Past Events

Wednesday April 17, 2024

Membership Meeting: “Banding Hummingbirds their natural history” by Veronica Mecko and Josh Potter

7:00 PM

Friday, May 3, 2024

First Friday Bird Hike: 3M Wetlands

8:00 a.m.

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 at 8 a.m. sharp

Sunday, May 5, 2024

Field Trip: Katy Trail and Schnabel Woods

7:30 a.m.

We’ll walk about 1.5 miles along the level Katy Trail (from McBaine), with the option to then hike into the steeper terrain of Schnabel Woods Natural Area with its beautiful old-growth forest, where the especially tall trees may give your neck a workout. Those who wish to stay on the rail trail are welcome to

Wednesday, May 8, 2024

Kiwanis Park: Birding Without Bush Honeysuckle

7:00 a.m.

The Missouri Conservation Corps, a local nonprofit, has been working hard on Kiwanis Park ecosystem restoration, including removing bush honeysuckle and planting native trees and shrubs. What birds make use of this improved habitat? The Columbia Audubon Society has been asked to help find out! On Wednesday May 8, near the peak of spring songbird

Saturday, May 11, 2024

Go birding on Global Big Day!

The second Saturday in May of each year is eBird’s Global Big Day! This coincides with peak songbird migration in central Missouri, so it is a great excuse to head outside in order to look and listen for birds. Columbia Audubon Society is encouraging members to participate in Global Big Day, though no formal field

Thursday, May 16, 2024

Whip-poor-wills and Chuck-wills-widows at Rocky Fork Lakes CA

7:30 p.m.

Join us for this evening walk through the mixed habitats of Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area in northern Boone County to listen for and hopefully hear the distinct sounds of Whip-poor-wills and Chuck-will’s-widows. These nocturnal birds are hard to see but fun to hear once their song begins from dusk into darkness. Meet at 7:30

Sunday, May 19, 2024

May Membership Picnic and Potluck

3:00-7:00 PM

CAS Membership Potluck Picnic Sunday May 19th at Wild Haven  Nature Area from 3-7pm.    Lovely New Outhouse is operational. Nature Walk starts at 3:15. CAS will provide drinks, utensils, napkins, and table cloths. We will introduce our new officers and give a recap of the past year.

Friday, June 7, 2024

First Friday Bird Hike: 3M Wetlands

8:00 a.m.

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.

Saturday, June 15, 2024

Summer Saturday Birding: Woodpecker Hollow

4:00 p.m.

Join us for an afternoon walk to Woodpecker Hollow, a property owned by the Greenbelt Land Trust. It is open to the public and was formerly owned by long-time CAS members Bill and Glynnis Elder and the Nature Conservancy.  The Columbia Missouri Trail Association (COMOTA) created a trail network that is accessed by using the

Monday, June 17, 2024

Field Trip: Birding at Gustin Golf Course (Registration required)

7:00 to 10:00 a.m.

Take part in a special opportunity to bird MU’s Gustin Golf Course , where native plantings and landscape management make for great birding habitat. As noted on the course’s website, Gustin Golf Course was the first college golf course in the United States certified by Audubon International.  Gustin Golf Course was recognized as a Cooperative

Friday, July 5, 2024

First Friday Bird Hike: 3M Wetlands

8:00 a.m.

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.

Sunday, July 7, 2024

Birding by Bicycle

7:45 a.m.

Meet at Perry Phillips Lake parking lot (map) at 7:45 a.m. We will bird the parking lot until 8:00 and then head down Discovery Parkway with a stop at South Farm. Then continue to Rolling Hills to bird this lightly traveled road, proceed to UMC beef farm. Most of the birding is by ear, with

Friday, August 2, 2024

First Friday Bird Hike: 3M Wetlands

8:00 a.m.

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.

Tuesday, August 13, 2024

Rocheport Katy Trail evening birding walk – WILL PROCEED AS PLANNED

6:00 pm to ~8:00 p.m.

UPDATE (Tuesday ~1:00 pm): The forecast remains as no more than light showers, which can be good for birding. The upcoming forecast for the next few days is worse, and further postponement would lose too much day length, so we’re going ahead with the trip! Dress for drizzle and come prepared to enjoy trailside birds.

Saturday, August 17, 2024

Summer Saturday Birding: Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area

8:00 a.m.

Join us for a trip to Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area! Eagle Bluffs has a variety of habitats, ranging from open fields to wetlands to wooded areas, contributing to its status of having the highest observed bird diversity of any area in Boone County! On this late summer trip, we hope to see migrating shorebirds and

Thursday, August 22-Friday, August 23, 2024

2024 Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative Conference

5:00pm

The 2024 MoBCI Conference will be held August 22-23 at the Columbia Country Club. Registration is now live at www.mobci.net.

Friday, September 6, 2024

First Friday Bird Hike: 3M Wetlands

8:00 a.m.

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.

Saturday, September 14, 2024

Second Saturday Birding: Water Feature Watch

9 a.m to 11 a.m. & 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. (drop-in)

One of the great ways to attract migratory birds to a yard is to offer a water feature, and this month’s Second Saturday trip will be at a private residence with just such an attraction. Come bird in style from the comfort of a deck chair with the chance to see some great fall migrants!

