Holla Bend NWR provides safe haven for wildlife
Outdoor writer and photographer Corbet Deary is featured regularly in The Sentinel-Record. Today, Deary writes about Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge.
I have written about Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge several times throughout the years, and for good reason. Located 5 miles southeast of the River Valley town of Dardanelle, the 6,486-acre facility is a great location where one can experience a jaunt through an area that is regulated and managed as a safe haven for wildlife.
Holla Bend has an interesting history. The property was privately owned “back in the day,” and its fertile soils were utilized for agricultural practices. But the land was abandoned following a significant and damaging flood in 1927.
One side of the NWR is bound by the Arkansas River while the other sides are bound by an oxbow lake. But this has not always been the case. The river was originally located where the oxbow lake is today.
The lake was formed in 1954, as a result of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers’ effort to reroute and straighten the Arkansas River navigation channel.
The island that was formed between the old and new river channels was recognized for its value as a stopping place for migratory waterfowl. In turn, the property was transferred to the Department of Interior in 1957 and was designated as a wildlife refuge.
The facility, of course, benefits mammals and other critters that call Arkansas home throughout all seasons. But the NWR’s primary goal is to serve as a safe haven for migratory critters.
Holla Bend is part of the Mississippi Flyway and is a stopping point for migratory waterfowl on an annual basis. In fact, as many as 100,000 ducks and geese utilize the designated area on an annual basis, living there during the winter months.
I have noticed, throughout the years, that a majority of the ducks seem to gravitate toward one specific section of the oxbow. Although a portion of this section is concealed under heavy cover, one can hear a steady cadence of chatter and rousing to and fro.
There is also a section where one can easily see them going about their everyday rituals. That in mind, a large elevated platform has been erected within sight of the pool. The structure is impressive and designed with those with physical limitations in mind.
A ramp slowly makes an ascent to atop the lookout platform. Although located within sight of the duck pond, one might also consider taking in the rest of the scenery around them.
From the lookout, one can see over several of the large fields that are managed with wildlife in mind. Several of these designated plots of land are planted with various crops, providing an optimal food source for an array of critters to thrive.
Those wishing to see migratory waterfowl might also consider stopping at yet another station, as well. This particular spot is located on the opposing side of the NWR and overlooks the Arkansas River.
I have never seen a larger influx of ducks using this particular section of the river, but I have noticed sizable flocks of geese. I have often seen pelicans navigating the river from this overlook. I have also watched as bald eagles navigated the sky. And, with a little luck, one might have the opportunity to watch as one of these majestic birds swoops to the water’s surface, clasps a fish with its razor-sharp talons and disappears into the horizon.
This spot is usually one of my first stops upon entering the refuge, partially because it’s near the facility’s entrance. However, I also anticipate the view of the river, as well as a good chance of seeing a plethora of water-loving critters.
Although the aforementioned vistas are popular stopping spots, a drive through the entire facility is worthy of mention. The well-maintained road meanders through a diversity of habitats.
A portion of the property consists of tall grasses and small trees. Other sections consist of wooded areas containing large trees taking root in a fertile and damp substrate. There are other areas that are obviously managed, as they are planted in various agricultural crops.
Such a diversity of environments lends to a habitat for a plethora of critters to survive. Although providing a wintering spot for migratory waterfowl is one of the refuge’s main goals, the property is also a stopping and resting point for a slew of other birds during their annual migrations.
I’m certainly not an expert on songbirds. In fact, my bird identification skills are pretty much limited to those species which are in the state year-round. But I do manage to travel to the NWR on an annual basis with my field guide in hand. And if I can successfully locate migratory fowl, I suspect those who are avid bird watchers can have a field day at this particular location.
I am, however, more adept at identifying birds of prey. And this location also provides perfect hunting grounds for these raptors. Birds are no different from any other animals in the sense that their stirring habits are often dictated by the weather.
That said, I can recall visits to Holla Bend when very few birds were seen. But I can also recall outings when songbirds fed on the ground and in trees, and birds of prey could readily be seen hunting from the sky.
The reserve also provides a perfect habitat for mammals to thrive. Squirrels are plentiful in the wooded areas, and can often be seen bouncing from limb to limb. Other rodents feed on acorns and various seeds.
Whitetail deer calling the refuge home must not travel far for their next meal, while raccoons and opossums stir under the seclusion of the nighttime sky. Of course, predators will gravitate toward lands where rodents and other potential food sources abound. Despite their elusiveness, foxes, coyotes and bobcats can occasionally be seen at the wood’s edge or bounding across the road.
Armadillos seem to thrive in the refuge, and I can recall watching an unsuspecting skunk waddling into a thicket during my most recent visit.
A lot of folks take advantage of the road system that meanders through the facility. But there are also a couple of trails on site. Both designated paths are easily traversed, as the terrain is level. Those embarking upon a hike at the refuge will have the opportunity to see the property from a different perspective. And the odds of seeing a variance of critters increases, as some animals likely avoid traveled roads.
Those with a fancy for paddling a small craft and fishing might consider an outing to the refuge also, as there are a couple of launching ramps at the facility. However, specific regulations are posted and these waters are off limits during the winter months in an effort to provide an optimal habitat for waterfowl during their annual migration to the state.
The winter migration is practically upon us. Of course, we can experience a touch of the annual event right here in our backyards. But those with a passion for seeing many of the critters that winter or simply pass through during their southern journey might consider the Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuge as an upcoming destination.
To get to the NWR, head north on Highway 7. Take a right onto Highway 155 around 5 miles south of Dardanelle. Follow 155 for a few miles and the refuge entrance will be on the left.