Northwest Arkansas Democrat-Gazette
How the pond works
Largemouth bass are being raised in the Beaver Lake Nursery Pond this year, said Jon Stein, fisheries biologist with the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission. About 400 adult largemouth bass were gathered by biologists at an Everett Team Trail bass tournament held at the lake earlier this year. The adult males and females were put in the pond. They spawned, producing thousands of largemouth bass fry, which will be released into the lake. Corps of Engineers.
Finding Ozark Cave Fish on the sited delayed the pond’s construction about a year, Bland said. He’s not sure if the cave fish are still there. It’s been awhile since any agency has checked, he added. The rocks serve to protect the area.
Neal, Oakley and Stanfill got lots of bird and wildflower photos. Oakley was interested in insects, particularly dragonflies. He got his wish when a pair of buzzed about, creating a golden photo opportunity.
Bluebirds were the main
interest of a fourth visitor to the pond. Ken Leonard of Bentonville is a Northwest Arkansas master naturalist who came to check on nesting activity at the dozen or so bluebird houses on the property. The master naturalists maintain the bluebird boxes and keep track of nesting success.
During spring, houses are checked every couple of weeks for eggs, Leonard said. Master Naturalists clean out the bluebird houses in the fall when the birds are done using them.
The three explorers left the nursery pond with memories of a fine spring morning, cameras full of pictures and a nice dose of exercise walking around the pond levee and exploring the woods. Lunch at a nearby eatery was next, but not before Neal hollered, “Hey! I just heard a yellow throated warbler!”