Programs highlight birds, stars
Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area will host its "Birds and Breakfast" event Saturday and an astronomy night that evening.
At 9 a.m., students from the University of Arkansas will capture and band songbirds for research and let the public see the birds up close before release.
Lynn Sciumbato, wildlife rehabilitator, will present a program at 11 a.m. on raptors and show birds in her care. Joe Neal with the Northwest Arkansas Audubon Society will give a program at 1:30 p.m. on winter birds at Beaver Lake.
The Sugar Creek Astronomical Society will host an astronomy night that starts at 5 p.m. with a lecture about lunar eclipses. Viewing the night sky through the members' telescopes starts at 6 p.m.
Both events are free. Call the visitor center, 479-789-5000 for details.
Event features fly tying
The seventh annual Fly Tying Extravaganza presented by the Oklahoma Fly Fishers is from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday at the Creek County Fairgrounds in Sapulpa, Okla.
Fly tying demonstrations and lessons are part of the event, as well as new techniques and materials.
Keynote speakers are Terry and Roxanne Wilson, who will talk about fly fishing for crappie and smallmouth bass.
Backpacker presents talk
Jim Warnock will give a talk at 2 p.m. Sunday at the Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area visitor center about his recent through-hike of the Ozark Highlands Trail.
Warnock is a seasoned backpacker who has logged hundreds of miles hiking trails in the Ozarks and other regions.
The program is free. Call the visitor center at 479-789-5000 for details.
Hikers walk Pea Ridge
Ozark Hill Hikers, affiliated with the American Volkssport Association, will hold at walk Jan. 27 at Pea Ridge National Military Park.
Distances of 5- or 10-kilometers are available. Routes are on pavement and dirt trails. Register at the visitor center at 9:30 a.m. The walk begins at 10 a.m.
Trees focus of Back 40 trek
A guided tree identification hike on the Back 40 trails in Bella Vista will be held at 2 p.m. on Feb. 10.
Chris and Eleanor Jones, Northwest Arkansas master naturalists, will lead the hike. Participants will learn to identify trees in their dormant winter state.
All hikers are welcome. Distance is 2.25 miles, rated moderate.
Repairs open launch area
A popular canoe and kayak launch site at Beaver Lake has been repaired after flooding in April.
A gravel road at Hobbs State Park-Conservation Area leads to the back of scenic Van Winkle Hollow on Beaver Lake. The road has been repaired and paddlers may access the launch site.
To get there, go to the intersection of Arkansas 12 and Arkansas 303 in the park. Drive north on Arkansas 303 one-quarter mile to the first gravel road on the right. Follow it for one mile to the lake.
Sports on 01/16/2018