Ben West | Columbia Audubon Society

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Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Swift Night Out: A Tour of Bird-Friendly Chimneys in Downtown Columbia

7:00 PM to 8:45 PM

Meet at corner of 6th and Cherry St (in front of the parking garage)

Join us to explore the architecture of downtown Columbia from the perspective of Chimney Swifts, and to watch for possible roosting activity during spring migration. These fascinating birds use open chimneys as overnight roost sites, otherwise remaining in constant flight. Trip leaders Eric & Joanna Reuter have observed flocks of swifts roosting in chimneys on

Saturday Afternoon Birding at Alspaugh Park

1 PM

Meet at parking area indicated on map

Join us on a field trip to one of the City of Columbia’s newest parks! Alspaugh Park is a 201-acre property where the City of Columbia, Missouri Department of Conservation, and Columbia Audubon are collaborating. Expect to spend up to 2 hours walking about 2 miles across diverse upland habitats. Wild turkeys, woodpecker, hawks, and

May 2026 Potluck and Bird Walk at Bonnie View and CANS

Bird walk at 3:30 PM, Potluck at 5:30 PM

Meet at Bonnie View Shelter

Join Columbia Audubon for its annual May potluck picnic! Starting at the Bonnie View shelter (directions), we will be leading a pre-potluck bird walk to the Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary. The potluck will commence at 5:30 PM! Bring a dish to share and your own beverages; note that alcohol is not allowed at Bonnie View.

First Friday Bird Hike: 3M Wetlands

8:00 AM

Meet in parking lot of Songbird Station

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 (map) at 8 a.m.

RESCHEDULED to Sunday, Feb 15 Great Backyard Bird Count Feeder Crawl

9 A.M. to 12 P.M.

Meet at Songbird Station

**Originally scheduled for Saturday, February 14; due to the rain forecast we have decided to push this event to Sunday, February 15** As part of the 2026 Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), CAS will lead a Feeder Crawl on Sunday, February 15th. Starting at Songbird Station at 9 a.m, we’ll “crawl” to various backyard

Twilight Timberdoodle Trek at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park

5:45 PM to 7:00 PM

Join us for the 2026 edition of the Timberdoodle Trek! Early spring is the time to enjoy the fascinating twilight mating displays of the American woodcock (a.k.a. timberdoodle). This year, we have permission from the Missouri DNR to linger after sunset at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park‘s High Ridge Trail to (hopefully) enjoy this annual

Heron Rookery Count at Gans Creek Recreation Area

8:00 AM

We will do our annual trip to the Heron Rookery to count returning birds and the number of nests available. We have kept records of their return for the past 11 years, always on March 15. This field trip has been dubbed the “Ides of March” trip. The beginner mountain bike trail is complete in

RESCHEDULED: Sunday Afternoon Birding at Twin Lakes and Forum Nature Area

2 PM

Start at Twin Lakes parking lot

Note: This trip was originally scheduled for Saturday, February 7, but will now be held on Sunday, February 8, 2026. Come birding with the Columbia Audubon Society on an afternoon trip to Twin Lakes Recreation Area and Forum Nature Area! Birds we could encounter include waterfowl, herons, gulls, raptors, kingfishers, woodpeckers, yellow-rumped warblers, and sparrows.

CANCELLED: February Weeknight Social

Check back in the spring for more social events!

First Friday Bird Hike: 3M Wetlands

8:00 AM

Meet in parking lot of Songbird Station

First Friday Bird Hike: 3M Wetlands

8:00 AM

Meet in parking lot of Songbird Station

Sunday Afternoon Birding at Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area

3:00 PM to 5:15 PM

Join us to enjoy an afternoon birding walk at Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area. We might see anything from sparrows and woodpeckers, to soaring raptors, to waterfowl, to flyovers of swans and blackbirds. All skill levels welcome! We’ll follow a route that winds through stands of pines and deciduous trees, past multiple ponds, and across

First Day Hike and Birding at Rock Bridge State Park

2:30 to 4:30 PM

IMPORTANT NOTE: This is a joint event with Missouri State Parks. Please pre-register with them at this link, as space will be limited. Join us on New Year’s Day to hike and look for birds along Grassland Trail. This area provides views of a restored prairie, open sky and sinkholes. We will hike for 2

Saturday Morning Birding at Perche Creek Trail

9:00 AM

Come join us for a Saturday morning birding walk along what might be Columbia’s newest trail, Perche Creek Trail! If there is time and interest, we might bird some of the connecting MKT Trail as well. The primary habitats along Perche Creek Trail are open fields and wooded creek corridors. We expect to observe multiple

Tuesday, January 13, 2026

Winter Weeknight Social at Bur Oak Brewing Co.

