Caddo Valley Resident

Situated between Bismarck and Arkadelphia is the small town of Caddo Valley. Essentially no more than a congested exit off of I-30 rife with gas stations and fast food joints, Caddo Valley sits right on the border between the Ouachita Mountain region and the West Gulf Coastal Plain. Go to the north of Caddo Valley towards Bismarck and the land begins to swell and ripple its way into Hot Springs. Go south of Caddo Valley and the land flattens out like an ironed sheet into fields and pastures. It is near here that the Caddo River empties into the Ouachita River after a long, restful suspension behind the dam forming Lake DeGray. The convergence of all these unique geological features must explain why this area is such a magnet for so many species of birds from the barn swallows nesting under the I-30 bridge to the egrets that feed in the fields along the banks of the river.

One bird species that can always be seen each year perched all along the power lines of Caddo Valley is the Scissor-Tailed Flycatcher (Tyrannus forficatus). The long tail makes this bird recognizable from a great distance. In flight the tails of these fly catchers look like kite tails; it is really a neat thing to watch.