Allison Vaughn | Columbia Audubon Society

Note from the President

Greetings all! It appears that winter has arrived a bit early with this cold blast coming on the heels of Thanksgiving. I spent some time this past week reflecting over all I am grateful for in my life. My birding community is near the top of the list. I find that birding helps ground me

Christmas Bird Count and Chili Supper on Dec. 20

With all our section leaders in place for this year, the Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is a go! Thankfully, birding is a safe, outdoor activity and we have plenty of birders in Columbia that plan to do just that. We will send out our teams on Saturday Dec. 20th. Please contact your section leader if

CAS Eternal

CAS lost three longtime leaders and members in recent months. These three powerhouses were not only exceptional birders but incredible leaders who guided the organization to be a strong force in Columbia. Bonnie Heidy served as a Board Secretary and a longtime Board of Director. Her son, Eric Woods, ias an exceptional legacy of Bonnie’s

CoMoGives Campaign Begins

Columbia Audubon Society is participating in the 2025 CoMoGives fundraising campaign for the 11th year. This annual fundraising drive for local non-profit organizations begins Monday, December 1st and ends on Wednesday, December 31st. CAS has been very fortunate to have members and friends who support our mission… “to preserve the natural world and its ecosystems, focusing on

Winter Finch Forecast 2025-2026

Keep your eyes open this winter for northern visitors to your feeders. Scientists are predicting large numbers of finches will be on the move. They call these southerly movements “irruptions” and we are due for one this year. Perhaps you’ve noticed some Pine Siskins or Red-breasted Nuthatches at your feeder already this fall? Read this

Field Trip to Stephen’s Lake Park!

Eleven birders joined field trip leader Ben West for a pleasantly warm afternoon birding around Stephens Lake Park on Sunday, November 16. Most of the attendees saw about 20 species of good variety for the season. Highlights included a Sharp-shinned Hawk high overhead, and a Northern Mockingbird at a short distance on a fence.

Statement on Bike Trail at Gans Creek Recreation Area

The Parks and Recreation Department has designed a network of bike paths at Gans Creek Recreation Area. One is in an ecologically sensitive area next to Gans Creek and Rock Bridge Memorial State Park’s Gans Creek Wild Area, a designated area that does not allow bicycles. CAS and the Sierra Club have hopes that Parks

Note from the President

Greetings all! Finally the cooler fall temps have arrived. Let’s hope they stick around for just a little while. I hope you were able to enjoy a bit of migration this fall. The last of the sparrows have trickled in and my walk this week at 3M was sprinkled with White-crowned, Song, Swamp, Fox and

CAS Welcomes New Field Trip Chair for Oct 19 Trip: Ben West

We send many heartfelt thank yous to Eric and Joanna Reuter for their role as Field Trip Coordinators. We all agree that they have helped build camaraderie through their great fieldtrips and social events. They have “passed the torch of field trip coordinator” to Ben West. In addition to being a skilled birder, he also

Band With Nature Recap

Band With Nature Hooray for a gorgeous October week and the success of our 2025 Band With Nature program! In partnership with the Columbia Public Schools, CAS provided an amazing field trip at the Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary for every second grader in the district. That’s around 1400 children! Students were bussed to the

Join the 126th Annual Christmas Bird Count!

We will plan to send out our teams on Saturday, Dec. 20th. Please contact your section leader if you have worked with someone in the past to get details for your job. If you haven’t participated recently (or are a newbie!) please email Lottie Bushmann at lottie.bushmann@gmail.com to get set up with a team. All

Invitation to Join the Grand Pass Christmas Bird Count

Join the Grand Pass Audubon Christmas Bird Count Do you find yourself interrupting conversations with the word “BIRD”? Feel like spending a day counting birds with fellow birders? Well, here is your chance! The Grand Pass Christmas Bird Count, located near Marshall, Missouri, is looking for a couple more volunteers to help count birds Thursday,

MDC encourages public to use caution amidst “bird flu” outbreak

MDC is investigating numerous reports of sick and dead waterfowl across Missouri. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is actively monitoring reports of sick and dead waterfowl, such as geese and ducks, and raptors across the state. Testing of these birds has confirmed the cause to be Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza (HPAI),

