Newsletter of the Columbia Audubon Society | January 2026 | Volume 68, Number 5
In this issue:
Thu. Jan. 1, 2026
Note from the President
by Lottie Bushmann
Happy New Year!
It was a busy year last year for CAS and there is plenty to be grateful for and reflect upon.
Our Christmas Bird Count went off this year without a hitch and with surprisingly nice weather. While the species count wasn’t especially high (91 species) the enthusiasm expressed by folks that attended the chili supper that evening was contagious. Over 45 birders enjoyed sharing a meal and stories from the day, before compiling our list of species by area.
Our CoMoGives campaign is wrapping up as I write this. We are thrilled to have raised over $12,000 donated by over 88 donors who believe in our mission and are encouraging us to keep going. A big shoutout to Lisa Schenker, Eric Seaman and Allison Vaughn for heading this up.
Many hours went into volunteer work either at our properties or at events like the 2nd grade Band with Nature trip. Many birders attended a monthly First Friday walk or a weekend birding trip. We also began hosting happy hours at Logboat Brewing Company. They were well attended, and it’s a fun way to meet other birders who are just as passionate about nature as you are!
The year ahead holds more field trips and speakers to teach us. We’ll also be watching the Peregrine Falcon box on the NW corner of the campus power plant (corner of Stewart and Providence Roads). It has been installed, and now we wait to see if a falcon finds it!
I would like to encourage each of you to attend a field trip, a meeting, or join a sub-committee. Consider this my invitation to you to become more involved. We have an education committee that stays very busy and always needs more hands on deck. Our land management Nature Areas committee manages 3 different properties and would love some more folks to join in. Learning how to take care of these properties is important work, and we need the next generation of caretakers to join in. Whatever your interests and time constraints are, there is room for everyone within our Audubon family. There’s never been a better or more important time to help care for our piece of the earth.
Happy new year and good birding to you all!
Lottie Bushmann
Thu. Jan. 1, 2026
Roundup of the 2025 Christmas Bird Count
by John Besser, Nature Areas Chair
Columbia Christmas Bird Count — Dec, 20 2025
This year‘s count was held later than usual, but we still had mild weather on count day, with light clouds and a high temperature near 50° F. We also had a good turnout of volunteers. with 118 eBird checklists submitted. Many counters also showed up Saturday evening to share the traditional Chili Dinner and species tally.
Due to the dewatered conditions in Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, this area had relatively few waterbirds but it produced impressive counts of several sparrow species, including 254 White throated Sparrows, 228 Dark eyed Juncos, and 167 Fox Sparrows. The City of Columbia’s wastewater treatment wetlands held the most ducks, with high counts of Green-winged Teal (1507) and Mallards (2247), as well as lingering Sora (3) and Virginia Rail (10). Blackbirds were less abundant than usual, but we recorded good numbers of Red-winged Blackbirds (3346) and Common Grackle (1910). Other notable sightings included Eurasian Tree Sparrow, Merlin, American White Pelican, and Trumpeter Swan. Species with high counts included Black Vulture (7) and Eastern Screech-owl. (15).
Our preliminary tally was 87 species. Several additional species were observed (at South Farm or Bradford Farm) within the 7-day count period: Eurasian Collared Dove, Loggerhead Shrike, Short-eared Owl, and Harris’s sparrow. These additions brought our preliminary species tally to 91 species.
Thanks to all who participated!
Thu. Jan. 1, 2026
Deer-Vehicle Collision Data from MoDOT
by Missouri Department of Transportation
In light of our January Membership Meeting Presentation on Deer Populations and their Impact on Natural Resources, we hear from Tayler Macdonald from MoDOT on their own surveys regarding Deeer-Vehicle Collisions which are causing all of our car insurance rates to rise.
From Tayler:
Here’s the link for the MoDOT Wildlife Vehicle Collision (WVC) Study webpage for the statewide WVC hotspot study and prioritization project that HDR Engineering is currently conducting for MoDOT, which was funded by a FHWA Wildlife Crossings Pilot Program grant. The goal of the project is to do a statewide assessment of WVC hotspots and priority locations then develop mitigation recommendations for the top 10 sites. The plan is to incorporate the WVC data into the transportation planning process, with the overall goal being to address WVC hotspots for motorist safety and improvement of habitat connectivity for wildlife.