Sunday, September 15, 2024

Fall Picnic and Bird Walk

2:00-6:30pm

Come one, come all! Please join us for the CAS Fall potluck. Bring your favorite dish to share and come ready to share a bird story or two. We love to hear about all the birds you’ve been seeing. We’ll have a bird walk prior to the potluck. Meet at the pavilion at the Bonnie

Monday, September 16, 2024

Field Trip: Birding at Gustin Golf Course (Registration required)

7:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Take part in a special opportunity to bird MU’s Gustin Golf Course, where native plantings and landscape management make for great birding habitat. As noted on the course’s website, Gustin Golf Course was the first college golf course in the United States certified by Audubon International.  Gustin Golf Course was recognized as a Cooperative Sanctuary

Saturday, September 21, 2024

Birding Trip to Runge Conservation Nature Center

8:00 a.m. to ~Noon

We’ll carpool to Runge Conservation Nature Center in Jefferson City for a birding and nature hike through diverse habitats, walking through grasslands and forest and passing by ponds and a stream. In addition, managed gardens demonstrate the use of native plants in the landscape and provide inspiration for home gardeners. The Nature Center building offers views

Wednesday, October 2, 2024

Chimney Swift Roost Watch: RESCHEDULED

6:30-7:30 pm

UPDATE: This event has been rescheduled for the evening of Wednesday, October 2. Please note the slightly earlier meeting time, adjusted for earlier sunset than the original date. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ During fall migration, Chimney Swifts roost together in groups that often number in the hundreds or more. In the evening, as the sky really begins to

Friday, October 4, 2024

First Friday Bird Hike: 3M Wetlands

8:00 a.m.

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.

Wednesday, October 9, 2024

October Membership Meeting: Tour of the Boone County Nature School and presentation by Ragan Webb and Joe Brown

5:30-7:30 pm

*NEW! For those interested in touring the campus before the talk, Ragan and Joe will have people on hand to give tours from 3:30-5:15. The presentation will begin at 5:30 in the new nature school building.* Join us for a tour and presentation by Ragan Webb and Joe Brown, two teachers at the new Boone

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Workday at Bonnie View with Missouri Conservation Corps: October 12, 9am–12pm

9am–12pm

In the past two years, CAS has had several shared activities with the Missouri Conservation Corps. We held two well-attended bird walks at Kiwanis Park, where MCC has accomplished a remarkable project to remove bush honeysuckle. Stephen Bybee of MCC followed up with a presentation to CAS membership about recruitment of volunteers for this project

Saturday, October 12, 2024

Second Saturday Birding: The Big Sit at Swan Lake

7:30 a.m. to ~3:00 p.m.

How many birds can you identify in one day while staying within a 17-foot diameter circle? That’s the challenge of The Big Sit. –from The Big Sit website We will carpool to Swan Lake NWR, where the Grand River Audubon Society annually hosts its Big Sit, the first established in Missouri. This Big Sit circle

Saturday, October 19, 2024

Birding at Rothwell Park, Moberly

7:00 a.m. carpool departure from Columbia, 7:45 a.m. meetup at Rothwell Park

Have you been to Rothwell Park? About half an hour north of Columbia, the City of Moberly’s 467 acre park features a wide variety of bird-friendly habitats, from gorgeous old trees to open lakes to fields of native plantings, all connected by 7 miles of nature trails and an additional 3 miles of paved trails.

Friday, November 1, 2024

First Friday Bird Hike: 3M Wetlands

8:00 a.m.

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.

Saturday, November 9, 2024

CANCELLED: Second Saturday Birding: Leader needed

If you are interested in leading this trip, please contact field trip coordinators Eric & Joanna Reuter, chert_hollow@gmail.com.

Sunday, November 10, 2024

Visit to Albert Children’s Wildlife Area: November 10, 1:00pm

1:00 PM

We will visit the Albert Area on Sunday, November 10, starting at 1 PM. The neighbor, Jess Broadhacker, will open his gate to allow us to use his driveway to enter the Albert area. We will walk about one-half mile to see the variety of habitats on the CAS property. The route will be on

Saturday, November 16, 2024

Wild Haven Workday, Saturday Nov. 16

9:00AM

There will be an autumn olive/bush honeysuckle removal workday at Wild Haven this Saturday the 16th. We’ll start around 9am and go until noonish. If it rains Saturday morning we’ll cancel. Interested folks should bring the usual gear — water bottles, leather gloves and boots — as well as hand brush saws and loppers. There

November 20, 2024

November Membership Meeting: “Missouri River Restoration: A Long, Strange Trip” by Robert B Jacobson, Ph.D.

7 PM

Join us for a talk by Robb Jacobson, Adjunct Professor in the School of Natural Resources at the University of Missouri, and former Supervisory Research Hydrologist at the USGS Columbia Environmental Research Center. Robb will talk about ongoing efforts to restore the habitat of endangered river life and ecosystems in the Missouri River.

Sunday, November 24, 2024

Invasive Plant Bingo and Birding at Garth Nature Area

2:30 p.m.