5:00 PM to ~6:30 PM

Hang out with birders and discuss winter bird happenings. Perhaps there will be gossip about goldfinches. Or chat about chats. Swallow some beer if you desire, but non-drinkers are equally welcome at this family friendly venue. Beer, cocktails, non-alcoholic sparkling water, and soft drinks are available from Bur Oak (map), and they have brats, soft

Birds and Brews: Stephens Lake Trip + Logboat Social

2:30 PM (field trip); 3:30 PM (social)

Feel free to take part in one or both components of the afternoon’s activities: Part 1: Field trip to Stephens Lake Park (2:30 p.m. to ~3:20 p.m.) Meet at the upper parking lot (near the playground), accessed from Broadway, for a short birding session at Stephens Lake Park. We expect to see wintering and resident songbird

Sunday Afternoon Birding at Columbia Audubon & Bonnie View Nature Sanctuaries

3:00 PM to ~5:00 PM

Join us for a stroll through the restored prairie and woodlands of the Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary and the adjacent Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary to explore the areas’ birds and other natural features. It is an irruption year for red-breasted nuthatches, so that is one possible species we might encounter. Meet at the main parking

Field Trip to Prairie Garden Trust

8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Carpool at 8 a.m. from Moser's Foods at 900 N. Keene St. Columbia MO

Meet at Moser’s Foods at 8:00 a.m. and we will return by about 1:30 p.m. We will explore the native prairies that are sustained by prescribed burns and the lotus ponds. Then walk along Hillers Creek. If meeting at PGT be there by 8:40 a.m. For directions or to learn more about PGT please visit

Field Trip to Gans Creek Recreation Area

8 a.m. to 11 a.m.

Trip Leader – Louise Flenner Every year for the past 8 years I have counted the number of herons at the rookery on March 15. There are always some returning birds on that date. There are actually 2 rookeries. One is more visible from the higher ground (upper) and the other from the creek area

Cancelled: Field Trip to Rocky Top Trail

7:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Carpool from the AC Commuter Parking Lot at 7:30 a.m.

The trip to Rocky Top Trail has been cancelled due to a family emergency.

POSTPONED Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area 25th Anniversary Open House

10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

Due to unfavorable weather forecast and concerns about coronavirus safety, this event is being postponed. Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area, one of the region’s premier bird-watching and conservation areas, will celebrate its 25th anniversary this year with an open house on March 14 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. (read about the history of Eagle

UPDATED Self-guided Wild Haven wildflower walk

Update (4/12): Roxie has updated the wildflower signs. Wildflowers that are at their prime time include bluebells, false rue anemones, and spring beauties. Several others are in bloom as well. The originally planned field trip has been canceled and is being revised as a self-guided walk. Beginning March 29 and continuing through April, you are

REVISED Timberdoodle trek

Time: dusk

The Timberdoodle trek field trip, which has traditionally been well-attended, has been canceled as a formal scheduled field trip given the ongoing recommendation to avoid all non-essential gatherings. Woodcocks are present in many local natural areas and can be found and enjoyed without gathering a group in a single time and place. Sunday’s forecast with

Field trip: Birding without binoculars at Stephens Lake Park

2:30 p.m. to ~4:00 p.m.

Birds can be enjoyed with the naked eye, and doing so can challenge birders of all skill levels to become keener observers of various species’ characteristics. On this trip, we’ll walk a loop at Columbia’s Stephens Lake Park to practice observing, listening to, and identifying common winter birds using just our own senses. All skill

Join St. Louis Audubon at Clarence Cannon NWR

7:30 a.m.

Carpool will leave at 6:00 a.m. from Moser's (900 N Keene St., Columbia)

NOTE: The destination for this event has changed from Riverlands to Clarence Cannon NWR due to a rescheduling by St. Louis Audubon. See updated listing below; this may be updated again if more changes are announced. St. Louis Audubon will be leading an all-day birding trip from 7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. to Clarence Cannon

Field Trip: Great Backyard Feeder Crawl

8:00 a.m.

As part of the 2020 Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC), CAS will lead its annual Feeder Crawl on Saturday, February 15th. Starting at Songbird Station at 8 a.m, we’ll “crawl” to various backyard bird feeders in and around the Columbia area and count birds for at least 15 minutes at each backyard, then submit each

Field Trip: First Day hike at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park

2:30–4:30 p.m.

NOTE: DNR requests pre-registration for this hike; visit the official listing and follow the registration link. Celebrate the New Year with the Columbia Audubon Society by joining an afternoon birding hike at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park on January 1st, 2020. We’ll walk the Grassland Trail from 2:30–4:30 p.m., exploring the mixed grassland, shrub, and

Field trip: Bradford Farm

2:00 to 5:00 p.m.