The project started in September of 2024 and will be complete in February 2026. The webpage will eventually have the project’s final report, working papers 1 and 2, and the interactive WVC map.
Also on the webpage is the MoDOT Roadkill Observation and Data System (ROaDS) survey, modeled off the Center for Large Landscape Conservation’s ROaDS survey. This survey, along with instructions on how to download and use the app, are available on the ROaDS tab on the WVC study webpage (instructions are also attached). This app is free to download and use by anyone to document any roadkill, wildlife crossing roadways, or wildlife near roadways. The data will be useful in helping MoDOT evaluate mitigation recommendations for priority WVC locations throughout the state for increased safety of the traveling public.
This project has been a collaborative effort with HDR, MDC, and MoDOT, as well as many other state and federal resource management agencies, NGOs, and others who have served on the technical advisory committee (TAC). More information and links to the MoDOTvideo – YouTube short videos can be found on MoDOT’s social media platforms like Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter/X.
We appreciate your interest, and feel free to pass this information/email along to whoever you think may be interested! We’d love to have as many people as possible participating in the ROaDS survey to help us gather data that we can potentially use in the future for mitigation measures.
Thu. Jan. 1, 2026
Duck Decoy Presentation in JC
by Invited Author
From our friend Greg Renner with the Duck Decoy Project: I want to invite you and all of the Columbia Audubon members and their families to our next Missouri Decoy Collectors Program, which will be held at the Missouri Department of Conservation’s Runge Nature Center in Jefferson City on Saturday March 14, 2026. If you would please put this information and invitation into your Chat or other newsletters that would be appreciated very much. We are working to change our program from a simple local gathering to a program that has a moderately large multi-state Midwest reach. Last year was our 7th program and best one yet. This upcoming program promises so far to be even better. There is no charge for attendance and one does not have to come to all portions of the program.
We will begin with a large Buy/Sell/Swap session that runs from 10:00 – 12:00. There will be a number of vendors who offer a wide range of decoys and other sporting related items for sale or trade during this session. We had a lot of activity this past year and should have even more people offering items for sale this year. Many find it interesting to simply be able to see so many different decoys and have the chance to handle and discuss them with someone knowledgeable about their particular histories.
We will also be conducting an educational program in the Runge auditorium from 1:00 – 3:30. During this time there will be multiple people who will make presentations (most with powerpoint) concerning different topics on decoys and waterfowl. Our program is very unique in providing this activity and it has so far been very well received by those who chose to attend. We have generally focused most to decoy making that has been done throughout the State of Missouri, but are slowly including also decoy production done in adjoining States and beyond, I expect to have people from 5 surrounding states this year.
Wed. Oct. 1, 2025
Background on a Growing Issue at Gans Creek Recreational Area
by David Diamond
Gans Creek Recreation Area Fact Sheet
- Gans Creek Recreation Area shares a common border with Gans Creek Wild Area within Rock Bridge Memorial State Park. These public lands together form an important, core natural habitat that has been recognized by national and statewide organizations. No other City Park land is so ecologically important based on connectivity and landscape context.
- The area is at the northeast edge of an Important Bird Area designated by the American Bird Conservancy and The Audubon Society.
- The area is within a Conservation Opportunity Area designated by Missouri Department of Conservation.
- Gans Creek is designated an Outstanding State Resource Water by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources immediately downstream within Gans Creek Wild Area.
- The area contains natural features, including the creek, karst topography (cave and sinkholes), highly erodible soils, and steep slopes that are recognized as sensitive to development and disturbance by the City’s Natural Resource Inventory (2023) and Columbia Imagined (2013).
- City plans in 2010 and 2018 included a 87.5-acre natural preservation area along Gans Creek and adjacent steep slopes, but these plans were ignored by the 2024 development plan.
- Despite the area’s natural ecological significance and highly sensitive features, and in opposition to the City’s own 2010 and 2018 development plans, the City proposed a high density of mountain bike trails for development. Bike trails north of Gans Creek were approved for development in late 2024. A trail south of Gans Creek was put on hold by the City Council due to advocacy of environmental groups. That trail originally crossed Gans Creek, had switchbacks that crossed a steep upland drainage 4 times, and consisted of high density in sensitive uplands with karst features and highly erodible soils.
