Point #1 birds

[tbooks]

Last couple of years while fishing near point #1 On T-rock we have noticed a large flock of white birds flying around the area. They seem to be the size of pigeons or a little larger. probably a flock of 20-25 birds. Tried looking them up in birds books to no avail. Does anyone have any idea what type of birds these are? They are not gulls and they do not land in water, only on land. Have only seen them in the point #1 area. Any info would be appreciated.

[taxidermist]

White Cattle Egrets. Somehow they were either released or supposedly blown over to the western hemisphere from Africa. but they have invaded the south and each year a few more are seen farther north.

Mid Arkansas has thouasands of them.

[tbooks]

White Cattle Egrets. Somehow they were either released or supposedly blown over to the western hemisphere from Africa. but they have invaded the south and each year a few more are seen farther north.

Mid Arkansas has thouasands of them.

[skeeter]

Let's hope the cattle egrets don't turn out to be major pests like other imports such as starlings.

Running past Goat Island Saturday morning spotted three lonely white pelicans huddled on the North tip of the island. A little late for this species to be migrating through and was surprised to see only three. Usually they are in a flock of about a dozen or so birds. Also saw a mature Osprey flying around in the Baxter area Sunday afternoon.

[Terry Beeson]

Let's hope the cattle egrets don't turn out to be major pests like other imports such as starlings.

Too late.... They are well in abundance in central Arkansas and headed north. I was raised on a cattle farm in central AR and they can be a pest for sure. You drive down that way and look out in a pasture with cattle grazing and there will be 4 or 5 Egrets for every cow... They do feed on the insects and clean up the grain out of the manure, but other than that, they don't do anything but hang out.

[Sam]

Birds - they're smarter than you think.

One of the things I enjoy most about fishing the Ozarks lakes is just getting out there and enjoying the beautiful scenery and wildlife you encounter while fishing. So far this year, I've seen eagles, turkeys, deer, a mink, a gray fox, beavers, etc. - all while fishing.

A wildlife incident last year sure gave me a chuckle. I was in the middle of the James River arm near Virgin Bluff, trolling upstream for white bass. No other boats around, I was all by myself. There was a group of about 6 Canada geese sitting on the water up ahead, directly in the path where I was trolling to. I just kept trolling slow, knowing that they would move.

The boat finally got close and they all took off, honking. They stayed together in the air and went maybe 500 yards upstream. Then they all turned together, increased speed, and headed directly over my boat about 40 feet above the water.

As they went over my boat, they all POOPED - every single one of them. Then they kept going, honking their heads off. A couple of splatters hit the boat, and it hit the water all around me too. Heck, they even allowed for their air speed and cut loose early for accurate bombing.

I'd bothered those geese and they got back at me. They were LAUGHING - and so was I.

[bobby b.]

A couple of weeks ago, I was motoring on the lake near Indian Point heading back to the house. I saw a big bird in the distance. From the wing beats I could tell it was not a goose. I guessed it to be a cormorant. As I continued it appeared we were on a collision course. The bird was approahing at a 45 degree angle. Our paths intersected and I could have raised up out of my seat and pulled the beard off of the turkey as it passed directly over my head. Amazing.