Page 40 - 2019 MAR/APR Outdoor Oklahoma

JEREMIAH ZURENDA/ODWC

American avocets at Hackberry Flat WMA.
Birders’ Paradise:

Hackberry Flat WMA

Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2015, Hackberry make this area a paradise for birding.
Flat Wildlife Management Area, near Frederick in south- With the completion of the Hackberry Flat Center, this
western Oklahoma, offers 7,120-acres of wildlife recre- area offers wetland classroom experiences for school-
ational opportunities. children; a meeting facility for workshops, programs and
The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, presentations; and a place to offer skill development
along with many conservation-minded partners, restored workshops such as waterfowl identification, bird identi-
this legendary wetland, creating a vast mosaic of wetland fication and hunter education classes.
habitats for prairie waterfowl, shorebirds and other wet- In recent years, several free public tours and activities
land-dependent birds. have been offered at Hackberry Flat:
Upland areas of native sunflowers and cultivated fields • Duck, Goose and Hawks
interspersed with mesquite have become one of the state’s • Chicken Hawks and Hoot Owls Program and Tour
premier dove-hunting destinations. • Prairie and Wetland Tour
Open for scheduled events, the modern Hackberry Flat • Bird Migration Tours
Center offers interpretive guidance for wildlife enthusi- • Breeding Bird Tour
asts, students and educators. • Nature at Night Star Party
Hackberry Flat is a premier destination for bird-watch- • Wetland Tour
ers. More than 225 species have been identified during • Monarch Watch
surveys. From thousands of doves descending on a sun- • Winter Wonders
flower field, to less common species such as the black-
necked stilt, stilt sandpiper and snowy plover, sheer Go online to www.wildlifedepartment.com and search
numbers of birds from eastern and western Oklahoma “Hackberry Flat” to learn more.
38 OUTDOOR OKLAHOMA

OutdoorOK-2019-March-April.indd 38 2/18/19 9:35 AM