NATURE TRAILS

Birders might have the chance to view or hear the rare Swainson's warbler, the only known nesting location in Oklahoma for a secretive songbird that winters in the Caribbean. Flycatchers, swallows, vireos, and at least 31 species of warblers are all neotropical migrants on the refuge. Each winter, a few bald eagles roost in tall trees and prey on waterfowl and fish. If you're lucky, you might find a resident wild turkey pecking for acorns among the leaves or glimpse a Mississippi kite soaring fast above you.Snakes play a vital role in the hardwoods ecology by preying on rodents and other small creatures. While timber rattlers, western pygmy rattlers, cottonmouths and copperheads all find a home on the refuge, your chance of encountering these retiring reptiles is slim. Swamp rabbits readily leap into the water for quicker travel or escape.

Swainson's Warbler - FWS Image