The Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society will host a morning field trip to Lake Sequoyah on Saturday, May 20, 2023 at 8:00 AM. This city park southeast of Fayetteville is one of our region’s most productive birding hotspots; we’ll admire everything it has to offer, but our goal will be to identify Prothonotary Warblers that have just returned from wintering grounds in Central and South America to nest in Northwest Arkansas.
Often called a “swamp warbler” in the southeast, these warblers forage above standing or slow-moving water, and breed in wooded areas near streams, lakes, flooded bottomland, and swamps. Prothonotary Warblers are one of the only warblers to build their nests in holes in standing dead trees. Lake Sequoyah is one of the best places in Washington County to see these spectacular warblers.
The field trip will be led by local birder Todd Ballinger, an English teacher at Fayetteville High School, who has extensive experience birding at this location.
Meet at the main marina paved parking lot promptly at 8:00 AM (GPS: 36.0556621, -94.0647094). Prothonotary Warblers, and many other bird species, are usually viewable/audible near where we park. Depending upon bird activity and interest, we may continue to other areas of the park. We will finish by 10:00 AM. As on all NWAAS field trips, please feel free to come and go as suits you. More info about birding at Lake Sequoyah can be found on the NWAAS website Places to Bird page. This is an easy guided bird walk open to everyone.
From Fayetteville, head east on HWY 16 (E. Huntsville Road), then north on South Lake Sequoyah Drive until you cross the bridge leading over Lake Sequoyah. Our meeting place is the main paved parking lot located at the marina and bait shop on the east side of the bridge.