Last month, 17 bird watchers met in southeastern Oklahoma to restart a bird counting tradition, the Red Slough Christmas Bird Count. The citizen scientists covered nearly 180 square miles from the Idabel area south to the Red River, including the 5,814 acre WMA on Dec. 22 and documented 111 species of birds for the nationwide count. Included in the tally were 2,537 Ring-necked Ducks, 1,396 Red-winged Blackbirds and 1,346 Green-winged Teal. Ten species are considered rare or notable for the area and are listed in bold.
Well-known as a birding destination, Red Slough Wildlife Management Area is a mixture of habitats. Reclaimed rice farm fields join bottomland hardwood forests, small areas of open prairie, and replanted hardwood areas. This combination attracts more than 300 birds, including some rare to the state. In addition to birds, the management area is also home to a number of interesting reptiles, amphibians, mammals, and invertebrates. This incredible diversity has lured wildlife watchers from 43 states and 10 countries.
Red Slough WMA is cooperatively managed by the Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation, U.S. Forest Service, and Natural Resources Conservation Service.