Author Archives: Allison Vaughn

Boone County Migratory Bird Count Results- May 8, 2021

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected just about everything Columbia Audubon Society  has done over  the past year, but we have fought to maintain some of our traditions, including the Boone County-wide bird count held on the traditional ‘Big Day’, the second Saturday in May. Our ability to conduct this count during the pandemic has a

Nature Area Notes

NATURE AREA NOTES, May 2021 Progress at Wild Haven It’s been a busy year at Wild Haven, Columbia Audubon’s largest nature area. All the work that has been put into the area really shows, and we hope it will achieve our goal of making the area more welcoming and increasing public use of the area.

Note from the President

Board Election Results Congratulations to Greg Leonard who won re-election to the board. He will be serving another three-year term as director. Picnic on May 22nd Instead of a monthly meeting for May, we will be holding a picnic at Wild Haven on Saturday, May 22nd from 4:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Provided there is

Changes in Membership Dues

This month, the board approved updating the membership levels and amounts. Membership levels have not been reviewed in over ten years so we decided it was time to streamline the categories. The new updates are as follows: $15 – Student and Senior (65+) $25 – Individual $40 – Family* $60 – Donor* $300 – Friend*

CoMo Gives Committee Seeks Volunteers

The 2021 CoMoGives Committee is looking for interested CAS members and friends to help with the 2021 CoMoGives Community Fundraising Campaign which is sponsored by the Community Foundation of Central Missouri. If you like writing, photo selection and/or have technical skills, this is the job for you! Put your skills to work with other dedicated

New CAS Bylaws

Columbia Audubon Society Bylaws Adopted Date of Vote,      2021 Article I:  Name This organization shall be known as the Columbia Audubon Society, Incorporated, hereinafter called Society. Article II:  Purpose Section 1. The purpose and objectives of this Society shall be to preserve the natural world and its ecosystems, focusing on birds, other wildlife, and the

If You Approve: New CAS Bylaws

Please read the proposed bylaws that are being offered for your consideration and approval.  Some of the amendments are necessary to comply with life under COVID-19.  Currently there are no provisions for conducting the business of CAS electronically. Additionally, this presents an opportunity to clarify other questions:  1. How many eligible votes accompany a family

Revised, Updated Enjoying Missouri’s Birds Now Available

State ornithologist Sarah Kendrick’s careful, page-by-page analysis and revision Enjoying Missouri’s Birds, a 42-page 6.5×9” FREE revised edition just out in March 2021 has a new sub-title:  A Beginner’s Guide to Birding.  It’ s available from MDC’s Nature Shop, either by toll-free phone at 877-521-8632 or online at mdcnatureshop.com, or at regional MDC offices, MDC

North American Migratory Bird Count-May 8

Join CAS for the Boone County migration count on May 8. Columbia Audubon Society will continue its tradition of doing a Boone County-wide Bird Count on the second Saturday of May (May 8 this year). Our count will be held on the same day the ‘Global Big Day’ promoted by eBird, and all the data

Nature Area Notes

All bird photos by John Besser, Nature Areas Committee: Indigo Bunting, Black and White Warbler, and Summer Tanager. Interpretive Panel signs by Jan Mees. Wild Haven wildflower walk draws a crowd About 20 people turned out for wildflower walk led by Roxie Campbell on April 11. The weather was great and lots of early wildflowers

Notes from the Conservation Chair: Spring Bird Migration!

Lights Out Campaign and other updates! May Conservation Updates: We’re in the final stretch of the 2021 Missouri legislative session – only 4 weeks left! That is plenty of time for great conservation successes like the Prescribed Burning Act (HB 369 and SB 301) to be passed, but damaging bills can still make it through,

Saturday, May 8, 2021

Migratory Bird Count-May 8

All Day

Global Big Day is May 8 this year, the second Saturday of the month. CAS will be participating through eBird. Much like the Christmas Bird Count, each group will enter their checklist in to eBird as usual. Groups should submit as many checklists for their count area as needed to reflect what locations they birded

Saturday, May 22, 2021

Cancelled: Annual Picnic at Wild Haven Nature Area-May 22, 2021

4:00pm-7:00pm

With the forecast for continuing rain, we have decided to cancel the CAS Annual Picnic scheduled for 4-7 p.m. Saturday at Wild Haven Nature Area. We are concerned about muddy conditions on the trails and the parking areas. We had planned to hold a brief meeting during the picnic and ask CAS members to approve

Sunday, May 16, 2021

Wild Haven Bird Walk: Sunday May 16, 8:30-11:30 am

8:30-11:30am

Join us for a bird walk at Wild Haven. We’ll explore the varied habitats along Wild Haven‘s hiking trails. Songbird migration should be near its peak.

