The Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society will host a casual bird walk at Wattle Hollow Retreat Center deep in the Boston Mountains on Sunday, April 21, 2024 at 9:00 AM. We will explore hardwood forests, a small farm, and stream environments in search of spring migrants, especially warblers that are often just arriving at this time of year. We’ll meet at the top of the driveway (GPS: 35.837772,-94.2681282), then slowly walk ~1.25 miles toward Wattle Creek, ending at the retreat center around noon. If you wish to stay for lunch, bring food for yourself or something to share with others. After lunch, those up for a more challenging walk may hike the steep trail down the creek to search for Louisiana Waterthrush. The trip is free and open to the public. You do not have to be a member of NWAAS to attend.
This trip is free and open to the public. Because parking is limited at this site, we’re asking participants to RSVP to limit our group size to no more than 25. RSVP by email to [email protected] so we know how many to expect. In your email, please include your name and the total number in your party.
From Fayetteville: Take I-49 S to the West Fork exit (it’s after Greenland). Go right onto Hwy. 170, toward Devil’s Den State Park, for about 10 miles. When you see the sign that says: “Winslow: 19 miles and Devil’s Den: 4 miles,” continue another half-mile on 170 to the first house on the right (a small white one with a carport and an American flag). The driveway to Wattle Hollow is on the left (GPS: 35.837772,-94.2681282). Park here along the East side of 170. We’ll have a couple of cars parked at the retreat center to shuttle drivers back up the driveway after the walk.
If you were driving down to the retreat center, you would continue 1.25 miles down the dirt road taking the only fork to the right, which is marked, and continuing to the end of the road.