Join trip leader Brad Jacobs to walk the grounds at MU’s Bradford Research Center, looking for a variety of sparrows (including LeConte’s) along with Western and Eastern Meadowlarks, Lapland Longspurs, Northern Harriers, Merlins, Rough-Legged Hawks, and other raptors. As twilight approaches, we’ll specifically look for Short-eared Owls. We will be walking slowly most of the

Field trip: Black Friday Birding at Songbird Station and 3M Wetland

2:00 pm social hour, 3:00–5:00 walk

Some people search for bargains after Thanksgiving; we’ll look for birds! First, there will be a social hour at Songbird Station (a generous sponsor of CAS) from 2:00–3:00 pm at 2010 Chapel Plaza Court, Suite C in Columbia. Come enjoy coffee, donuts, and conversation while selecting your winter bird seed and exploring a variety of

Field Trip: Rocky Fork Lakes CA

1:30 pm to 4:00 pm

Join us for this Sunday afternoon trip to Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area to look for Red Crossbills, Red-Breasted Nuthatches, and fall sparrows along the main southeastern trail, especially in piney areas. We’ll also visit the northern shore to look for waterfowl, grebes, and gulls. Meeting place: No carpool, meet at the southern parking lot

Field trip: Prairie Garden Trust

9:00 a.m.

Meet at the AC commuter lot for 8:15 a.m. departure

Come explore the prairies, forests, wetlands, and creek bottoms at Prairie Garden Trust, a beautiful landscape that is actively managed to encourage native biodiversity and beauty. Visits here are always rewarded with interesting birds, plants, insects, and landscapes. We’ll carpool to the site to participate in their regular 9:00 a.m. “Second Saturday” stroll. PGT is

Field trip: Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary

8:30 a.m.

Meet at the CANS parking lot at 8:30 a.m. for a 1.5 mile hike. We’ll tour the prairie restoration area to identify plants and then head out for a birding hike through the woodlands and grasslands. Wear long pants since seed ticks will still be active. Contact trip leader Allison Vaughn with any questions.

Field Trip: Tim Ernst Presentation at Runge Nature Center

Noon

Carpool from AC commuter lot at 11:15 a.m.

Many CAS members will enjoy the event described below. We’ll organize a carpool down to MDC’s Runge Nature Center in Jefferson City and do a bit of birding afterward. The carpool will leave the AC commuter lot at 11:15 a.m. (bring a lunch or eat early) to arrive on time for the noon start. The

Field Trip: Rock Bridge State Park

8:00 a.m.

Enjoy a fall morning of birding in the woods at Rock Bridge State Park. We’ll meet at the Devil’s Icebox parking lot at 8:00 a.m. and check the nearby area, then walk trails in search of interesting finds. Expect to finish by 10:30 a.m. Contact trip leader Edge Wade with any questions.

Field Trip: Binder Lake, Jefferson City

9:00 a.m.

This is a joint trip with the River Bluffs Audubon Society (RBAS) to look for waterfowl and other birds on and around Jefferson City’s Binder Lake. We’ll carpool from the AC commuter lot at 8:20 a.m. If you want to come separately, meet at the Binder Tackle Shop on the north side of the lake

Field Trip: Get Re-acquainted with Wild Haven Nature Area

9:00 a.m. to noon

Meet at the Moser's parking lot at 900 Keene St. for 8:45 a.m. departure

Wild Haven is Columbia Audubon’s oldest and largest nature area. It consists of over 100 acres of open oak woodlands and riparian forest along a one-mile section of upper Hinkson Creek, about 10 miles from downtown Columbia. This trip should be near the peak of fall bird migration. We will also inspect some of the

Field trip: Third annual Big Sit at Eagle Bluffs

6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Come join us at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area to enjoy a day of birding as part of Columbia Audubon’s third annual Big Sit (following the 2018 and 2017 editions). You can stop in and join the fun at any time between 6 a.m. and 5 p.m. CAS will be providing a canopy for some relief

Field trip: 3M Wetland, Columbia

5:30 p.m.

Join us for a weekday evening walk along the 3M Wetland Trail in southwest Columbia. This flat gravel loop off the main MKT trail circles a restored wetland area with a variety of interesting habitats. We’ll meet at the Forum Nature Area parking lot at 5:30 pm. and walk the MKT trail up to

Field trip: Beginning birder’s walk at Garth Nature Area, Columbia

4:30 p.m.

