Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society will host a spring migration hike around Ninestone Land Trust in Carroll County (GPS: 36.227713, -93.547752) on Saturday, May 9th, at 9:00 AM. An affiliate of the Ozark Land Trust, Ninestone protects 412 acres of unique and valuable habitats: a waterfall that cascades over sandstone kettles into Piney Creek, classical Ozark upland fields, sandstone glades, soaring bluff lines, stands of mixed hardwoods and native shortleaf pines. Ninestone founder and steward Judy Griffith and local bird expert Joe Neal will lead participants on a hike to identify and enjoy migrating birds and other native flora and insects, enjoy Piney Creek and picturesque bluffs, and visit glade restoration areas. Expect the hike to cover ~1.5 miles across a mix of formal and informal soft-surface trails. Some walking near high cliff areas and moderate scrambling over boulders is involved in completing the hike loop, but participants are welcome to turn back at any point and enjoy the waterfall from the comfort of the porch. After the hike, we’ll have lunch overlooking the waterfall, so bring food for yourself and/or something to share with others.
To ensure a good experience for participants and the owners, we’re limiting our group size to 25. To RSVP, email [email protected] to let us know you plan on attending the Ninestone field trip. Please include your name and the total number in your party.
<aside> ⚠️ The exact coordinates of Ninestone are GPS: 36.227713, -93.547752 but if you enter this into Google Maps it will send you down a nearby yet incorrect road. The correct turn-off from Hwy 21 is CR 512. Have Google Maps route you here, then follow written directions to find the driveway. CR 512 turn-off: GPS 36.2290270, -93.5303530
</aside>
From Fayetteville or South: From intersection of Hwy 412 & Hwy 21 N, take Hwy 21 North for about 7+ miles. Cross the Cedar Creek Bridge & immediately turn LEFT onto the gravel road CR 512 before the cyclone fence kennels on the LEFT. Continue on gravel road CR 512 for 1 MILE, staying to the LEFT at any choices. You will pass a large blue mailbox on the LEFT and a yellow WATCH FOR DOGS sign on the RIGHT. Continue on down the drive and park on the grass.
From Berryville or North: From intersection of Hwy 62 E & Hwy 21 S just east of Berryville, take Hwy 21 South for 10 + miles to cyclone fence kennels on the RIGHT. Immediately after the kennels & parking lot turn RIGHT onto the gravel road marked CR 512. Do NOT cross the bridge over Cedar Creek! Continue on gravel road CR 512 for 1 MILE, staying to the LEFT at any choices. You will pass a large blue mailbox on the LEFT, and a yellow WATCH FOR DOGS sign on the RIGHT. Continue on down the drive and park on the grass.
If you get lost, call Judy Griffith at 870-545-3559.
Depending upon weather conditions, Ninestone field trips may include shallow creek crossings. If you have rubber boots (Muck boots, barnyard boots, etc), they might be helpful. The creek, a traditional body of water in the Ozarks, also gladly accepts tennis shoes, water sandals, and bare feet.
If extensive walking & hiking doesn’t work for you, there is plenty of high quality scenery right where we park, at the home of Judith Ann Griffith and Don Matt. The amazing waterfall is easily seen there and heard as well. Piney Creek is just below, with Louisiana Waterthrushes singing, plus migrants passing through the Ozarks. So you don’t need to be very mobile to enjoy all of this, including the big native pine grove and farm yard. This is all fun and fulfilling stuff to do while everyone else is “off to the woods and fields.”
Please note: Ninestone Land Trust is private property. The public is welcome on organized field trips. Visits at other times are usually welcome, but must be arranged in advance. For more information, contact: Judith Ann Griffith & Don Matt, Ninestone Land Trust, 870-545-3559. Email: [email protected].
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 [email protected] to be added to this list). We’ll also try to post wherever else we can in a timely manner (Facebook, etc.)
Contact info for questions about the trip.
All Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society field trips are free and open to the public. We always welcome new members, but membership in NWAAS is not required for participation. We try to make our field trips accessible to everyone, all ages, abilities, interests. Beginning birders are always welcome. No pets please. We have field trips on Saturdays and Sundays to accommodate different schedules. We encourage carpooling where possible.
If you plan on attending a field trip, please RSVP to [email protected]. This helps us plan for attendance, communicate to participants last-minute, and manage attendance for trips with limited capacity.
For maps and more information about these places, check the Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society web site http://www.nwarkaudubon.org/ and the section “Places to bird in northwest Arkansas” (under Menu on upper left side of the home page).
If you are interested in being added to the NWAAS email list for updates on field trips and other society events, please send a message to: [email protected]. Some of the information on the trips below can change, so additional details & updates about trips are sent via the email prior to the announced date -- check the NWAAS Facebook page for the latest.