Explorer William Dunbar was the first European to visit Hot Springs, Arkansas and leave a written report of his impression. Upon viewing the environs for the first time from a distance, he said, “the view was greatly heightened by a flock of swans… the birds floated about majestically … the ensemble produced a truly sublime picture.”
Today’s visitors to Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, often discover that the most precious souvenir they take home is a picture in their mind’s eye of a spectacular bird. Perhaps it’s a large woodpecker as big as a crow, a Kingfisher plunging into Gulpha Creek catching a minnow, or a bald eagle soaring above Lake Ouachita. No matter why you are coming to the Spa City, you may find, like Dunbar and many others have, that birds can “greatly heighten a sublime” experience.
Watching birds is a pastime that can enhance other outdoor activities, even if it is not the main purpose for your being there. It’s like ice cream for apple pie, a cup of coffee with the morning paper, or a hot dog at the ballpark. It’s not the main thing, but it makes the main thing more enjoyable. We’ve watched Scissor-tailed Flycatchers catch moths on the infield at Oaklawn racetrack, spectacular flocks of Cattle Egrets while fishing Lake Hamilton, and swooping Nighthawks in stadium lights at Majestic Park.
For birders, of course, watching birds is the main thing. Whether you are just beginning to look at birds or if you want to observe more closely a species you have seen dozens of times, here are a few places in Garland County where you might go to heighten your birding experiences, and a few tips you may not have thought of.
Birding Hot Spots
The Greenway is easily the most accessible place to look for birds in Hot Springs. It is a four-mile paved walkway alongside Hot Springs Creek. It begins at the Transportation Depot downtown and ends at a canoe/kayak launch on Lake Hamilton at the east end of TV Hill Road.
Midway is Hollywood Park, and you can walk the entire length or any portion. If you are with a friend, park at one end and leave a vehicle at the other, so you don’t have to cover the same ground twice. If you are birding by bicycle, start on the North end, and it’s an all-downhill coast, except for one short incline. You might even find someone to give you a lift back up to where you started. Along the Greenway, take note of the many bluebird houses that are part of the LaVerne Bissell Memorial Bluebird Trail, erected by the Garland County Audubon Society in memory of a remarkable naturalist. Bluebirds are perhaps the most numerous bird you will find along the pathway year- round, and you can see them nesting in abundance from late March until the end of October.
The urban birds along the Greenway seem accustomed to humans and are not as skittish as they are in pristine places. An Eastern Phoebe once landed on a birdwatcher’s shoulder and on his camera while he was trying to take a picture there. Expect to get close looks at herons, hawks, and most common songbirds. A Yellow -crowned Night-heron is sometimes seen there in summer, and Eastern Towhees show up in winter. We have seen a Red-shouldered Hawk swoop down to pick up a crawdad from Hot Springs Creek on many occasions. You don’t have to walk the Greenway, just sit at one of the many path-side benches and let the birds come to you.
Bring binoculars, of course, but avid birders need not lug their spotting scopes along, for there are far too many trees to get long line-of-sight views.
The Northwoods Trails is an area much more rugged than the Greenway. It is a more demanding walk, because the trails are not paved and they go up and down hills on rocky paths that can be very steep. The trails weave among several lakes where you can see waterfowl, like Wood- ducks, mallards, and Mergansers. Other birds commonly seen in the Northwoods include: bald eagles, geese, and blue herons. Some of the trails there are dedicated to people riding mountain bikes, so be careful; it's easy to be looking into the understory of trees for warblers and not see bikers coming up quickly behind you.
This is a good place to see seven species of woodpeckers. Listen for the calls and knocks of the Pileated Woodpecker to help you find it; birders seldom go there without hearing its ruckus squawk. If you do not know its song, use an app on your phone to learn its loud, long-distance call.
