By Margi Jenks

It has been a great winter for bird watching.  My bird feeders have been heavily used by all types of birds.  The American Goldfinches and juncos are my steady daily visitors, along with the occasional chickadee.  The mourning doves like to eat the corn and critter food, which I put out on the ground for the deer and squirrels.  Crows come by everyday to stalk around and “talk” for awhile. 

However, when it is cold and/or snowy like it was in February, my feeders are mobbed.  In addition to the regular visitors, last week I had purple finches, Carolina wrens, cardinals, sparrows, and blue jays.  The major snow storm of Wednesday, February 9^th brought large flocks of starlings. They descended on my yard and the surrounding trees.  I had never seen them before, but there must be a bird twitter network which lets them know where to get the limited amounts of food that are available during snowstorms.

The spring bird migration has begun, and each week new birds show up at the park.  Whether you are a new or experienced birder, join Park Interpreter Margi Jenks on Saturday, March 5, 2001 from 2:00-4:00PM for information and tips on bird watching.  We will meet in the Park Classroom in the Diamond Discovery Center for a presentation, and then head out to the Park Wildlife Blind.  The trail to the blind is level, graveled and less than a quarter of a mile. The $10.00 workshop fee is payable the day of the workshop.  For a workshop fee of $15.00 you will also receive an Arkansas State Park wooden birdhouse kit.   For questions, call 870-285-3116, or send an email to margaret.jenks@arkansas.gov.