Columbia Audubon Society field trips and events are informal and friendly. Advanced registration is (normally) not required and all participants are welcomed, whether or not they are CAS members. Please help us maintain this relaxed approach by being prepared for the risks inherent in such activities (especially those involving the outdoors and/or driving), acting responsibly, and understanding that complete elimination of risk is not possible. Further guidelines are available for field trip leaders and participants.
Saturday, March 23, 2024 | 1:00 p.m.
We’ve selected a date (and adjusted the timing) for the Slow Birding field trip at Wild Haven.
Date: Saturday, March 23, 2024
—Optional extra hike starting around 3 p.m. to look at birds, mosses, wildflowers, etc. on the 1/2 mile White Trail loop.
We suggest bringing/wearing layers of warm clothing so you’ll be comfortable sitting still on what is currently forecast to be a sunny day in the low 50s.
Original description: Inspired by the excellent program on Slow Birding by Bridget Butler that CAS hosted back in January 2023, we’re planning to have a slow birding field trip. The goal here will be to sit quietly, either on your own or as part of a small group, and watch what comes to you. Relax a little, enjoy being outdoors, and perhaps have a memorable birding or nature watching experience that was enabled by quiet attentiveness. After spreading out to various locations, we anticipate about an hour of relaxed listening and watching. Finally, we’ll reconvene as a group to share stories of what’s been observed. Wild Haven has multiple benches, but feel free to bring a portable chair if you want to pick your own spot to sit.
Please note: Wild Haven does not have water, but the new outhouse is open for business!
Location: Google map to Wild Haven.
Led by Eric and Joanna Reuter: cherthollow@gmail.com; 574-474-0989 (before event) or 573-529-2893 (day of event).
Friday, April 5, 2024 | 8:00 a.m.
First Friday Fun! Join the Columbia Audubon Society for a bird walk. This walk is open to anyone who enjoys birds, and beginners are encouraged to attend. We will walk at the 3M Wetland Trail, just off the MKT Trail near Forum Blvd. We’ll meet at the Songbird Station parking lot at 8 a.m. sharp and then drive down the hill to park near the wetlands (less than a 5 min. drive). We’ll enjoy all the Missouri birds in this natural, lush landscape. The walk is about 1.75 miles on a level, gravel trail. Waterproof shoes are recommended, but not required. After our walk, we’ll return to Songbird Station by 11 a.m. and enjoy coffee and donuts. Led by Lottie Bushman.
Saturday, April 13, 2024 | Carpool 7:00 a.m., meet on-site 7:45 a.m.
Meet at southwest corner of Menards parking lot
Join CAS as we explore Rudolf Bennitt Conservation Area, ~30 miles northwest of Columbia at the intersection of Boone, Randolph, and Howard Counties. This 3575 acre landscape includes a mix of forests, fields of restored native grasses, and a lake, providing a variety of habitats for interesting birds. In spite of this diversity of excellent habitat, this area has relative few eBird reports. Early/mid April provides a chance at a good diversity of species, including early migrants as well as species that have been around through the winter (and, of course, resident species). We’ll watch for swallows, sparrows, warblers, woodpeckers, and more. This is a great time of year to enjoy watching birds before full leaf-out starts obscuring the views. All skill levels welcome!
A carpool will leave from the southwest corner of the Columbia Menards parking lot at 7:00 a.m. and plan to arrive at Rudolf Bennitt by 7:45. Anyone driving separately should meet the group at the horse-camp parking lot along CR 2930 (location marked (A) in the official MDC map). We’ll explore that area first, then drive over to the lake on the southwest side and bird there. We’ll be walking various gravel-surface mixed-use trails, with some topography. The only bathroom facilities are privies at the lake. We will plan to leave the area around 11:00 a.m. and return to Columbia by around noon.
Trip leader: Joseph Mosley, 660-492-7954, mosley.je90@gmail.com
Wednesday April 17, 2024 | 7:00 PM
Wednesday, April 17, 2024 | 7:00pm
Friday, May 3, 2024 | 8:00 a.m.
First Friday Fun! Join the Columbia Audubon Society for a bird walk. This walk is open to anyone who enjoys birds, and beginners are encouraged to attend. We will walk at the 3M Wetland Trail, just off the MKT Trail near Forum Blvd. We’ll meet at the Songbird Station parking lot at 8 a.m. sharp and then drive down the hill to park near the wetlands (less than a 5 min. drive). We’ll enjoy all the Missouri birds in this natural, lush landscape. The walk is about 1.75 miles on a level, gravel trail. Waterproof shoes are recommended, but not required. After our walk, we’ll return to Songbird Station by 11 a.m. and enjoy coffee and donuts. Led by Lottie Bushman.
Date/time of your choice
Have you taken the time to examine mosses close up? And to think about the relationships between mosses and birds? We’re excited to announce a new, self-guided moss walk at Wild Haven Nature Area that encourages you to do just that!
The trail guide is formatted to be easily read on a mobile device (with the goal of saving paper; please don’t print it).
Download the guide here.
The total length of the hike is under a mile, but it’s easy for time to fly when examining mosses, so plan for at least a couple of hours at Wild Haven. Conditions in winter and early spring are ideal for looking at mosses; sunlight bathes the forest floor, ticks aren’t especially active, and neotropical migrants aren’t yet distracting. But the trail can be completed at any time of year.
We suggest that you bring:
—A hand lens or magnifying glass. This will help you appreciate the miniature world of mosses.
—A spray bottle with water (but no chemical residues). Use to rehydrate mosses when conditions are dry; watch the leaves swell with water in front of your eyes.
—A water bottle for yourself, plus snacks, standard hiking gear, and binoculars for the birds.
No bathrooms or potable water are available at Wild Haven.
Louise Flenner developed this trail to share her knowledge and enthusiasm about mosses and their importance to birds. Thanks, Louise!
Please direct questions and comments to:
Louise Flenner (lflenner@hotmail.com), developer of the moss trail
John Besser (jbesser1@gmail.com), Nature Area chair
David Neely (dustandwood@gmail.com), volunteer manager of Wild Haven Nature Area
Sunday, May 19, 2024 | 3:00-7:00 PM