Birders, land managers, and nature enthusiasts: Join us for a bird and plant walk at Garth Nature Area! This can be a good place to watch winter birds, and it also has quite a diversity of non-native and invasive plants. If you manage a yard or a bigger piece of land, whether as an owner

Wednesday, December 4, 2024

Field Trip: Millions of Blackbirds at a Boone County Roost

3:45 p.m. to ~5:30 p.m.

Come witness a mind-boggling concentration of blackbirds at a northern Boone County winter roost, now confirmed in its sixth year (at least) of activity. Recent activity is as robust as we’ve ever experienced. This spectacle can impress anyone, from non-birders to globe trotters. Consider bringing a friend! We’ll gather at 3:45 p.m (about an hour

Friday, December 6, 2024

First Friday Bird Hike: 3M Wetlands

8:00 a.m.

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.

Saturday, December 14, 2024

Christmas Bird Count Chili Supper STILL HAPPENING SATURDAY EVENING DEC 14TH

5:30 p.m.

THE 2024 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT IS BEING RESCHEDULED TO SUNDAY DECEMBER 15 DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER ON SATURDAY. CHILI SUPPER IS STILL SATURDAY NIGHT. SEE DETAILS BELOW. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Updated CBC information ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Chili Supper Come enjoy food and friends at the CAS Christmas Bird Count Chili Supper/Potluck. We’ll won’t be able to look at species

Sunday, December 15, 2024

Christmas Bird Count RESCHEDULED FOR SUNDAY, DEC 15TH

All Day

THE 2024 CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT IS BEING RESCHEDULED TO SUNDAY DECEMBER 15 DUE TO INCLEMENT WEATHER ON SATURDAY. CHILI SUPPER IS STILL SATURDAY NIGHT. SEE DETAILS BELOW. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ CHILI SUPPER INFORMATION ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Join us this year for the 125th annual Christmas Bird Count! We will plan to send out our teams on Sunday Dec 15.

Saturday, December 21, 2024

December bird walk: Rock Bridge Memorial State Park (Sinkhole Trail)

7:30 a.m.

Join us to look for birds along the Sinkhole Trail at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park, traversing 1.4 miles of moderate terrain through old fields (lots of sparrows!) and both bottomland and upland woodlands. After leaving the trailhead in the Devil’s Icebox parking area, the trail follows an old road through the historic site of

Wednesday, January 1, 2025

First Day Hike at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park

2:30–4:30 p.m.

Celebrate the New Year with the Columbia Audubon Society by joining an afternoon birding hike at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park on January 1st, 2025. We’ll walk the Grassland Trail from 2:30–4:30 p.m., exploring the mixed grassland, shrub, and forest-edge habitats to look for sparrows, raptors, and any other fauna or flora of interest. This

Friday, January 3, 2025

First Friday Bird Hike: 3M Wetlands

8:00 a.m.

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.

Saturday, January 11, 2025

Second Saturday Birding: Cancelled for January

This month’s Second Saturday trip has been cancelled. No one has volunteered as leader, and the forecast of lasting snow cover and below-freezing temperatures will likely suppress turnout. We do encourage you to enjoy a winter bird walk on your own terms, as these conditions can lead to a lot of interesting bird activity! February’s

Wednesday, January 15, 2025

January Membership Meeting: Book Discussion of “Backyard Bird Chronicles” by Amy Tan

6:30-7:30 PM

For the January Membership meeting, join us for a discussion of Amy Tan’s new book The Backyard Bird Chronicles. Mapping the passage of time through daily entries, thoughtful questions and beautiful original sketches, best-selling author Amy Tan shares her search for solace, which turned into an opportunity to connect with nature in a meaningful way

Sunday, February 2, 2025

Basking in birds: Warm weekend bird walk at Rocky Fork

3:00 p.m.

Join us to enjoy a diverse birding walk at Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area on what’s forecast to be a warm, sunny afternoon. 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

Friday, February 7, 2025

First Friday Bird Hike: 3M Wetlands

8:00 a.m.

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.

Sunday, March 9, 2025

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,

Saturday, February 15, 2025

Great Backyard Bird Count: No scheduled trip due to weather

Due to a wet and cold weather forecast, plans for an official Saturday field trip have been scrapped. However, this is the weekend of the annual Great Backyard Bird Count, so all are encouraged to make some time for birding from February 14 through 17.  Perhaps sit at your window, sip a warm beverage, grab

February 19, 2025

February Membership Meeting: Talk by Roger Still and Dr. Brandon Spratt on the One Health pilot in Boone County – Zoom Option

7pm

Roger Still and Dr. Brandon Spratt will present about the work they are doing, with many community and agency partners, to pilot a One Health approach in Boone County with support from the Missouri Foundation for Health and Missouri Department of Conservation. The focus will be centered around how nature, food, and human health interconnect.

Sunday, March 2, 2025

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,

Monday, March 3, 2025

Volunteer Work Day for Invasive Species at Wild Haven Nature Area

TBD

Volunteers Needed for Invasives Control at Wild Haven During March   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

Friday, March 7, 2025

First Friday Bird Hike: 3M Wetlands

8:00 a.m.

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.