White Oak Bayou - Day 1
Date: Jan. 24th 2014
Location: White Oak Bayou
Time: 1:30-4:30
Members: Scott Own, Sally Entrekin, Environmental Practicum Class

Friday we met up with Scott Owen and got the chance to visit so of the sites we will be studying in the White Oak Bayou. We learned about some of the different vegetation that makes up the bayou, some of the biological life living there such as beavers with really alter the hydrology of the watershed. We also learned about fun ways that the middle school students in the area are learning about the wetlands and basic lab materials for testing things such as water quality. I took some binoculars to the first sight to try to spot any birds that would be using the watershed. One of the first birds I saw when I arrived was a yellow-belied sapsucker which was exciting enough because it was too early in the day and also late in the afternoon to experience to much avian activity. The second site we went to was a little more open and wet and Scott showed us what a soil profile of the wetland should look like. Before leaving, Scott gave us his information and said that he needed to talk to a friend from the Audubon Society to get more information about the bird activity in the wetlands. There is not a lot of research on wetland birds in Arkansas or how habitat fragmentation effects them; so this should be a great learning experience.

http://ar.audubon.org/