Beaver's Bend State Park
McCurtain
County
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From the 1986 edition of A Guide to Birding in
Oklahoma published by the Tulsa Audubon Society. This account has
only been partially reviewed to ensure accuracy.
In a state blessed with a
variety of beautiful state parks, Beaver's Bend is considered by many to
be the crown jewel in Oklahoma's parks. Located on a cypress-lined bend
of Mountain Fork River, just below the dam of Broken Bow Reservoir, and
nestled among the pine-clad hills of the Ouachita Mountains, Beaver's
Bend State Park has much to offer the birder throughout the year.
To reach the park, drive 6
miles north from Broken Bow on US 259, turn right (east) on 259A which
winds for 3 miles up and over an oak-pine forested hill to the park
entrance. At park headquarters an area map and bird checklists are
available and a well-informed naturalist is on duty. As is true
throughout the state, birding is best here during April and May when
most of the resident and many of the migrant species are present. The
Oklahoma Ornithological Society has held its annual Spring Meeting here
on three occasions, and weekend totals of about 130 species have been
listed. The area holds special appeal in that 24 to 30 species of
warblers, including the very rare Swainson's, have been recorded here
during this time of year.
Christmas Bird Counts have
been conducted annually here since 1960 and about 60 species are usually
recorded. This winter list regularly includes Black Vulture, Bald Eagle,
Hermit Thrush, Brown Thrasher, Winter Wren, and Pine Warbler. Rarely
included are the Red-cockaded Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Rock
Wren, Red Crossbill, and Evening Grosbeak.
Using the park map as a
guide, the following places are recommended. Starting at the cafe (#10),
or the Nature Center (#9), go south on the main park road, birding along
the way, especially in the woods on the right and up the adjacent
hillside. Notice along here the native American Holly trees whose
berries attract many Cedar Waxwings in the winter. At the south end of
the road, near the low-water dam across the Mountain Fork, park and
continue your search on foot down the trail along the river. In the
spring the Worm-eating Warbler has often been seen on the slope to the
right. Look for Parula and Yellow-throated warblers in the tall
cypresses growing along the river banks. And be aware that these
majestic trees are native in the state only here on the Mountain Fork
and Little River.
The road back to the cafe
is one-way and goes through one of the camping areas (#3). Stops along
here should yield Pine and other warblers depending on the season,
nuthatches, several woodpecker species, including Pileated, and others.
Just uphill from the cafe, the road turns right (at the headquarters,
#11) and goes by the cabin area on the left. Follow this road to #12,
turn left, go beyond the first of two bridges over the Mountain Fork as
it makes a loop that encloses the River Bend area. This area is nicely
wooded and the thickets along the river offer some of the best birding
possibilities found in the park. Redstarts and Hooded Warblers are among
the nesting species here.
Following the main road
across the second bridge will take you out of the river valley and up to
the Broken Bow Dam. This road is 259A and goes west to US 259. |