Note from the President

Hello all. I hope this finds you well. I’d like to say “and enjoying the fall weather” but it appears we’ll have to wait a bit longer for that. No matter, we are in full swing with our fall activities. We had a great showing at our fall picnic. Twelve birders were guided through the

Bird City USA-Dark Sky Park Designation for Rock Bridge

In July, several members of CAS met with the City of Columbia, the USFWS, and the Missouri River Bird Observatory to begin the process of designating Columbia as a Bird City, USA. CAS decided that our role in this process which requires a lot of legwork would be to seek Dark Sky Certification for Rock

Tick sampling at CANS brings relatively good news

Dear Audubon members, We have finished testing for bacteria in the 2024 ticks. Tests for Rocky Mountain spotted fever (Rickettsia rickettsii), rabbit fever (Tularemia francisella), and Ehrlichiosis (Erhlichia species) were all negative. Here are the results of our field testing at Audubon Sanctuary for 2025. We collected ticks once per month for 3 months. All

Gans Creek Recreational Area Trail News

David Diamond and Mike Currier of the Sierra Club and CAS spoke to Columbia Audubon Society members regarding the proposal to build mountain bike trails south of Gans Creek at the Gans Creek Recreational Area (GCRA). Mike gave a history of the area, formerly known to many of us as the Crane Tract. The area

Background on a Growing Issue at Gans Creek Recreational Area

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

August Meeting Minutes

Columbia Audubon Society Board of Directors Meeting Wednesday August 20, 2025 Columbia Public Library Present: Lottie Bushmann, Vickie Park, Reed Gerdes, John Besser, Eric Seaman, Eric Woods, Allison Vaughn Meeting called to order: 6:06 pm Previous minutes: Reed Gerdes moves to accept the June 2025 minutes as written. Eric Woods seconds the motion. Motion carries.

Book Signing: The Everyday Naturalist: how to identify plants, animals and fungi wherever you go

6:30PM

When: Thursday, October 23, 6:30pm Where: Skylark Bookshop, 22 S 9th St, Columbia, MO 65201 Who’s invited: You! And all your nature-loving friends! The Everyday Naturalist: How to Identify Animals, Plants, and Fungi Wherever You Go (Ten Speed Press/Penguin Random House, June 2025) is a beginner-friendly guide to nature identification. Author Rebecca Lexa walks the

Note from the President

Greetings one and all. I hope this finds you well and ready for another great year of opportunities with Columbia Audubon Society. Whether you just want to go birding, learn about birds or contribute to improving habitat for birds we’ve got you covered. Plan to join us at our Fall picnic on Sunday, Sept. 28th

Nature Area Plans for 2025-2026

After a very productive year, the Nature Areas Committee hopes to maintain momentum toward our objectives at our three Nature Areas: Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary (CANS), Wild Haven Nature Area, and Albert Wildlife Area. Our strategy will be to identify high priority projects for each nature area and schedule monthly work days throughout the year.

CAS Wins Award from the Missouri Invasive Plant Council for work on Invasives

CAS was recently awarded the Organization of the Year for Invasive Plant Control from the Missouri Invasive Plant Council! This prestigious award recognizes all of the hard work our Nature Areas Committee and volunteers conduct through the year. Visiting CANS and Wild Haven that have active exotic species management programs ongoing is certainly different from

Monarch Tagging at Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary

Monarchs are one of North America’s best-known butterflies, and every year, hundreds of millions of Monarchs migrate south to overwinter in Mexico. This phenomenal migration is one of the longest migrations of any insect, and Monarchs can travel up to a total of 3,000 miles to their destination. If you want to learn more about Monarch butterflies and get

Update on Eagle Bluffs CA Water Management Plan

Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area alters construction plan ahead of waterfowl hunting season These adjustments allow for adequate water management to provide hunting, wildlife viewing, and bird migration opportunities on the area. COLUMBIA, Mo. – Construction efforts are well underway at Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area (CA) in Boone County. Since April, area use has been altered due