May 15, 2021

Joint Field Trip with MBS: 3M Wetlands-Great for Beginners!

8:00am-12:00pm

3M Wetland Bird Walk especially for beginners! We’ll meet at the Forum Nature Area parking lot and walk to 3M. It is approximately 2 miles of walking on level trails. There should be lots to see and beginners are encouraged to attend.  Edge Wade and Lottie Bushmann will lead.  In addition to our resident species,

May 11, 2021

Joint Field Trip with MBS: 3M Wetlands

8:00am-12:00pm

All trips will require birders to wear masks and to socially distance as much as possible. Tuesday, May 11    8:00 – 12:00 Birding at 3M Wetlands We’ll meet at the Forum Nature Area parking lot and walk to 3M. It is approximately 2 miles of walking on level trails. There should be lots to

May 4, 2021

Joint Field Trip with MBS: Birding at the Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary

8:00am-12:00pm

Birding at CANS—Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary All fieldtrip attendees will need to wear a mask and socially distance as much as possible. We’ll walk and enjoy this special nature area right in the middle of Columbia. In addition to our resident birds, we’ll be on the lookout for migrating warblers. John Besser and Lottie Bushmann

May 1, 2021

Fieldtrip with Missouri Birding Society-Rock Bridge Memorial SP

8:00am-12:00pm

Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, Devil’s Icebox Parking lot We will meet at the parking lot and divide into smaller groups and head out on various trails including: High Ridge Trail, Spring Brook Trail, the boardwalk, Sinkhole trail, Shooting Star and Karst Trail.  We’ll bird until we’re ready to head back to the parking lot.

April 11, 2021

Wildflower Walk at Wild Haven

2:00-5:00pm

Enjoy the beauty of spring wildflowers in bloom as we walk the white and yellow trails (total distance of about 2 miles). We expect to see over a dozen species of wildflowers in bloom and it will be prime time to see the bluebells and trilliums. We’ll also become familiar with the trails, enjoy the

Note from the President

April Election We have a three-year term board position to vote on .  The only candidate is Greg Leonard, but you will be given an opportunity for a write-in candidate. Instead of voting at the April general meeting, we will be voting on-line and by regular mail. On Monday, April 19th, those members who receive

Upcoming Fieldtrips, Joint Fieldtrips with Missouri Birding Society in May!

These Columbia Audubon Society field trips are co-sponsored with the Missouri Birding Society (MBS, formerly Audubon Society of Missouri) as events in the MBS 2-week Spring Meeting activities taking place around the state. MBS, founded in 1901, is the independent statewide organization dedicated to the preservation and protection of birds and other wildlife; to education

Nature Area Notes

  What’s in a name? Bill Mees, Nature Areas Chair, wants to put a new name on an old building. The former ‘workshop’ at Wild Haven is now retired, empty, and surprisingly tidy! This structure was built by Lee Jenkins, who donated Wild Haven to CAS, and It dates from the 1960’s or perhaps earlier.

Legislative Action: Note from the Conservation Chair

House Joint Resolution 55 (HJR 55) “Modifies the conservation commission membership composition and requires the election of the commissioners.” The Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) is governed by a four-person Conservation Commission, made up of members appointed by the governor, each serving year-year terms. HJR 55 wants to change all that, bringing membership from four to

April 21, 2021

April Meeting: Bird Songs and Sounds with Ethan Duke of MRBO

7pm

CAS April Meeting and Program on Bird Songs and Sounds with Ethan Duke, Missouri River Bird Observatory Wednesday, April 21, 2021  7 p.m. Zoom   Ethan Duke, co-founder/director of the Missouri River Bird Observatory, will present cool facts, tips, and useful tools for learning bird sounds. He will talk about how to learn sounds, particularly with

News from the President

Board Position There’s still time to nominate someone for the three-year board position. To nominate someone, make sure they are willing to serve and submit that person’s name to  Brooke Widmar at brookewidmar@gmail.com.  You can also self-nominate. Nominations are due by March 9th. March Program On March 17th, in place of our regular monthly meeting,

Conservation Federation of Missouri Conference this week!

