05/05/2026
Migratory birds are one of the most celebrated symbols of spring across the globe. World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) is coming up this Saturday, May 9 and celebrates these migratory birds while providing a special opportunity to educate about their species, their migratory journeys, and the threats they face.
We celebrated a bit early at the Little Rock Audubon Center to avoid conflicts with other events in the state. On May 2, the Audubon Society of Central Arkansas hosted a bird walk at the Center’s Gillam Park, a migratory hotspot in central Arkansas known for great warbler diversity. Over just a couple of hours, their walk totaled 53 species!
We also hosted a bird banding demonstration for the group. Since early April, the Little Rock Audubon Center bird banding team has focused our banding efforts in Gillam Park to best capture how the habitat is serving birds from early spring through migration. Species highlights from migration banding include Chestnut-sided Warbler, Painted Bunting, Kentucky Warbler, Swainson’s Thrush, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Ovenbird, Magnolia Warbler, Grey-cheeked Thrush, and Summer Tanager.
Like all Little Rock Audubon Center banding, this is a fantastic collaborative effort between Audubon, Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Hendrix College, Arkansas Game and Fish Commission, and dedicated volunteers. All birds are captured, handled, and banded in accordance with proper training and with the necessary federal and state permits.
