GENTRY, ARK. -- On a hot August afternoon Al Ramos of Springdale, AR is perched on a pavilion at SWEPCO’s Eagle Watch Nature Trail. It’s a prime spot for bird watching in Northwest Arkansas, especially for wildlife photographers like Ramos. He claims to be an amateur photographer, but the large telescope lens mounted atop an impressive digital camera suggests it’s more than a hobby for Al. It’s a passion.
Ramos, a Guatemala native, installs flooring for a local business, but he’s often found enjoying the great outdoors. During his week-long vacation, didn’t need a plane ticket or a passport to reach his destination. Instead, he enjoyed a “staycation” that included a day spent at Eagle Watch in Gentry, AR with hopes of snapping a perfect image of a bird’s graceful swoop over the lake.
SWEPCO's Eagle Watch Nature Trail, is a public-access nature reserve that draws bird enthusiasts and nature lovers from far and wide. Eagle Watch is best known for American bald eagle sightings from October to March, but is also home to hundreds of unique bird species. The birds are attracted to the warm water during the winter at SWEPCO Lake, which was man-made to create cooling water for the Flint Creek Power Plant ahead of its 1978 commissioning.
SWEPCO’s Eagle Watch Program is an initiative aimed at safeguarding the majestic bald eagle and its habitats while raising awareness about the importance of preserving these magnificent birds for future generations. Decades later, SWEPCO has become a haven for local wildlife. The Eagle Watch Nature Trail, which cradles the lakes northeast side, has a half-mile trail, two pavilions and a boat entry for fishing on the lake. The grounds are maintained by SWEPCO employees with the help of volunteers from 4-H, FFA, local scout troops, schools and the community. Each year hundreds gather for the popular Earth Day celebration.
It's at those Eagle Watch’s pavilions where Ramos has captured more than stunning photographs. He found a sense of community as fellow nature enthusiasts gather there to exchange stories and observations. Ramos says he discovered adventure doesn't always mean venturing far from home. Sometimes, the greatest discoveries lie just beyond our doorstep, waiting to be seen through the lens of passion and curiosity.
Learn more about SWEPCO Lake and Eagle Watch Nature Trail and outreach programs at SWEPCO.com. Follow us on Facebook for events and special sightings!