Watch for Birds on Crowley's Ridge Parkway

If you enjoy bird watching, visit Crowley’s Ridge Parkway. The Arkansas portion of the byway is a veritable birding paradise. Passing through a national forest and near four marshy wildlife refuges, it teems with wildlife, providing ample chances to see migratory waterfowl and rare birds like the Tundra Swan and Ivory-billed Woodpecker.

A Wood Duck Enjoying a Swim (AR) [1]

Visit the Big Lake Wildlife Refuge, and be sure to bring along a pair of binoculars and rubber boots. Once part of the Mississippi River until earthquakes transformed the region a century or so ago,  it is now a wooded swamp ideal for nesting birds like Osprey, Wood Ducks, geese, and other waterfowl. Explore the seemingly limitless man-made canals, and get up close to your favorite birds. Stop in from February to April to watch Bald Eagles and their hatching young.

For a paddleboat tour of the famous southern bottom woodland forests, make a stopover at the Cache River Wildlife Refuge. Enjoy the natural beauty of a refuge internationally recognized for its conservation efforts and find an amazing array of birds like Wild Turkeys, egrets, Yellow-billed Cuckoos, and sandpipers. With a great deal of luck, you might catch a glimpse of the elusive endangered Ivory-billed Woodpecker, which was feared to be extinct for over 50 years before being rediscovered in 2005.

Located along the Mississippi River, the Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge is an important stop for birds traveling the Mississippi Flyway. Thousands of migratory songbirds pass through it on their way to and from South America. Follow the winding, solitary driving trail in your search for nesting Great Blue Herons and Anhingas. If you don’t like pounding the beaten path, navigate the refuge in a sturdy fishing boat or canoe.

An Alert Barred Owl in Wapanocca National Wildlife Refuge (AR) [2]

With over 300 lakes and ponds, the White River National Wildlife Refuge houses two-thirds of the birds common to Arkansas. Come in the early morning or after a storm and see Northern Harriers, Blue Jays, and Pileated Woodpeckers. Camping is allowed at this refuge year-round, so pitch a tent, listen for the evening calls of Barred Owls, and get the full wildlife experience. Don’t forget to pack a lunch, insect repellent, and a camera because you will want to spend the whole day exploring.

Crowley’s Ridge Parkway promises you plenty of winged eye candy. From majestic birds of prey like Bald Eagles and Osprey, to graceful long-necked Canada Geese, to the mysterious Ivory-billed Woodpecker, this byway offers a feast for the eyes as well as the imagination.