The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Arkansas Game and Fish and Natural Heritage Commissions, and The Nature Conservancy are working hard to provide managed access for birders and other visitors.

The U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service web site specifically for Big Woods Birding Opportunities.

If you are planning a visit to the area, please be prepared to cooperate with local authorities and obey all local regulations established to protect the highly endangered ivory-bill and its habitat. Absolutely no playback of Ivory-Billed Woodpecker calls or drumming sounds will be allowable. Please observe your highest standards of birding ethics. Also, please be aware that the chances of actually making a sighting of this elusive bird are extremely small -- a massive search effort over the last year has yielded very few detections. And please be prepared to document your sighting with a photo or video!

Driving directions to the Arkansas Preserves:

White River National Wildlife Refuge at St. Charles

At Brinkley travel south on Hwy 70 approximately 3 miles. Turn east at Hwy 49 and travel south approximately 13 miles. At Hwy 79 intersection turn west. Travel approximately 3 miles until Hwy 17 intersection and turn south. Travel Hwy 17 south for approximately 26 miles.

Hickson Lake

At Brinkley travel south on Hwy 70 for approximately 9 miles. Turn right (north) on Dagmar Road and continue for approximately 4 miles.

Bayou DeView at Dagmar Wildlife Management Area

At Brinkley travel south on Hwy 70 for approximately 9 miles. Turn right (north) on Dagmar Road and continue for approximately 1 mile.

Click the maps below for larger versions.

Maps provided courtesy of The Nature Conservancy.