It’s the Conservation Federation of Missouri’s convention this week, March 1-6! Over this week, the 10 resource advisory committees will be meeting to present and vote on resolutions relating to conservation issues impacting Missouri. The pre-filed resolutions can be seen here: www.confedmo.org/resolutions2021/ General ticket registration for those break out sessions is already closed, but all week

Nature Area Notes

Most years, February is the month when winter’s grip loosens a bit and we get a hint of the coming spring. This year, we spent most of the month inside our homes, trying to avoid both coronavirus and frostbite. But we know that March will bring warm weather, spring wildflowers, and migrating birds, and many

Proposed Changes to Membership Levels

Reviewing membership subscriptions over the last decade, we’ve seen our members becoming increasingly generous with their support. As time has passed, the bulk of the local membership dues shifted from mostly $15 and $25 levels up to the $25 and $50 levels. Because of that — and also because these tiers have not been reviewed

February 12-15, 2021

Great Backyard Bird Count

All Presidents’ Day weekend, the Great Backyard Bird Count happens on ebird. Visit www.birdcount.org for more information!

Note from the President

Greetings, Columbia Audubon Society! We have a guest columnist from St. Louis Audubon Society this month, and great updates from our committees. Board Position up for Election There is one three-year board member position opening up that will need to be filled this year.  I have appointed a nominating committee to find candidates. The committee

February is National Bird Feeding Month

February became National Bird Feeding month in 1994 by Congressman John Porter. Being one of the toughest months of the year for birds to survive, he was determined to help feed birds during this time. The month encourages people to provide food, water, and shelter to wild birds in areas with cold temperatures and limited natural

Nature Area Notes

Keeping Cats Indoors to Help Birds (and cats)

As St. Louis Audubon Society works towards protecting bird populations in Missouri, we cannot ignore the impact that free-roaming cats have on birds.  In 2013, scientists estimated that free-roaming cats annually kill between 100-350 million birds in Canada and 1.3 – 4.0 billion birds annually in the US.   In 2015, scientists further calculated that cat

Prescribed Fire Legislation in Missouri

Prescribed burns are an important management tool for many Missouri landscapes, and specifically for many bird habitats. Ground nesting birds and their offspring need open space on the ground for movement, and if there is too much thatch buildup, that will limit their ability to move around. There are countless other benefits to prescribed burns,

CAS Ends CoMoGives Campaign with Great Success!

Columbia Audubon Society (CAS) is happy to report the results of a successful 2020 CoMoGives (CMG) campaign. Thanks to the generosity of donors, CAS will add $12,400 to our treasury.  These funds will be used to continue the CAS programs that support education (field trips for students, scholarships for teachers and support of the Boone

March 17, 2021

March Webinar: Intro to Spring Birdwatching with Sarah Kendrick

7:00pm

A Special Webinar Co-sponsored by Columbia Audubon Society and the Columbia Public Library Intro to Birdwatching & Spring Bird Identification with State Ornithologist Sarah Kendrick Wednesday, March 17, 2021 7 p.m. Zoom Webinar Sarah Kendrick, state ornithologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation, will help you identify birds by sight and sound and get ready

February 17, 2021

February Meeting and Program: Featuring Filmmaker Tim Barksdale

7:00pm

CAS February Meeting  and Program by Filmmaker Timothy Barksdale Wednesday, February 17, 2021 7 p.m. Zoom Filmmaker Timothy Barksdale, Birdman Productions, will share trailers from past work and films currently in production. One of Tim’s recent projects, “Battle on the Booming Grounds: The Last Dance of the Prairie Chicken,” has appeared in film festivals around

Note from the President

Happy New Year and welcome to 2021. One of the things my wife and I have been doing on New Year’s Day is recording the first bird we see of the year. Sometimes it’s a challenge. In 2018,  the temperature was -7° F when we started our feeder count. The first bird we saw was

Columbia’s 2020 Christmas Bird Count is a Success!

