp along with ... — We found this lady bug on the floating ramp along with …

This Broad-headed Skink (lizard) and ... — This Broad-headed Skink (lizard) and …

This frog who jumped off the ramp as I approached.

We spent our trip back to Jonesboro look for any wildlife. We saw very few.

It was a day well spent.

The Bandit (Aug. 17, 2012)
Revisiting the Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds (May 30, 2012)
The Smallest Around (Aug. 23, 2011)

Photo essay: Last meal

June 26, 2013

This Great Blue Heron looked tickled pink while feeding at Bald Knob National Wildlife Refuge in April — not surprising since it was having plenty of success at finding dinner. I found these pictures and more while clearing up my computer’s desktop. So FYI, I’m about to go on a posting frenzy of my pictures from April to June. 🙂

Photo: Its just a baby

June 25, 2013

I live just off of a busy highway so, when I walk, I typically head toward a nearby cemetery that neighbors a dirt road. The detour gets me away from the heavy traffic and is typically a peaceful route to walk. However, it has lately reminded me of a scene from The Birds with Killdeer replacing the blackbirds. I’ve noticed more Killdeer in this location this year than ever before and they definitely don’t like my presence.

I guess it’s a good thing I’ve been too lazy to walk lately. Last night, I ended up on the dirt road during my drive home and I passed the above baby Killdeer. His mother was just above the ditch and the baby just couldn’t find a way up. It was rejoined by a sibling just after I drove away.

Photo essay: An overflowing garden

June 10, 2013

To say my aunt is a gardener is putting it lightly. Her yard is her pride and joy as well as a year-round showcase. I love visiting her to discover what’s new in her garden (and plus because she’s simply amazing). It kills me that the gardening gene went to my sister and not me. I have a black thumb.

Anyway, here’s what was blooming at my last visit:

Bursts of color

June 6, 2013

Daylilies are finally blooming in my backyard. It’s the closest to gardening that I can get, although technically my only involvement is watching them bloom. The largest batch is centered just between my bird-watching window and my bird feeders. It’s where I snapped the above picture.

Splish, Splash … Takin’ a bath.

June 5, 2013

I had that song stuck in my head for the longest time after watching this American Robin play around in a puddle.

Drumroll … New bird visitor at my home

June 4, 2013

I’ve lived in Stuttgart for three years this August. During this time, my main feathered visitors have been house sparrows, cardinals, doves, American robins and blackbirds. And, of course, the occasional cedar waxwing.

Now, I love having these constant birds. Don’t get me wrong, but I decided late last summer I wanted for more variety. And I finally took action after months of just thinking about it. I actually kept my feeders full, switching to a more fruitier blend to attract another variety of birds (which my usual crowd still likes) and put up my first hummingbird feeder.

The results were slow. I received my first hummingbird late last summer. This spring, I woke up to a rose-breasted grosbeak singing at my feeder. And I recently discovered the below American goldfinch. Today, I finally had what I believe was a House finch.

I see most of the birds first thing in the morning, around 7 to 7:30. And honestly, the finds are a great energy boost for my day. So, hopefully the birds will keep on visiting.

Memos for Me

Rediscovering Arkansas with a few detours.

Category: Arkansas