August CAS Board Member Meeting Minutes

Gans Creek Recreation Area Biodiversity Webinar

6:30pm

Join us for a program on August 19,2025 at 6:30 PM via Zoom. David Diamond and Mike Currier will talk to us about the complexity, bio-diversity, geophysical settings and connectivity of Gans Creek Recreation Area South, and the opportunity to conserve these natural features. They will also discuss the tenants of preserve design, and fundamentals

Field Trip to A.L. Gustin Golf Course, a setting of natural communities

Twenty-four CAS members joined host Issac Breuer, Course Superintendent, for the June 16 field trip at the University of Missouri’s A.L. Gustin Golf Course. This was the third field trip at the golf course in a series begun at Mr. Breuer’s invitation a year ago as a kick-off to International Pollinators Week. In addition to

CAS and Missouri Conservation Corps Fieldtrip

Now that the cool, birdy spring mornings are past for this year, we can look back at highlights like the May 6 bird walk at ‘Kiwanis Park — the third annual event co-sponsored by Missouri Conservation Corps. Missouri Conservation Corps and Columbia Audubon Society teamed up on May 6, 2025 for their third annual guided

Registration is Live for MoBCI Conference!

5:00 PM

The Annual Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative Conference will be held August 21-22 at the Columbia Country Club. This is a great event in a lovely setting with the theme of how maintaining natural communities for birds requires ongoing maintenance, something our Nature Areas Committee knows all too well! Thursday night will host the keynote speaker,

Birding and Habitat Walk at Prairie Fork: June 14

Columbia Audubon members have been invited to a hike at Prairie Fork on June 14, 8:30-11:00am. See the link for more details. https://extension.missouri.edu/events/birding-and-habitat-walk

Note from the President

Hi all. I hope you’re able to get out to see a few migrants and enjoy the season. I had the pleasure of seeing wood duck hatchlings in a line behind momma in the same water with the nesting Canada goose pair with 6 babies. It always makes me feel more hopeful to see new

Happenings at Wild Haven Nature Area

In January, CAS hired a stewardship worker, Davyn Orcutt, on a temporary basis to help eliminate invasives at WH and other CAS properties. Much progress has been made at Wild Haven. Davyn, with the help of CAS volunteers has created quite a few very large Autumn Olive brush piles to burn this winter, especially below

Missouri Conservation Corps Family Day with a Nest Success Search Event

Missouri Conservation Corps will be hosting a Family Day called Nest Success on Saturday, May 31, from 10 am until Noon at the C.K. Odor Shelter located at Kiwanis Park. Join MCC naturalist Laura Semken for this interactive event that will explore how birds keep their nestlings safe and well fed. You will get to hear

Note from the President

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

Columbia Audubon Society wins Conservation Organization of the Year Award

On March 7, several members of CAS traveled to the Lodge of the Four Seasons for the Conservation Federation of Missouri’s Annual Convention to receive the Conservation Organization of the Year Award. President Lottie Bushmann gave a charming accceptance speech that left the audience laughing at one of her stories about a classroom situation of

May 21 CAS Picnic: 5:30PM

5:30pm

Come join us for socializing, favorite bird stories, a shared meal, and opportunities to hike/bird Bonnie View. END of CAS CALENDAR YEAR – MAY POTLUCK PICNIC will be held afternoon/evening of Wednesday May 21, 2025 at the Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary Shelter off of W. Rollins. CAS will provide Table Settings and Ice. *NOTE! * Please

Exploring the Avian World of Antiquity: Two Talks by Dr. Alicia Dissinger

Are you fascinated by the connections between art, archaeology, and birds? Mark your calendars for two upcoming presentations by Dr. Alicia Dissinger – an expert on ancient Cyprus, its remarkable artistic traditions, and the roles that birds played in them. Both talks are free and open to the public, and each offers a distinct glimpse

Missouri Birding Challenge Begins May 1!

