Birders have snowy field trip

Photographing wildlife | Terry Stanfill, manager of the Eagle Watch Nature Area, watches eagles and other waterfowl through the lens of his camera on Saturday when the Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society visited the nature area watching for birds and other wildlife in the snow. About seven people braved the cold and snow to participate in the NWAAS field trip. The group observed more than 25 bald eagles on Saturday morning.
Photographing wildlife | Terry Stanfill, manager of the Eagle Watch Nature Area, watches eagles and other waterfowl through the lens of his camera on Saturday when the Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society visited the nature area watching for birds and other wildlife in the snow. About seven people braved the cold and snow to participate in the NWAAS field trip. The group observed more than 25 bald eagles on Saturday morning.

— It certainly seemed like an unlikely day Saturday for a field trip to watch birds. With temperatures still below freezing and snow 8-10 inches deep, getting to the Eagle Watch Nature Area and parking without getting stuck in the snow was a challenge.

But for serious birders, the wintry day was not enough to stop a Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society field trip to Eagle Watch Nature Trail at Gentry.

Though only seven bird watchers, including Terry Stanfill and field-trip leader and bird expert Joe Neal, showed up and took the 1/4 mile walk throughthe snow, the day was not without its rewards. At least 27 bald eagles were observed, including several juvenile birds. Numerous other birds were spotted, including Canada geese, mallards, cardinals, a variety of sparrows and an overflight of 10 common mergansers led by a male with a brilliant green head.

News, Pages 12 on 02/09/2011