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.
Wednesday March 20, 2024 | 7:00 PM
Join us for the Membership Meeting and program by Stephen Bybee about all of the ecosystem restoration efforts that are ongoing at Kiwanis Park.
To be determined | 4:00–6:00 p.m.
Inspired by the excellent program on Slow Birding by Bridget Butler that CAS hosted back in January 2023, we’re planning to have a slow birding field trip. The goal here will be to sit quietly, either on your own or as part of a small group, and watch what comes to you. Relax a little, enjoy being outdoors, and perhaps have a memorable birding or nature watching experience that was enabled by quiet attentiveness. After spreading out to various locations, we anticipate about an hour of relaxed listening and watching. Finally, we’ll reconvene as a group to share stories of what’s been observed. Wild Haven has multiple benches, but feel free to bring a portable chair if you want to pick your own spot to sit. Optional: Bring a picnic dinner and hang out after for a little bit of extra birding and social time at the pavilion. Please note: Wild Haven does not have water, but the new outhouse is open for business!
Time: 4–6 p.m.
Date: To be determined when a promising weather forecast presents itself; target date range approximately March 20 to April 3. Announcements will be shared through the CAS email list (subscribe here).
Location: Map to Wild Haven.
Led by Eric and Joanna Reuter: cherthollow@gmail.com; 574-474-0989 (before event) or 573-529-2893 (day of event).
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
Friday, April 5, 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 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 Bushman.
Saturday, April 13, 2024 | Carpool 7:00 a.m., meet on-site 7:45 a.m.
Meet at southwest corner of Menards parking lot
Join CAS as we explore Rudolf Bennitt Conservation Area, ~30 miles northwest of Columbia at the intersection of Boone, Randolph, and Howard Counties. This 3575 acre landscape includes a mix of forests, fields of restored native grasses, and a lake, providing a variety of habitats for interesting birds. In spite of this diversity of excellent habitat, this area has relative few eBird reports. Early/mid April provides a chance at a good diversity of species, including early migrants as well as species that have been around through the winter (and, of course, resident species). We’ll watch for swallows, sparrows, warblers, woodpeckers, and more. This is a great time of year to enjoy watching birds before full leaf-out starts obscuring the views. All skill levels welcome!
A carpool will leave from the southwest corner of the Columbia Menards parking lot at 7:00 a.m. and plan to arrive at Rudolf Bennitt by 7:45. Anyone driving separately should meet the group at the horse-camp parking lot along CR 2930 (location marked (A) in the official MDC map). We’ll explore that area first, then drive over to the lake on the southwest side and bird there. We’ll be walking various gravel-surface mixed-use trails, with some topography. The only bathroom facilities are privies at the lake. We will plan to leave the area around 11:00 a.m. and return to Columbia by around noon.
Trip leader: Joseph Mosley, 660-492-7954, mosley.je90@gmail.com
Wednesday April 17, 2024 | 7:00 PM
Friday, May 3, 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 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 Bushman.
March 15, 2024 | |
March 9, 2024 | |
March 2, 2024 | |
March 1, 2024 | |
February 21, 2024 | Membership Meeting: How to Find an Owl in Your Neighborhood by Mark Glenshaw |
February 17, 2024 | |
February 10, 2024 | Second Saturday Birding: Woodpecker Hollow (accessed from Capen Park) |
February 2, 2024 | |
January 27, 2024 | |
January 17, 2024 | January Membership Meeting-The Effect of Oil Spills on Birds |
January 5, 2024 | |
January 1, 2024 | |
December 16, 2023 | Christmas Bird Count and Chili Supper, Saturday, December 16 |
December 9, 2023 | |
December 1, 2023 | |
December 1, 2023 | |
November 19, 2023 | |
November 16, 2023 | November Membership Meeting: Using Trail and Trap Cameras by Bill Palmer |
