HOBBS HAPPENINGS
Sweetheart lunch/boat cruises offered
Share the wonders of nature with your sweetheart this Valentine’s Day weekend by taking a boat cruise on beautiful Beaver Lake and enjoying a scrumptious lunch at Ventris Trails End Resort.
Lunch features baconwrapped smoked chicken with sautéed mushrooms, onions and cheese, twice baked potato, seasoned green beans, French onion soup and salad with homemade bread rolls, chocolate cake, water, tea, or coffee; or a portabella sandwich.
Alcoholic beverages are available at an additional charge.
There are two Sweetheart Cruises from which to choose. One will run Saturday, Feb. 15, and the other Sunday, Feb. 16. Each cruise will leave Rocky Branch Marina at 11 a.m. and return by 2 p.m.
Cost: $80+ tax per couple or $40+ tax per individual: Reservations and payment must be made in advance. Contact Hobbs State Park – Conservation Area visitor center to reserve a spot.
Eagle cruises slated
Come the first of November, migrating bald eagles begin to visit Beaver Lake. They are beautiful when they soar overhead, swoop down to the water to catch a fish with their talons, or just sit in a leafless tree. It’s indeed exciting to see them. We have been enjoying eagles for over two months now, and Hobbs State Park announces there is still some room for February eagle watch cruises
February eagle watch cruise dates: 1, 2, 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 23, 29
According to interpreter Steve Chyrchel, “Nature’s wonders are unpredictable. We may see four or five eagles on a cruise or maybe just one, and on very rare occasion we may not see any. If the weather is beautiful, the eagles are most likely looking for fish somewhere on the wing and not sitting in a tree. There are two things eagle watchers need to remember; one, eagle watching is not a warm weather sport, and two; the nastier the weather the more likely we are to see eagles. If it’s cold and a little rainy, that’s when eagles sit in a tree and wait for better weather.”
Although Hobbs calls these times on the lake “Eagle Cruises,” remember that there is other wildlife to see as well. Great blue herons, belted kingfishers, red tailed hawks, and maybe a deer, beaver, or several species of ducks become part of the viewing fun.
No matter what wildlife you see, it’s always great to be out on the water. Hobbs State Park provides a safe three-pontoon vessel, driver, and an interpreter to answer questions and share information about our national symbol, the bald eagle.
Tickets must be purchased in advance. Adults $10 + tax. Children 6-12 $5 + tax. Tours depart Rocky Branch Marina promptly at 3 p.m.
Wonders of Winter Wildlife presented
If the onset of “cabin fever” is beginning to set in, the Wonders of Winter Wildlife at Hobbs State Park will set you free. Bring the whole family.
• 9 – 10:30 a.m. — Birds ’N Breakfast: Free activity: Enjoy some coffee, juice, and donuts on us. The
University of Arkansas will be catching songbirds, and then releasing them back into the wild. Bring a camera for close-up bird photos.
• 11 a.m. – Live Birds of Prey: Free activity: Local wildlife rehabilitator, Lynn Sciumbato, will give her always popular “Raptor Rescue” program using live birds native to northwest Arkansas.
• Noon – 4 p.m. – Hikes, indoor programs, and crafts: Free Activities
• 3 – 4:30 p.m. – Eagle Watch Cruise: * Eagle Watch Cruise originates from Rocky Branch Marina.
Where: Hobbs State Park visitor center
When: Saturday, Jan. 18 Cost: All activities free – except Eagle Cruise
*Eagle cruises require pre-registration
Cost: $10+ tax/adult, $5+ tax/child 6-12
For information and to register for the eagle watch tour call: 479-789-5000.
Eric Fuselier to speak on winter botany
Plant identification can be challenging, especially during the cold winter months when many species have gone dormant. Luckily, even during the bleak months of winter, plants still provide us with plenty of clues that we can use to identify what species a tree, shrub, or woody vine belongs to. At Hobbs State Park, Eric Fuselier will teach us about these clues, and how, even during the wintertime, botany can still be a fun way to spend time outdoors.
Eric Fuselier is an Environmental Scientist in Crafton Tull’s Rogers office. He earned a Bachelor of Science in Environmental, Soil, and Water Science from the University of Arkansas, and a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology from Louisiana Tech University. Eric has extensive knowledge of wetland science, soil science, and botany. Eric has served as the president of the Ozark chapter of the Arkansas Native Plant Society.
Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from a professional on how and why Winter Botany can be fun and personally rewarding.
Where: Hobbs State Park visitor center located on Hwy. 12 just east of the Hwy. 12/War Eagle Road intersection.
When: 2 p.m. Sunday, Jan. 26
Cost: Free — Public invited
This program is a continuation of the Friends of Hobbs monthly Speaker Series.
Ozark Forest Forensics is topic
Dr. Fred Paillet to reveal a new way to look at the Ozark woods in his talk at Hobbs State Park entitled, “Ozark Forest Forensics.”
It’s all about the science behind the scenery in our regional forests. As we go hiking, there are things right before our eyes that happened yesterday, or even a million years ago, that are easy to understand if we take pause to look at them.
As Dr. Paillet puts it in the new book Ozark Forest Forensics he co-authored, “The book interprets our natural surroundings in a way that enhances a simple walk in the scenic deciduous woodlands of the Ozark Mountain region. Explanations go beyond trees and their habitat to include other diverse subjects: the leaf litter beneath a hiker’s feet, strategies used by wildflowers for pollination and seed dispersal, diseases that can ravage our forests, and forces active in the landscape that impact conservation efforts. I’ve added simplified line drawings to demonstrate specific points of interest in a way that visually-cluttered photographs cannot do.”
Taking a little time to look at and understand your surroundings greatly adds to the enjoyment of any hike in the woods. Learn how to interpret those things you see and appreciate on a hike, but never much thought about before.
Where: Hobbs State Park visitor center
When: 2 p.m. Sunday, April 5
Cost: Free – Public invited
This program is a continuation of the Friends of Hobbs monthly Speaker Series.