Andrew Hulsey Fish Hatchery is the place in Garland County where you are most apt to see the greatest number of species of birds. Wading birds and waterfowl seek out the many ponds where warm water species of fish are raised to stock waterways in the Natural State by the Arkansas Game & Fish Commission. The trees and woodlands that surround the hatchery are visible from the hatchery’s perimeter walkways, and are fertile places to see woodland birds, especially flycatchers, sparrows, and nuthatches. Four species of swallows are there. Bald Eagles are seen there about half the time birders go out to look. Ibises, Avocets, many species of sandpipers, and plovers are found there during migration seasons. A spotting scope is sometimes useful to distinguish between the various species of shorebirds.
The levees between the ponds provide low-grade gravel walkways. Do not drive on the levees. To do so may spread aquatic diseases that would harm the fish. Instead, park in a lot near the hatchery office or boat launch. Just north and west of the fish hatchery is a public fishing dock and boat launch. Here you will find public restrooms, and from that dock you may be able to see terns, gulls, pelicans, cormorants, coots, and dabbling ducks. After walking the fish hatchery proper, you may want to slowly drive a loop around the residential neighborhood just beyond the boat launch. Bird by car to see finches, red-wings, robins, and jays.
Other birding locations you may want to consider are: Garvan Woodland Gardens, Gulpha Gorge, Lake Catherine State Park and Hot Springs National Park. But, if truth be told, you are apt to see an interesting bird on any street in the Spa City.
Tips for Beginner Birders and Veterans Alike
- Birds are sensitive to color, so wear clothing that is primarily earth-toned while looking for birds. Muted browns and greens are good choices; avoid white unless snow is on the ground.
- Learn to use the free Merlin bird identification app on your cell phone. The app can consume a lot of battery power and memory, so unless you have a way to keep it charged, use it sparingly if birding for a long time lest you become incommunicado and can’t get access to maps or emergency services.
- Upon seeing a bird that is unusual to you, say out loud to yourself or others what you are seeing. For example, “It has a yellow bill, it is red, but it does not have a crest like a cardinal, it is about the size of a mockingbird.” By doing this, it will help you remember what you saw until you can look in a field guide or ask someone who is more experienced what bird it was.
- Make lists of the birds you see. For example, “All the birds I saw on my trip to Arkansas,” “All the birds I have seen in my yard,” “All the wild birds I have ever seen in my life,” etc. E-Bird, a database and website for bird sightings maintained by Cornell University, can help you maintain these lists and explain how by doing so you are making a contribution to the well-being of birds.
- Don’t become so engaged in trying to find the unusual or rare bird that you no longer recognize the beauty, genius, and importance of the common birds all about you.
- Take action to protect birds. Plant only native species of trees and shrubs in your yard, reduce the reflectivity of windows in your home, and keep the cat indoors.
- Teach younger people in your life to appreciate the beauty of birds and the vital role they play in our ecosystem.
- Finally, come to Hot Springs often to share your love of birds with us!
Peace and Birds, Jerry Butler - Jerry Butler has authored five books and more than fifty articles in newspapers and magazines related to outdoor-adventure, environmental issues and travel, but is perhaps best known for his writing on birds.
Join us on October 8-10, 2026, in Hot Springs National Park, Arkansas, for the Birding Festival of the South, a celebration of the fall bird migration presented by Oaklawn Hot Springs! Passes are on sale now! Click here for yours.
Hot Springs boasts unmatched birdwatching opportunities showcasing: 26 miles of trails in Hot Springs National Park, 31.5+ miles of trails at Northwoods Trails, 1.8 million acres of the Ouachita National Forest, 210-acres of botanical gardens at Garvan Woodland Gardens, specialized ponds at the Andrew Hulsey Fish Hatchery, and thousands of acres of shoreline at Lakes Hamilton, Catherine, Ouachita, and DeGray.
The Birding Festival of the South Festival will be held at the Hot Springs Convention Center. This event will include field trip opportunities, panels, workshops, music, and fun for all levels of birders.