November 11, 2023 | Second Saturday Birding: MU Research Farms (South Farm and Bradford Farm) |
November 3, 2023 | |
October 19, 2023 | October Membership Meeting: How a Birder Was Born by Edge Wade |
October 19, 2023 | Finding 375 Bird Species in Missouri-How a Birder Was Born by Edge Wade |
October 14, 2023 | |
October 14, 2023 | |
October 9, 2023 | |
October 8, 2023 | |
October 7, 2023 | |
October 6, 2023 | |
September 29, 2023 | |
September 19, 2023 | |
September 17, 2023 | |
September 9, 2023 | |
September 1, 2023 | |
August 4, 2023 | |
July 15, 2023 | |
July 7, 2023 | |
June 10, 2023 | |
June 2, 2023 | |
May 21, 2023 | |
May 18, 2023 | Whip-poor-wills and Chuck-wills-widows at Rocky Fork Lakes CA |
May 13, 2023 | |
May 10, 2023 | |
May 7, 2023 | Hundred Acre Woods: Joint field trip with the Native Plant Society |
May 5, 2023 | |
April 22, 2023 | |
April 19, 2023 | April Membership Meeting: Forest Park Owls: Hiding in Plain Sight with Mark H.X. Glenshaw |
April 7, 2023 | |
March 28, 2023 | Twilight Timberdoodle Trek at Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area |
March 15, 2023 | March Membership Meeting and Program: Australian and New Guinea Birds by Carl Gerhardt |
March 15, 2023 | |
March 3, 2023 | |
February 18, 2023 | |
February 15, 2023 | February Meeting and Program: Falconry in Missouri by Steve Heying |
February 15, 2023 | |
February 3, 2023 | |
January 18, 2023 | January Meeting and Presentation: Slow Birding by Bridget Butler |
January 15, 2023 | January 15, 2023: Birding without Binoculars at Grindstone Nature Area |
January 6, 2023 | |
January 1, 2023 | 1st Day Hike at Rock Bridge Memorial SP: January 1, 2023, 2:30-4:30pm |
December 17, 2022 | |
December 17, 2022 | |
December 10, 2022 | |
December 2, 2022 | |
November 27, 2022 | |
November 16, 2022 | |
November 4, 2022 | |
October 19, 2022 | October Meeting and Program: An eBird Tutorial for Beginners and Beyond! |
October 1, 2022 | |
September 18, 2022 | |
September 2, 2022 | |
August 26, 2022 | |
July 28, 2022 | |
July 1, 2022 | |
June 3, 2022 | |
May 22, 2022 | |
May 6, 2022 | |
April 24, 2022 | |
April 23, 2022 | |
April 20, 2022 | CHANGED: CAS Membership Meeting and Program on Shorebird Identification |
April 16, 2022 | CAS Work Day, Saturday, April 16, 9 AM–noon: Prepare Wild Haven for sixth-grade field trip |
April 9, 2022 | |
April 1, 2022 | |
March 23, 2022 | |
March 15, 2022 | |
March 4, 2022 | |
February 26, 2022 | |
February 16, 2022 | |
February 4, 2022 | |
January 29, 2022 | |
January 20, 2022 | |
January 19, 2022 | January Meeting and Program: Bird Nests, The Wonder of Avian Engineering |
January 16, 2022 | |
January 7, 2022 | |
January 1, 2022 | |
December 18, 2021 | |
December 1, 2021 | |
November 17, 2021 | |
November 6, 2021 | Missouri Young Birders Club Field Trip to Rock Bridge Memorial State Park- 11/6/21 9am-11am |
November 5, 2021 | |
October 31, 2021 | Rescheduled Fireline Installation at Wildhaven Nature Area: Oct. 31 1:30-5:00 |
October 21, 2021 | Sierra Club’s Zoom Meeting on Columbia’s Renewable Energy Potential-10/21, 7pm |
October 20, 2021 | |
October 16, 2021 | |
October 15, 2021 | |
September 19, 2021 | |
September 11, 2021 | |
June 13, 2021 | |
May 22, 2021 | Cancelled: Annual Picnic at Wild Haven Nature Area-May 22, 2021 |
May 16, 2021 | |
May 15, 2021 | |
May 11, 2021 | |
May 8, 2021 | |
May 4, 2021 | Joint Field Trip with MBS: Birding at the Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary |
May 1, 2021 | Fieldtrip with Missouri Birding Society-Rock Bridge Memorial SP |
May 1, 2021 | |
April 21, 2021 | April Meeting: Bird Songs and Sounds with Ethan Duke of MRBO |
April 11, 2021 | |
March 17, 2021 | March Webinar: Intro to Spring Birdwatching with Sarah Kendrick |
February 17, 2021 | February Meeting and Program: Featuring Filmmaker Tim Barksdale |
February 12, 2021 | |
January 20, 2021 | CAS January Meeting and Program on Grassland Birds with MRBO |
December 19, 2020 | |
December 11, 2020 | Winter Bird Identification with the Missouri Birding Society |
