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Audubon Arkansas IBA Map: Notes
6 - Bell's Slough Wildlife Management Area
Directions: From Little Rock take I-40 west to the Mayflower exit. Turn left across the
Interstate 1/2 mile to a traffic light at Highway 365. Turn left on 365
for about two miles and look for the binocular sign directing you to a
wildlife watching site. Turn left onto a gravel road at the sign. After
about one mile you will cross a bridge; immediately after the bridge turn
left into the parking lot.
Bell's Slough has an excellent walking trail that follows the edge of a
wetland and goes through upland forest. Birds in the area include Kentucky
Warblers, Great Crested Flycatchers, and other woodland birds. The wetland
has a variety of waterfowl; herons, including Yellow-crowned Night-Heron;
egrets; and Yellow-throated Warbler.
7 - Camp Robinson Wildlife Demonstration Area
Directions: From Little Rock take I-40 to
the first Conway exit and turn right (east) on Highway 286. Follow 286 for
about five miles to the area on the left. This is not part of the Camp
Robinson military base.
The area has miles of gravel roads that go through
woodlands and open fields. In the winter it is a great area for a variety
of sparrows. Bachman's Sparrow and Bell's Vireo can be found in the
summer. The area borders Lake Conway which, along with the on site Nursery
Pond, is great for Osprey, Bald Eagle, waterfowl, herons, and egrets.
9 - Holla Bend IBA
Timing: Very early morning or late afternoon are best for viewing geese and ducks.
Hawks and Eagles can be good anytime.
Directions: Take interstate 40 to the Russellville/ Route 7 exit (#81). Turn
left off the exit, cross the interstate and proceed South on Route 7 to a
red-light- “T” intersection at the South end of Dardanelle. Turn Left and
follow Rt. 7 2.75 miles to Rt. 155. Turn left and go 4.2m to the entrance of Holla Bend.
3 - Lake Dardanelle IBA
Items to bring: Binoculars will give some views, but the size of the lake
dictates bringing a spotting scope. These directions get you to some of the
main viewing areas. To explore many more spots bring an AR Gazetteer.
Timing: Some of these spots are best when sun position is taken into account.
Expect to spend a very full day.
Directions (East and South Shores):
Take interstate 40 to the Russellville/ Route 7 exit (#81). Turn left off the exit,
cross the interstate and proceed to the first red-light. Turn Right onto Lake Front
Drive. Views at 0.65miles, 1.05m, 1.35m, 1.65m and 1.7m. (These viewing spots can
be good for gulls as they stage first thing in the morning and late afternoon before
going to their roost site off of Lake Dardanelle State Park.) Reach the red-light
of the Route 64 crossing at 1.9m. At this point you can access the North-shore
(directions at end) or continue to the East and South-shores. Proceed straight
through to the next light. (0.2m) Turn right onto Route 326 and proceed 2.9m to
Lake Dardanelle State Park. (The park can be good for observing diving ducks
depending on boat traffic. The boat launch is good for observing the late evening
roosting of gulls.) After finishing at the State Park, turn Right and proceed 2.25m
to Skyline drive. Turn Right and proceed 1.05m to Shepard Drive. Turn right and
go 0.95m to a “T” intersection in the Corp of Engineers/ City of Russellville Old
Post Park. Turn Right and go 0.25m to a road that goes down by the river. After
scanning the lower lock wall and the river you may want to turn left, park in the
upper parking area, scan the upper lock wall for resting gulls and the rock rip-rap
for Rock Wren. (The pines of the park can yield Brown-headed Nuthatch.) Exit Old
Post Park, proceeding straight along Old Post Rd, going 0.5m to the COE Campground
and boat launch. (Depending on the river’s water level a sandbar can be present
and best observed from the boat launch.) After exiting the campground turn Right
onto Old Post Rd and go 1.1m to the Rt. 7 junction. Turn Right (South) and go 2.25m
into Dardanelle. Turn Right at the first red-light onto 2nd Street. Go 0.7 to
Dam Rd. Turn Right and proceed 0.8m to the COE lock and dam. (Many birds can’t
be seen from the North side. For close-up views of the gulls you can park and
walk up a path to the gate wall.) After finishing at the dam go back to Rt. 7
at 2nd Street. Turn right and go 0.55m to the junction with Rt. 22. Turn Right
onto Rt. 22 and go 6.0m to Lake Ridge Rd. (Views of lake bays at 4.0 & 4.5m)
Turn Right onto Lake Ridge Rd and proceed to a pull-off by a white painted fence
post at 0.7m. Walk out through the woods to “Piney Pt”. (This spot is good for
diving ducks.) Return to Rt. 22 and turn Right. Go 1.4m to “Kiddy Pool Pt”.
Views at 0.9m. Kiddy Pool Pt is private land and closed with a cable. The
owner enjoys birds but wants to discourage trash dumping. Park by the cable
and walk out onto the point. (This spot is good for diving ducks.) Turn
Right and go 1.75m to Rt. 393. (Views at 0.2 & 0.9m) Turn Right onto Rt. 393
and go 3.25m to COE Delaware Park. (Best light conditions are late afternoon.)
This concludes the south shore tour. Using your gazetteer you can continue
exploring westward to Rt. 109 and than towards Clarksville and the Northern shore.
This route has occasional views of the lake, but are generally hard to find.
Directions (North Shore):
Proceed to the junction of Rt. 64 and Lake Front Drive. (Mentioned above.)
Turn Right, crossing the lake to 1.7m. Turn Right onto Rt. 333. Go 0.3 to the lake.
(This view is good for late afternoon/ evening viewing of roosting gulls.)
Return to Rt. 64 and turn Left. Go 10.0m to Cherry St. in Knoxville. Turn
Left going 0.4m to Cabin Creek Rd. Turn Right and follow to the COE Cabin
Creek Park boat launch. (Viewing of Divers best in early morning.) The
last easily accessible North shore location is reached by Interstate 40 to
the first Clarksville exit, Rt. 103. Follow Rt. 103 to the South to COE New
Spadra Park. (Lake is narrowing up at this point with many islands and sandbars.
Best for Tern observation.)
If you want further information about the Lake Dardanelle IBA, contact Leif
Anderson @ 479 284-3402, or Kenny Nichols @ 501 728-4519.
5 - Shortleaf Pine-Bluestem Grass Ecosystem Management Area
Directions: From Little Rock take I-30W to Malvern. Take Highway 270W to Highway 71N.
Begin at the US Forest Service office at the junction of Highways 71 and 248 for a self-guided map.
Ahead of time contact Jerry W. Davis, Forest Program Manager, Ouachita National Forest at
501-321-5201 or go to www.fs.fed.us/oon/ouachita.htm.
The USFS is actively managing this ecosystem of mature pines with an understory of
Bluestem grasses and Indian grass. This type of management is aiding the recovery
of the Red-cockaded Woodpecker which nests in mature pine trees. Other birds of
interest found in this area are Bachman’s Sparrow, Prairie Warbler, Northern
Bobwhite and Yellow-breasted Chat.
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The Audubon Mission: To conserve and restore
natural ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and
their habitats for the benefit of humanity and the earth's
biological diversity.
Check out our most recent newsletter.
Check out the Winter 2003 newsletter.
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