Saturday, December 19 dawned clear and sunny, providing a lift for the dozens of birders who rose early to participate in the CAS Christmas Bird Count. Unfortunately, the day soon turned overcast, humid, and cold, making the day difficult  for both birds and birders. Despite the unpleasant weather, eBird checklists rolled in steadily throughout the

January 20, 2021

CAS January Meeting and Program on Grassland Birds with MRBO

7:00pm

Join us via Zoom for the CAS monthly membership meeting and program on Wednesday, Jan. 20, at 7 p.m. Paige Witek, education coordinator with the Missouri River Bird Observatory, will present the program on grassland birds, some of our most vulnerable species. She will talk about MRBO’s Grassland Birds Monitoring Project and why the work

Activism for Bird Conservation

Start off the new year speaking up for birds, and take actions to stay informed on state, national, and global issues! According to the National Audubon Society, the Arctic National Wildlife Refuge is home to over 200 bird species. While this refuge is almost 3,000 miles away from us here in Missouri, it’s critical land

Note from the President

I hope all is going well with you and that you enjoyed your Thanksgiving. December promises to be a busy month with the CoMoGives campaign starting on December 1st and the Christmas Bird Count on December 19th. Instead of our usually chili tallying supper we’ll be having a ZOOM meeting to discuss the day’s birding.

ComoGives Campaign Begins Dec. 1

CoMoGives officially begins December 1, 2020. This online platform provides 142 nonprofit groups, including Columbia Audubon Society, an opportunity to raise funds for their organizations. In 2019, 90 donors contributed over $10,000 to CAS through CoMoGives. Our goal for the 2020 campaign is $10,000. CoMoGives is the only fundraising effort for CAS. CAS is proud

December 11, 2020

Winter Bird Identification with the Missouri Birding Society

7:00pm

The Missouri Birding Society is offering a winter bird identification workshop—via Zoom—on Friday, December 11, at 7 p.m. The workshop, titled “BRRRding: Common Winter Bird ID,” will be led by Sarah Kendrick, state ornithologist with the Missouri Department of Conservation, and Dana Ripper, co-founder/director of the Missouri River Bird Observatory. You don’t have to be

20201219

Christmas Bird Count Details

All Day

The Covid-19 pandemic has affected nearly everything we do during 2020, and the Christmas Bird Count is no exception. Given the risks associated with face-to-face gatherings, The National Audubon Society has given local chapters like CAS the freedom to decide whether to conduct their local count or not. There is a strong sentiment among the

In Memoriam: Francis Garland Russell, Jr.

On Thursday November 19, 2020, Columbia Audubon Society lost a true friend, Francis Garland Russell, Jr. If you’ve walked the trail on the west side of Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary you have probably seen Garland’s house, just beyond the cedar lined fence row.  The land we call Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary was donated to us

Nature Areas Update

Anyone who owns property knows there is always something to do, whether it is mowing, weeding, or picking up sticks. As the owner of Columbia Audubon Wild Haven and Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary, it’s the same for the Columbia Audubon Society (CAS) At your house you call them weeds. At CAS they’re called invasives. Several

Wednesday, November 18

CAS Virtual Membership Meeting and Program Is Wednesday, Nov. 18 — “See” You Then!

7pm

We hope you will join us via Zoom for our next membership meeting and program at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 18. Mike Powell, executive director of the Greenbelt Land Trust of Mid-Missouri, will provide an update on Greenbelt projects, help us understand how land trusts work, and highlight ways that Columbia Audubon and GLT

News and Notes

November Zoom Program Features Mike Powell with the Greenbelt Land Trust Please join us via Zoom for our next membership meeting and program at 7:00 PM on Wednesday, Nov. 18th. Mike Powell, Executive Director of the Greenbelt Land Trust of Mid-Missouri, will provide an update on Greenbelt projects, help us understand how land trusts work,

Welcome to our new Membership Chair and Conservation Chair!

I’m Shelby Thomas, and I am the new Membership Chair. I am currently a freshman in college taking classes at Moberly Area Community College (MACC). I have not yet decided on a major. I began birding in about 2015 and joined Columbia Audubon Society soon after. I have enjoyed getting to know a lot of