Join us at Garth Nature Area on the north side of Columbia for this beginner-friendly walk. We’ll walk level gravel trails to explore the area’s mix of trees, wetlands, and open ground within the Bear Creek floodplain, practicing our listening and looking skills with whatever birds we find. We will meet at the parking lot

Field Trip: Hawk Watch Happy Hour

4:00 to 6:00 p.m.

This “field trip” is timed to coincide with the peak southbound migration of Broad-winged Hawks, sometimes seen in groups numbering in the hundreds or even thousands as they pass through Missouri (see this recent Chat story for details). Our region lacks clear topographic features that would concentrate their movements, so we’ll take a different approach:

Field trip: Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area

5:00 p.m.

Carpool from Katy Trail lot at McBaine departs at 4:45 p.m.

Eagle Bluffs has recently reopened after its long closure due to the severe flooding this summer and damage to various parts of the conservation area’s infrastructure, some of which is still being repaired. New area manager Brady Lichtenberg has graciously offered to meet us on-site after normal working hours to talk about the summer’s events

Field Trip to Three Creeks CA

9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Meet at the AC Commuter Parking Lot

The field trip to Eagle Bluffs has been cancelled due to Flooding but weather permitting we can walk at Three Creeks Saturday morning. We’ll carpool from the AC Commuter Parking Lot at 9 a.m. The lot is on the southeast corner of the AC exit off Hwy 63 on Lenoir St. If you’re not joining

Field Trip to Prairie Garden Trust

8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

The Carpool will leave Moser's (900 N. Keene St.) at 8:00 a.m.

We will explore the savanna area overlooking forests, walk along Hillers Creek, explore the native prairies that are sustained by prescribed burns and walk along the lotus ponds. If meeting at PGT be there by 8:40 AM. For directions or to learn more about PGT please visit their website at http://prairiegardentrust.org/ Leader: Eric Wood Contact

Nature Walk along Grindstone Creek

5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Enjoy some fresh air and exercise while learning how streams and their diverse riparian communities benefit Columbia’s residents and visitors, including migratory birds. John Besser (CAS’s president), Lynne Hooper (Boone County’s urban hydrologist), and Dave Dittmer (a forester with Columbia Parks and Recreation) will lead this walk along Grindstone Creek. Registration is not necessary. Dress

Field Trip to Schnabel Woods Natural Area

8:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.

Meet at the McBaine Traihead, Katy Trail State Park at 8 a.m. Schnabel Woods NA is owned by the University of Missouri and contains 80 acres of old growth forest. Walk on the Katy Trail for approximately 1.5 miles from the McBaine Trailhead to an access point into Schnabel Woods NA. Will need to cross

Twilight Timberdoodle Trek

6:30 p.m.

The Carpool will leave Moser's on Rangeline St at 6:30 p.m.

Meet at Moser’s Foods parking lot on Rangeline Street at 6:30 p.m. The goal for this evening field trip is to hear and see (hopefully!) the twilight mating ritual of the American Woodcock (A.K.A. Timberdoodle). Please bring a flashlight. Leader: Eric Wood Contact Info: ewood802@yahoo.com or 573-673-0215

Field Trip to High Ridge Trail – Rock Bridge Memorial SP

8:00 a.m.

Louise Flenner will be leading the walk looking for birds on High Ridge Trail. The trail climbs to a hilltop and follows a ridge before descending to follow Clear Creek. The ridge has scenic views of the park and native grasslands. We will meet at the parking lot on Rock Quarry Road near the intersection

Field Trip to Sinkhole Trail – Rock Bridge Memorial SP

8:00 a.m.

Meet at the Devil’s Icebox Parking lot for a walk with Allison Vaughn along the Sinkhole Trail. The trail follows an old road past the historic site of Rockbridge Mills. The trial continues up a forested valley to the top of a ridge where we will find old fields and sinkholes. Two concrete silos stand

Great Backyard Feeder Crawl

8:00 a.m.

Carpool will leave from Songbird Station, 2010 Chapel Plaza Court #C, Columbia, MO

This Feeder Crawl will start at Songbird Station at 8 a.m. From there we’ll ‘crawl’ to various backyard bird feeders in and around the Columbia area and count birds for at least 15 minutes at each backyard, then submit each checklist to eBird. The trip will last about 3 hours and return to Songbird Station

Field Trip to Clarence Cannon NWR

7:00 a.m.

The carpool will leave from Moser’s on Keene St. at 7:00 a.m.

We will join the St Louis Audubon Society group at the Visitor Center at Clarence Cannon NWR at 9:00 a.m. The SLAS trip will last all day and the CAS group will plan to return to Columbia no later than 6 p.m. We can plan for a car to return earlier if people are so inclined. Contact

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