CAS Events Listings
Columbia Audubon Society field trips and events are informal and friendly. Advanced registration is (normally) not required and all participants are welcomed, whether or not they are CAS members. Please help us maintain this relaxed approach by being prepared for the risks inherent in such activities (especially those involving the outdoors and/or driving), acting responsibly, and understanding that complete elimination of risk is not possible. Further guidelines are available for field trip leaders and participants.
Friday, December 5, 2025 | 8:00 a.m.
First Friday Bird Hike: 3M Wetlands
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. sharp and then drive down the hill to park near the wetlands (less than a 5 min. drive). We’ll enjoy all the Missouri birds in this natural, lush landscape. The walk is about 1.75 miles on a level, gravel trail. Waterproof shoes are recommended, but not required. After our walk, we’ll return to Songbird Station by 11 a.m. and enjoy coffee and donuts.
Feel free to review the CAS field trip guidelines for participants and leaders!
Contact: Lottie Bushmann, lottie.bushmann@gmail.com
Saturday, December 13, 2025 | 9:00 AM
Saturday Morning Birding at Perche Creek Trail
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 species of woodpeckers and sparrows. Additionally, large flocks of wintering robins have previously been seen in this area. Other possibilities include raptors hunting along the fields and creek, such as hawks, kestrels, and eagles. However, there are no guarantees and plenty of surprises when birding!
Meet at the gravel parking lot at the Hunt Road access for Perche Creek Trail (map) at 9 AM. Take care to go to the Hunt Road access for this trail; there is another trailhead listed on Google Maps that is not in service yet! Expect to walk about 3 miles along flat trails that are combination of pavement and pea gravel. Estimated trip duration is 2 hours.
Led by Ben West.
Contact: Ben West; benjwest@gmail.com
Saturday, December 20, 2025
Christmas Bird Count and Potluck Chili Supper — Saturday, December 20
Join us this year for the 126th annual Christmas Bird Count!
We will plan to send out our teams on Saturday, December 20. 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 experience levels are welcome.
- Columbia Audubon has a strong tradition with participation in this amazing citizen scientist project. Please read Bill Clark’s article in the Nov. 2021 Chat at this link History of the Christmas Bird Count to learn more about this historic event.
- We’ll use ebird to compile our data as well as a count during the Chili Supper. Simply share your ebird lists from the day with the username: casbirddata.
- Not interested in going out to bird but would like your feeder birds included in the count? If your home is within our 16 mile count circle, you can submit an ebird list and share it with casbirddata. If you’re not sure if your home is in the area, email me and I’ll help you figure it out. Not an ebird user? You can still participate by emailing me a list of your yardbirds and I can submit an ebird list on your behalf. This is another fun way to become involved and make your birds count.
Afterwards, come enjoy food and friends at the CAS Christmas Bird Count Chili Supper/Potluck at Fairview Community of Christ Church, 1111 S. Fairview Road (one mile S. of Broadway.) The event starts at 5:30pm, dinner should start at 6 pm. We have the building for the evening. Parking is in the rear. We’ll be in the Community Hall at the south end of the building as usual.
The Chili Supper is a potluck. We need contributions of chili, bread, veggies and desserts. Drinks will be provided.
Tables are available for chili crockpots, and we will bring some multi-plug outlets, but if you have an outlet, that would be helpful. CAS would like help setting up tables and chairs and putting them away when done.
LOOK FOR CBC RESULTS in the January CHAT newsletter.
QUESTIONS? Ask John Besser (jbesser1@gmail.com) or Lottie Bushmann (lottie.bushmann@gmail.com)
Contact: buckinghame@missouri.edu
Date/time of your choice
Self-guided moss walk: Wild Haven Nature Area
Have you taken the time to examine mosses close up? And to think about the relationships between mosses and birds? We’re excited to announce a new, self-guided moss walk at Wild Haven Nature Area that encourages you to do just that!
The trail guide is formatted to be easily read on a mobile device (with the goal of saving paper; please don’t print it).
Download the guide here.
The total length of the hike is under a mile, but it’s easy for time to fly when examining mosses, so plan for at least a couple of hours at Wild Haven. Conditions in winter and early spring are ideal for looking at mosses; sunlight bathes the forest floor, ticks aren’t especially active, and neotropical migrants aren’t yet distracting. But the trail can be completed at any time of year.
We suggest that you bring:
—A hand lens or magnifying glass. This will help you appreciate the miniature world of mosses.
—A spray bottle with water (but no chemical residues). Use to rehydrate mosses when conditions are dry; watch the leaves swell with water in front of your eyes.
—A water bottle for yourself, plus snacks, standard hiking gear, and binoculars for the birds.
No potable water is available at Wild Haven, but there is an outhouse (hand-crafted by CAS volunteers).
Louise Flenner developed this trail to share her knowledge and enthusiasm about mosses and their importance to birds. Thanks, Louise!
Please direct questions and comments to:
Louise Flenner (lflenner@hotmail.com), developer of the moss trail
John Besser (jbesser1@gmail.com), Nature Area chair
David Neely (dustandwood@gmail.com), volunteer manager of Wild Haven Nature Area
Tuesday, January 13, 2026 | 5:00 PM to ~6:30 PM
Winter Weeknight Social at Bur Oak Brewing Co.
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, hard cider, and non-alcoholic sparkling water are available from Bur Oak, and they have Shakespeare’s frozen pizzas that are cooked to order.
Wren you’re there, time may fly swiftly, and you’ll have no egrets. For those new to the group, clues to identify us include bird-themed table decorations.
Details subject to change based on winter driving conditions and Bur Oak’s event schedule; check back as the date gets closer!
Contact: Ben West, Email: benjwest AT gmail DOT com