The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC), the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS),the Missouri River Bird Observatory (MRBO), and the Missouri Conservation Heritage Foundation (MCHF) invite both new and experienced birders to join the first ever Missouri Birding Challenge — May 1-15! Missouri Birding Challenge participants will compete alone or on a team in different

Draft Columbia Audubon Society Board of Directors Meeting Wednesday March 19, 2025 Meeting conducted at Boone Electric Cooperative Present: Lottie Bushmann, Lori Turner, Emma Buckingham, Vickie Park, Greg Leonard, Reed Gerdes, Shelby Thomas, John Besser, Bill Mees, Eric Seaman, Eric Woods Meeting called to order: 6:00 pm Previous minutes: Greg Leonard moves to accept

Article with CAS Representing on the Big Business of Birding

Here’s a nice article several CAS members contributed to last year on the economic impact of birding: https://www.missouribusinessalert.com/industries/booming-birding-business-spurs-spending-encourages-conservation-in-missouri/article_921f6230-e8c8-11ef-a458-3314da13ea2f.html

Note from the President

Happy almost spring! We’ve almost made it out of this very cold winter. In no time, migrants will be filling the woods with their songs, as they head north or stay with us to nest. This year winter seemed to linger, didn’t she? Have you heard the phrase “standing on the shoulders of giants”? I

CAS wins Prestigious Conservation Organization of the Year from the Conservation Federation of Missouri

On March 7th, CAS will be accepting the Conservation Organization of the Year Award from the Conservation Federation of Missouri. Here’s how we “toot our own horn!” from the nomination that Bill Mees and others wrote! Nominee Information for Conservation Organization of the Year Nominee Name: Columbia Audubon Society Address: PO Box 1313, Columbia Missouri

Be Heard! Ordinance on Feral Cats in Columbia

The Columbia/Boone County Board of Health, at the direction of City Council, has begun reviewing Chapter 5 – Animals and Fowl(External link) of the City of Columbia Code of Ordinances. The Board will host a series of public meetings to review potential changes to the ordinances. The first meeting will be held on Thursday, March 13, at the

Final Volunteer Work Day for Invasives at Wild Haven

TBD

CAS volunteers continue to work with Davyn Orcutt, who has been hired to control invasive plants at the Wild Haven nature area. Davyn worked on Sundays and Mondays during February as weather permitted. We expect warmer weather soon and we hope to recruit volunteers to work with Davyn on his remaining work days: March 2, 3, 9,

Volunteer Work Day for Invasive Species at Wild Haven Nature Area

TBD

CAS volunteers continue to work with Davyn Orcutt, who has been hired to control invasive plants at the Wild Haven nature area. Davyn worked on Sundays and Mondays during February as weather pertmitted. We expect warmer weather soon and we hope to recruit volunteers to work with Davyn on his remaining work days: March 2, 3, 9, 10,

Volunteer Work Day for Invasive Species at Wild Haven

TBD

CAS volunteers continue to work with Davyn Orcutt, who has been hired to control invasive plants at the Wild Haven nature area. Davyn worked on Sundays and Mondays during February as weather pertmitted. We expect warmer weather soon and we hope to recruit volunteers to work with Davyn on his remaining work days: March 2, 3, 9, 10,

Volunteer Work Day at Wild Haven for Invasive Species

TBD

CAS volunteers continue to work with Davyn Orcutt, who has been hired to control invasive plants at the Wild Haven nature area. Davyn worked on Sundays and Mondays during February as weather pertmitted. We expect warmer weather soon and we hope to recruit volunteers to work with Davyn on his remaining work days: March 2, 3, 9, 10,

Volunteer Workday at Wild Haven for Invasive Species

TBD

CAS volunteers continue to work with Davyn Orcutt, who has been hired to control invasive plants at the Wild Haven nature area. Davyn worked on Sundays and Mondays during February as weather pertmitted. We expect warmer weather soon and we hope to recruit volunteers to work with Davyn on his remaining work days: March 2, 3, 9, 10,

Volunteer Workday for Invasive Species at Wild Haven

TBD

CAS volunteers continue to work with Davyn Orcutt, who has been hired to control invasive plants at the Wild Haven nature area. Davyn worked on Sundays and Mondays during February as weather pertmitted. We expect warmer weather soon and we hope to recruit volunteers to work with Davyn on his remaining work days: March 2, 3, 9, 10,

Author Archives: Allison Vaughn

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