- Mountain bike trail construction and use is inherently destructive to the environment compared to nature trail development, causing removal of native vegetation and increased levels of soil erosion and sedimentation of Gans Creek.
- Development of mountain bike trails would effectively exclude other recreational users who favor a nature trail system due to competition between mountain bikers and hikers as has occurred in other communities with dual purpose trails.
- Environmental groups propose to designate Gans Creek Nature Preserve (about 140 acres) within Gans Creek Recreation Area (about 320 acres) and limit development to uses that are compatible with the sensitive natural features, such as nature trails, and preserve and improve the core connectivity with Gans Creek Wild Area. Ecological restoration should be a focus of future management plans.
Tue. Apr. 1, 2025
Note from the President
by Lottie Bushmann
Spring has finally sprung! I love seeing the daffodils and crocuses, along with all the buds on the trees. Bird activity has certainly picked up, and the migrants are continuing to drop in. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for another migratory season of confusing and exhilarating bird song. Every year it takes me a few times to remember the migrants from last spring, but every year it comes back a little quicker. Don’t be daunted—pull out your Merlin and start hunting. You’re sure to find a jewel among the branches.
I hope that you’ll plan to make CAS events a part of your spring. We have a very different April general meeting. It will be held at Ellis Library, adjacent to the Museum of Art and Archaeology, where Dr. Alicia Dissinger will talk to us about her research into bird imagery on ancient pottery. We can test our skills with a visit into the museum immediately after her talk. She will be here on campus for two talks, and you’re invited to both! Check out the details (including where to park) on our website and in this month’s Chat.
We have fabulous field trip birding opportunities available as well, and I hope you can join us for one or all of them. Nothing improves birding skills quite like hanging out with an expert that can zero you in on the important details to notice. It’s also a great way to meet like-minded folks and perhaps meet a new friend that you might enjoy birding with.
We had a fantastic March meeting, with Isaac Breuer sharing with us all the native plant work they have done at the A. L. Gustin golf course on the MU campus. Plans are in the works for an evening field trip to bird the golf course with Isaac. Watch the Chat next month for details.
You may have noticed a lot of emails from Audubon asking for volunteers to help with invasives control at Wild Haven. We have a young man working with us (using funds from a donation for this purpose) and more folks makes for greater coverage. Wild Haven is a jewel of a property and looking better by the day. Thanks to all who’ve participated, and I want to encourage you to check it out if you’re so inclined.
Happy Spring! Hope to see you on the trail!
Mon. Mar. 3, 2025
Article with CAS Representing on the Big Business of Birding
by Allison Vaughn
Here’s a nice article several CAS members contributed to last year on the economic impact of birding:
Columbia Audubon Society is supported in part by a generous contribution from
2010 Chapel Plaza Court, Suite C • Columbia, MO 65203 • 573-446-5941
Upcoming Events
POSTPONED: CAS workday, January 17
Saturday, January 17, 2026 | 9am
Sunday Afternoon Birding at Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area
Sunday, January 18. 2026 | 3:00 PM to 5:15 PM
January Membership Meeting: Allison Vaughn on the Positive Effects of Managed Deer Hunts in Missouri State Parks
January 21, 2026 | 7:00 PM
First Friday Bird Hike: 3M Wetlands
Friday, February 6, 2026 | 8:00 AM
Meet in parking lot of Songbird Station
Saturday Afternoon Birding at Twin Lakes and Forum Nature Area
Saturday, February 7, 2026 | 2 PM
Start at Twin Lakes parking lot
February Weeknight Social at Bur Oak Brewing Co.
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 | 5 PM to ~6:30 PM
February Membership Meeting: Mark Glenshaw, “How To Find An Owl In Your Neighborhood”
February 26, 2026 | 7:00 PM
First Friday Bird Hike: 3M Wetlands
Friday, March 6, 2026 | 8:00 AM
Meet in parking lot of Songbird Station
Heron Rookery Count at Gans Creek Recreation Area
Sunday, March 15, 2026 | 8:00 AM