Bald Knob, Cache River, and Holla Bend National Wildlife Refuges were established to protect and provide essential feeding and resting areas for migrating waterfowl. Holla Bend, in particular, is a designated migratory bird closure zone and is recognized as an Important Bird Area.
All three refuges feature extensive forested areas that flood during the winter, along with cooperative farming programs and moist soil units. These habitats offer abundant food resources for waterfowl during the wintering season.
As waterfowl populations continue to decline, it鈥檚 increasingly important to ensure they have access to both food and undisturbed sanctuary areas鈥攅specially in the Central Arkansas Complex, where hunting pressure is high.
Understanding how mallards and other waterfowl use these sanctuaries and surrounding habitats鈥攅specially cooperative farmlands鈥攈elps each refuge apply adaptive management strategies. This includes: documenting management actions, measuring and tracking biological responses and adjusting practices to improve habitat conditions and meet conservation goals
2024 - 2025 GPS Backpack Migration Paths
Banding Migratory Birds: Why It Matters
Banding migratory birds鈥攅specially waterfowl鈥攊s carefully regulated by the U.S. Geological Survey鈥檚 Bird Banding Lab (BBL). The Central Arkansas National Wildlife Refuge Complex (CARNWRC) holds a special permit that allows staff to band ducks and geese during the wintering season.
Banding plays a vital role in bird conservation. It helps us gather important information about individual birds, such as survival rates, age and sex ratios, and migration routes.
This data helps us understand broader population trends and supports efforts in monitoring waterfowl populations, studying migration patterns, guiding conservation and research, and shaping harvest and hunting regulations.
In short, bird banding is a powerful tool that helps wildlife managers and decision-makers protect waterfowl and ensure sustainable hunting practices for the future.
These devices are important tools that we use to track waterfowl populations and reach management goals. Therefore, it is imperative that we get them back to continue to collect data used in future waterfowl conservation projects.
Device Return Information
Douglas Osborne
[email protected]
(870) 460-1448
Katherina (Katie) Schroyer M.Sc.
[email protected]
(916) 698-2790
Mail devices to:
Douglas Osborne
University of Arkansas, Monticello
PO Box 3648
110 University Ct
Monticello, AR 71655
Thank you for your cooperation!
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