Not your usual Saturday as Arkansas youth gather for hands-on waterfowl learning experience
March 16, 2026
By Traci Rushing
University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture
Fast Facts
- Arkansas 4-H'ers gather at the Cypress Bayou Club to learn about waterfowl, conservation
- Youth participate in banding, releasing ducks with experts from UAM’s Osborne Labs
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Download photos from the event
SARATOGA, Ark. — For youth who love the outdoors, Wonders of Waterfowl was more than just a regular Saturday.
They waded through knee-deep water to capture water-borne invertebrates, rolled the dice to determine their next stop in a migration simulation and experienced the thrill of releasing newly banded ducks to freedom.
More than 40 youth from 18 counties across Arkansas gathered Feb. 21 at the Cypress Bayou Club in Saratoga for the Wonders of Waterfowl event, an immersive, hands-on learning experience focused on waterfowl biology, habitat and conservation.
Organized by Tiffany Osborne, wildlife extension specialist for the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture and instructor at the University of Arkansas at Monticello, the event introduced participants to the science and stewardship behind waterfowl management.
Throughout the day, youth rotated through educational stations where they learned to identify waterfowl species using wings and feet, explored native plants and aquatic insects in a moist soil unit to understand what ducks eat and discovered how researchers track bird movement and behavior through banding and other monitoring efforts conducted by the UAM Osborne Labs.
A highlight of the event was a live waterfowl banding demonstration led by wildlife technicians from the Osborne Labs. After observing the process and learning how banding helps scientists monitor migration and population trends, participants had the opportunity to release mallards, wood ducks, and teal back into the wild.
Inspiring the next generation of conservationists
For many attendees, the experience provided a meaningful glimpse into a potential future in wildlife conservation.
“We did a lot of fun things, such as learning about waterfowl habitat and the foods and cover they need and research the Osborne Lab has been doing tracking these birds across the state and even across the continent,” said Eli Freppon, 4-H’er from White County. “The most fun thing was watching them band the birds and then getting to hold them and release them and watch them fly off.”
Freppon said attending the event helped solidify his plans for the future.
“I’d like to go to the University of Arkansas at Monticello and study waterfowl biology,” he said. “Last year, when I came to this event, that’s when it clicked for me. This is really what I think I was meant to do. It’s my passion. I’ve been around waterfowl my whole life, and I want to be part of helping their population grow back to what it’s supposed to be.”
Connecting youth with conservation science
Osborne said events like Wonders of Waterfowl are designed to connect young people with the science behind conservation while giving them opportunities to experience wildlife up close.
“Our goal is to give students hands-on exposure to waterfowl research and habitat management,” Osborne said. “When young people can see the work being done in the field and actually participate in activities like banding demonstrations and habitat exploration, it helps them understand how science supports conservation and opens their eyes to potential careers in wildlife biology.”
Before leaving the event, each participant received a Chaos duck call courtesy of Legendary Gear, featuring the Wonders of Waterfowl logo.
Organizers hope the event will continue to inspire the next generation of conservationists and wildlife professionals across Arkansas.
To learn about extension programs in Arkansas, contact your local Cooperative Extension Service agent or visit uaex.uada.edu. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram. To learn more about the Division of Agriculture, visit uada.edu. To learn more about ag and food research in Arkansas, visit the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station at aaes.uada.edu.
About the College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Arkansas Forest Resources Center
The College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources, and the Arkansas Forest Resources Center, a University of Arkansas System Center of Excellence, brings together interdisciplinary expertise through a partnership between the University of Arkansas at Monticello and the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture. The College and Center are headquartered at the University of Arkansas at Monticello campus, but their programs range statewide with the mission of developing and delivering teaching, research, and extension programs that enhance and ensure the sustainability and productivity of forest-based natural resources and agricultural systems. Academic programs are delivered by the College of Forestry, Agriculture, and Natural Resources through the University of Arkansas at Monticello. Through the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture, research is administered by the Arkansas Agricultural Experiment Station, and extension and outreach activities are coordinated by the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service.
About the Division of Agriculture
The University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture’s mission is to strengthen agriculture, communities, and families by connecting trusted research to the adoption of best practices. Through the Agricultural Experiment Station and the Cooperative Extension Service, the Division of Agriculture conducts research and extension work within the nation’s historic land grant education system.
The Division of Agriculture is one of 20 entities within the University of Arkansas System. It has offices in all 75 counties in Arkansas and faculty on three system campuses.
Pursuant to 7 CFR § 15.3, the University of Arkansas System Division of Agriculture offers all its Extension and Research programs and services (including employment) without regard to race, color, sex, national origin, religion, age, disability, marital or veteran status, genetic information, sexual preference, pregnancy or any other legally protected status, and is an equal opportunity institution.
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Media Contact:
Traci Rushing
UAM College of Forestry, Agriculture and Natural Resources
trushing@uada.edu
870-460-1852