November 18, 2020 | CAS Virtual Membership Meeting and Program Is Wednesday, Nov. 18 — “See” You Then! |
November 15, 2020 | |
October 17, 2020 | |
October 17, 2020 | |
October 4, 2020 | |
October 1, 2020 | MDC encourages people to counter window strikes during fall bird migration |
September 26, 2020 | |
September 19, 2020 | |
May 20, 2020 | |
April 15, 2020 | CANCELED April meeting: Greenbelt Land Trust of Mid-Missouri |
April 11, 2020 | |
March 29, 2020 | |
March 22, 2020 | |
March 18, 2020 | |
March 14, 2020 | POSTPONED Eagle Bluffs Conservation Area 25th Anniversary Open House |
March 1, 2020 | Field trip: Birding without binoculars at Stephens Lake Park |
February 22, 2020 | |
February 19, 2020 | February meeting: Visiting Magee Marsh, a presentation by Bill Palmer |
February 15, 2020 | |
January 15, 2020 | |
January 1, 2020 | Field Trip: First Day hike at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park |
December 14, 2019 | |
December 14, 2019 | |
December 8, 2019 | |
November 29, 2019 | Field trip: Black Friday Birding at Songbird Station and 3M Wetland |
November 20, 2019 | |
November 10, 2019 | |
November 9, 2019 | |
November 2, 2019 | |
October 16, 2019 | October meeting: Mike Szydlowski, Science Coordinator for Columbia Public Schools |
October 13, 2019 | |
October 6, 2019 | |
September 29, 2019 | Field trip: Beginning birder’s walk at Garth Nature Area, Columbia |
September 24, 2019 | |
September 21, 2019 | |
September 18, 2019 | |
September 14, 2019 | |
September 11, 2019 | |
September 7, 2019 | |
August 13, 2019 | |
June 19, 2019 | Summer book discussion: Welcome to Subirdia, by John M. Marzluff |
May 25, 2019 | |
May 18, 2019 | Field trip: Columbia Audubon & Bonnie View Nature Sanctuaries |
May 18, 2019 | |
May 14, 2019 | Rescheduled Field Trip: Whip-poor-wills and Chuck-wills-widows at Rocky Fork Lakes CA |
May 7, 2019 | POSTPONED Field Trip: Whip-poor-wills and Chuck-wills-widows at Rocky Fork Lakes CA |
May 1, 2019 | |
April 20, 2019 | |
April 13, 2019 | |
April 6, 2019 | |
April 3, 2019 | |
March 23, 2019 | |
March 20, 2019 | March Meeting: “Eagle Bluffs: an environmental success story” |
March 16, 2019 | |
March 9, 2019 | |
February 23, 2019 | |
February 20, 2019 | February Meeting: Dr. Charles Nilon (MU School of Natural Resources) |
February 16, 2019 | |
February 9, 2019 | |
January 16, 2019 | CANCELLED: Book discussion: Welcome to Subirdia, by John M. Marzluff |
January 1, 2019 | |
December 15, 2018 | |
December 15, 2018 | |
December 1, 2018 | |
November 24, 2018 | |
November 17, 2018 | |
November 14, 2018 | |
November 10, 2018 | |
November 3, 2018 | |
October 20, 2018 | |
October 17, 2018 | |
October 14, 2018 | |
October 2, 2018 | |
October 1, 2018 | |
September 23, 2018 | |
September 22, 2018 | |
September 16, 2018 | |
September 7, 2018 | |
September 7, 2018 | |
August 26, 2018 | |
August 8, 2018 | |
July 16, 2018 | |
July 12, 2018 | |
June 1, 2018 | |
May 31, 2018 | |
May 26, 2018 | Field Trip to Hinkson Creek Nature Preserve and Big Sky Nature Preserve |
May 22, 2018 | [Of Interest] CoMO Public Workshop on the Climate Action and Adaptation Plan |
May 19, 2018 | |
May 16, 2018 | |
May 8, 2018 | Field Trip: Whip-poor-wills and Chuck-wills-widows at Rocky Fork Lakes CA |
May 6, 2018 | |
May 1, 2018 | |
April 29, 2018 | Beginning Birder Event: Guided bird walks at the 3M wetlands |
April 28, 2018 | |
April 21, 2018 | |
April 18, 2018 | April Meeting: Sharing the Magic of Nature at the Prairie Garden Trust |
April 14, 2018 | |
April 7, 2018 | |
March 31, 2018 | |
March 25, 2018 | |
March 21, 2018 | March Meeting: Book Discussion of The Genius of Birds, by Jennifer Ackerman |
March 17, 2018 | |
March 8, 2018 | |
March 3, 2018 | |
February 24, 2018 | |
February 17, 2018 | |
February 10, 2018 | |
February 3, 2018 | |
January 27, 2018 | |
January 17, 2018 | January CAS Meeting: Presentation by Sarah Kendrick (State Ornithologist for MDC) |
January 6, 2018 | |
January 1, 2018 | |
December 16, 2017 | |
December 16, 2017 | |
December 2, 2017 | |
December 2, 2017 | |
November 19, 2017 | |
November 18, 2017 | |
November 15, 2017 | |
November 11, 2017 | |
November 4, 2017 | |
October 28, 2017 |