CAS Events Listings

Second Saturday Birding: Water Feature Watch

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! This scenic setting is perched in the hills above the Missouri River.

Though some seating will be available, please bring a folding chair if you have one.

This will be a drop-in event. Feel free to stop by anytime in either of the following time frames:
9 a.m. to 11 a.m. or 2 p.m. to 4 p.m.

Here’s a map of the location: https://maps.app.goo.gl/f6FYBtpyz7VSF62H7

Plenty of parking is available along the paved portion of the driveway a short walk from the house. Parking directly in front of the house will be reserved for those with mobility limitations.

Contact field trip leader Carl Gerhardt with questions: 573-289-6650

Fall Picnic and Bird Walk

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 View shelter (3300 W Rollins Rd, Columbia) at 2:00 and we’ll plan to return there by 4:30 in time for the dinner. Plates, silverware, napkins and drinks will be provided. Hope to see you there!

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

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 in 1997 and has maintained that status ever since.  The golf course has been recognized for its excellence in wildlife habitat management, water conservation, and environmentally friendly turf management practices.

The tour will be by foot and golf cart. We’ll learn about native plantings including pollinator plots, and we’ll listen and watch for birds that are using the habitat.

Limit of 25, advance registration required. To sign up, email trip leader Lottie Bushman, lottie.bushmann@gmail.com.

To reach the course’s parking area (map) turn south off of Stadium Blvd at the stoplight for Carrie Francke Drive, then follow the sign for the right-hand turn into the parking lot area. The A.L. Gustin Clubhouse is on the south side of the parking lot.

Birding Trip to Runge Conservation Nature Center

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 of bird feeders, plus exhibits including live fish and reptiles. Diverse habitats provide opportunities to see diverse birds, and the timing of this trip coincides with fall songbird migration. In addition to birds, there are plenty of nature-watching opportunities for the generalist naturalist. The Runge Biodiversity Project on iNaturalist documents over 1,500 species!

The carpool will leave the AC commuter lot at 8:00 a.m. and arrive at Runge at approximately 8:30 a.m. We’ll return to Columbia by about noon.

Well maintained trails traverse gently hilly topography. Hiking distance of up to ~2 miles. Restrooms are available.

For more information, contact trip leader Eric Wood at ewood802@yahoo.com or 573-673-0215.

Chimney Swift Roost Watch

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 darken, the birds swarm to the roost site, circle, and begin to drop into their communal roost. 

And what is their modern roosting habitat? Chimneys, of course! This genuinely exciting birding spectacle occurs right in the heart of downtown Columbia.

The peak show occurs nightly in September and early October. Swifts have several chimneys to choose from in Columbia. Based on prior observations, their chimney choice seems to be reasonably stable from day to day, but factors such as predation may encourage a change in chimney choice. Trip leaders will be doing some advance monitoring and will have a strategy to get people to specific location(s) for hopefully productive viewing.

Location: Meet in the parking lot to the east of the Armory building, north of E Ash St between N 7th and N 8th Streets. This lot has Permit Parking Only signs that apply to daytime hours, but we’ve been told that general parking is allowed after 6 p.m. Downtown parking is also available in nearby garages and meters (all free after 6 p.m.). We might be carpooling or walking to alternate locations (one-way distance of 2 blocks to 3/4 mile).

Timing: If a carpool/walk is required to get to the destination, we will depart the Armory parking lot by 6:45 p.m. so that we can be at our destination by sunset (6:57 p.m.).

Keep an eye on this field trip listing for updates closer to the time of the event.

Everyone welcome! Why not bring a friend? Binoculars are not essential to enjoy this spectacle. 

An optional social hour will follow, at a nearby destination of group choice.

Led by Eric & Joanna Reuter, cherthollow@gmail.com. Also, feel free to update us if you make your own observations of Chimney Swift roost use. 

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. Led by Lottie Bushmann.

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

Join us for a tour and presentation by Ragan Webb and Joe Brown, two teachers at the new Boone County Nature School. This school is a partnership between Columbia Public Schools and the Missouri Department of Conservation. The new nature school building, where we will meet, was completed in June 2024 and will be an integral part of the educational experience for students and the community. You may remember that CAS donated $40,000 toward the construction of the council house.

Here is the google map link to the campus at 8989 S. Tom Bass Rd.: https://maps.app.goo.gl/f4TBFSoamE21as4u6?g_st=ic

And directions to the school building:

Note the earlier meeting time (5:30) to allow CAS members to find the school in the daylight.

Second Saturday Birding: The Big Sit at Swan Lake

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 coincides with a viewing platform at the edge of Swan Lake, where wetland, open water, and terrestrial habitats offer a diversity of birding potential, likely featuring a good mix of waterfowl, raptors, songbirds, and more. We may take a short walk beyond the 17’ Big Sit circle, and/or drive and bird a bit in the refuge on our departure.

This day-long event is popular for both the birding and camaraderie. The hosts set up grills and cook brats, etc., for lunch. CAS attendees are asked to bring side items and/or dessert to share. A small voluntary contribution toward the cost of the entrée would be appreciated.

Bring binoculars, and scope if you have one, something to share at lunch, plate, utensils, & cup, AND a bag chair or lawn chair. No seating is provided.

Direct questions to field trip leader Edge Wade, 1edgewade@gmail.com or 573-268-3714. Though not required, it would be much appreciated if you would notify Edge in advance if you plan to attend so we know how many drivers/cars are needed and the cook can plan for the number of mouths to fill.

The carpool will depart at 7:30 a.m. from (LOCATION TO BE DETERMINED). Edge’s car will return to Columbia at ~3 p.m. (This means leaving Swan Lake ~1:30 p.m.) Other carloads may arrange a different return time, but be sure to take into account time for lunch that begins ~11:30, and a 1.5 hour drive.

Birding at Rothwell Park, Moberly

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. We’re working with Moberly Parks and Recreation to coordinate a visit by Columbia-area birders along with local residents, so we can all enjoy and learn together. Moberly’s Randolph County is within Columbia Audubon’s official six-county region, so we look forward to building connections with our northern neighbors.

More details will be posted as they’re finalized, but there will be a morning carpool leaving Columbia, aiming to return no later than early afternoon.

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. Led by Lottie Bushmann.

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.

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

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.

Invasive Plant Bingo and Birding at Garth Nature Area

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 or volunteer, getting to know the characteristics of these plants can be useful. Many of these hold onto their leaves longer than native plants, so November is often a good time of year to study them. Species we’re likely to encounter include not just bush honeysuckle, but also Japanese honeysuckle, border privet, wintercreeper, winged euonymus, autumn olive, cutleaf teasel, callery pear, and more. And, of course, we’ll watch for birds with special attention to their interactions with the botanical environment. We’ll provide bingo cards for a fun and informative afternoon!

If the weather forecast suggests unpleasant conditions, we may postpone to the following Sunday, same time (2:30 p.m.) and place. Please check the field trip listing on the CAS website before heading for the park. 

To reach Garth Nature Area , go to 2799 N Garth, and turn west into the parking area. Bathroom available.

We’ll spend 2 to 2.5 hours walking level gravel trails with a round-trip distance of approximately 1.5 to 2 miles. Led by Joanna and Eric Reuter. 

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. Led by Lottie Bushmann.

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 bathrooms or potable water are available at Wild Haven.

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