by Edge Wade

On Tuesday, July 14, Lottie Bushmann, Nancy Bedan, Vickie Park and Edge Wade joined Bruce Alspaugh for a guided walk in Alspaugh Park, located on Mexico Gravel Road a short distance east of US 63 off the Vandiver Drive exit.  John William Auspaugh, Bruce’s father, donated the land for the park with stipulations that its uses not include sports fields, motorized vehicles or bicycle trails.

The walk began with a trek along a mowed path and across the creek to view the work being done at Hinkson Creek Cemetery, burial site of the Keene family and other early Boone County settlers. The cemetery has had more than a century of neglect and stones were moved to facilitate logging operations by a previous owner. There is much discovery and restoration work to be done.

The group backtracked across the creek, looked but failed to find the turkey carcass that dangled in a trailside sycamore on Lottie’s last visit, then walked through the small pecan orchard toward the east end of the property along the original Mexico Gravel Road.

Along the way, Bruce talked of his father’s work and hopes for the land, and told tales of events.  Of course, even as the CAS members read tombstones, learned a little history and discussed the future of the park, they were listening to birdsong.  We only tallied 16 species, but we really weren’t focused on the birds.

Alspaugh Park is split into two eBird hotspots because of the diversity of the property.  The portion on the south side of Mexico Gravel Rd. is designated as Alspaugh Park, and the hotspot on the north side is Alspaugh Park–Christmas tree farm.  Separate bird lists should be kept for the two portions.

As of July, 2026, the south portion has 71 species in eBird, with the first bird sightings reported on July 3, 2024.  The Christmas tree side has had 31 bird species reported.

CAS members are encouraged to bird Alspaugh Park and Alspaugh Park—Christmas tree farm and submit eBird checklists.

This brief description appears on eBird as an aid to birders:

How to Bird Here

Walk the mown paths, explore the woods beyond the small creek.

The list has just begun…