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.
Saturday, November 9, 2024
If you are interested in leading this trip, please contact field trip coordinators Eric & Joanna Reuter, chert_hollow@gmail.com.
Sunday, November 10, 2024 | 1:00 PM
Meet at Wild Haven Nature Area, O'Rear Road at Hinkson Creek
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 level ground, but we expect that some areas will be overgrown with vegetation. We will also talk with Mr. Broadhacker about his plans for the surrounding acreage and his interest in purchasing the Albert property from CAS.
if you’re interested in joining this tour, please RSVP to jbesser1@gmail.com. Due to limited parking at the site, we will meet at the Wild Haven nature area and carpool to the Albert Area. We will return to Wild Haven no later than 3 PM.
November 20, 2024 | 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 | 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 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.
Friday, December 6, 2024 | 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. 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.
Saturday, December 14, 2024 | All Day
Join us for the 125th annual Christmas Bird Count this year! If interested in joining, contact Lotttie Bushmann at lottie.bushmann@gmail.com. It’s always fun to attend the post-count chili supper to tally the numbers! More details forthcoming…..
Date/time of your choice
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