In this issue:

• Note from the President
• Call for a Social Committee Chair!
• Annual Heron Rookery Fieldtrip
• Global Big Day Social and Details at Logboat Brewing
• Calling All Photographers! Annual CentralMoGives Campaign
• April Draft Meeting Minutes
• The Nominating Committee Wants YOU!
• Background on a Growing Issue at Gans Creek Recreational Area
• Note from the President
• Article with CAS Representing on the Big Business of Birding
• Upcoming Events

Fri. May. 1, 2026

Note from the President

by Lottie Bushmann, President

Hello all!

It’s that most wonderful time of the year…for birders! Spring migration! I hope that you’ve been able to get out and enjoy the beautiful weather and see a few of our friends passing by. There’s still time if you haven’t!

I’ve enjoyed my tenure as president this past two years and looking back am so grateful for all the folks that make this organization run. Too many to name here but I appreciate you all and want to thank you. We’ve participated in CoMoGives, now called CentralMoGives, run education programs for many, kept up our beautiful properties, hosted bird walks, and had interesting innovative programs. Your board members (and many behind-the-scenes people) are hard at work planning and implementing these activities and I hope that you’ll thank them when you see them. Also, I encourage you to get involved. There are lots of small ways to be a part of this organization. All the “cogs” matter and if you’ve enjoyed your membership in Audubon, I hope you’ll consider being one in the future. You don’t have to be an expert at birds to get involved—just someone who cares about them.

I hope to see you all at our picnic on May 10^th. It’s a potluck and always a nice evening. If you’re interested in helping on Global Big Day on May 9^th, we’re hosting a social event at Logboat Brewing on Thursday the 7^th to help birders connect with others; there’s a full article further down in the newsletter. Hope to see you there!

Good birding!

 

 

Fri. May. 1, 2026

Call for a Social Committee Chair!

by Allison Vaughn, Communications Chair

If you’ve ever attended a CAS meeting, you know you’ll get a small bite to eat afterwards so you can connect with other members and guests. This doesn’t just happen organically. We plan out and invite members to serve as the snack provider for each meeting. We need an organizer for this important job! Usually all it takes is a gentle reminder a few days before the meeting that said person signed up for snacks at the next meeting. We had a wonderful Social Chair with Delores Clark, who sadly left us not too long ago. This position has been essentially vacant for a few years. If you’re interested in stepping up for this important role with CAS, feel free to contact Lottie Bushmann at lottie.bushmann@gmail.com. We would love to get this position secured before our first meetings in the fall! You can be creative! My partner and I usually bring Mardi Gras snacks around March. Pumpkin cookies and Banana Bread for November? Fresh fruit, a dish of nuts? Nothing elaborate, we just definitely want to make sure we have snacks so we can continue the conversation after the meeting!

Fri. May. 1, 2026

Annual Heron Rookery Fieldtrip

by Louise Flenner

On March 15 Columbia Audubon Society conducted its annual field trip to see the Great Blue Heron rookery and accomplish some birding at Gans Creek Recreation Area (GCRA).  The rookery is located along Gans Creek in an undeveloped part of GCRA. I have been counting the number of returning herons every year since 2014, always on the Ides of March. I’m happy to report that the number of returning herons this year is second only to 2017 (16). This year we counted 17 nests and 15 herons, up from 9 nests and 12 herons last year. It’s always a thrill to see them circling the nesting site or standing tall in the nest watching for a mate.

They generally arrive from late February to Mid-April. This period is called initiation and is defined as the period of courtship before eggs are laid and can last 2 months. Nest building begins after a pair has formed a bond. This can last from late March to mid-April and during this time the female begins laying eggs (usually 4 blue eggs). Hatching begins late April to mid-May. Since the herons do not all arrive at the same time, and because some have multiple nesting attempts, chick rearing takes place for many months. Once the chicks are 3-4 weeks old, parents begin to leave them alone at the nest. This makes them vulnerable to predators and the elements. Feeding time for chicks is a flurry of activity as fights between siblings break out and loud squawking fills the air. Chicks begin to fledge at 10 weeks of age and are usually gone by the end of August.

Once the trees of the rookery have leafed out in the Spring, it is almost impossible to continue to observe their activity in the nest. The sounds of the mature birds and the squawking chicks is, however, something like being in Jurassic Park.

Although the rookery is a destination location, GCRA has excellent birding opportunities. The group included Emma Buckingham, Trana and Tim Madsen, Barb Reed, Luke Rainwater and myself. We saw an amazing 37 species. One species of particular note was an American Bittern seen along the edge of one of several ponds on the property. We were also entertained by a Brown Creeper going up and down a tree. A couple of us got a quick look at a red fox. Everyone in the group was pleased with a great 3 hours of birding and it was hard to stop.

 

Fri. May. 1, 2026

Global Big Day Social and Details at Logboat Brewing

by Ben West, Field Trip Coordinator

Fri. May. 1, 2026

Calling All Photographers! Annual CentralMoGives Campaign

by Lisa Schenker, CentralMissouriGives Chair

Even though summer has not yet arrived, it’s not too early to think about our 2026 CoMoGives campaign. I’m seeking photographs to accompany our various email blurbs and Facebook posts. If you’ve attended a CAS event and documented it with your camera, please consider sending your photos my way. Field trips, clean-ups, picnics… any and all CAS events are worthy subjects.

Additionally, our campaign kickoff postcard, sent out to several hundred folks, features a bird photograph taken by one of our members. It could be YOURS!  To be print quality, the photo for the postcard needs to be a high resolution; that means you should send me your original, high-resolution file, instead of a smaller thumbnail. A winter scene for the postcard is preferred. This lovely Eastern Bluebird is a Betsy Garrett original.

Please send your photos to me at lisaschenker107@gmail.com. Thanks in advance for your artistic assistance!

Fri. May. 1, 2026

April Draft Meeting Minutes

by Vickie Park, CAS Secretary

Columbia Audubon Society Board of Directors Meeting

Wednesday April 15, 2026

Boone County Electric Building

Present:  Lottie Bushmann, Vickie Park, Allison Vaughn, Eric Seaman, Greg Leonard, Shelby Thomas, Bill Mees, Reed Gerdes, Eric Wood, Lori Turner, Emma Buckingham

Meeting called to order:  6:01

Previous minutes:     Reed Gerdes moved to accept the March minutes as written.    Greg Leonard seconded it.  Motion carried.

Treasurer’s Report: Eric Seamon reviewed the finances.   He has explored investment options for the recent donation.  He recommended a 3-year fixed annuity.  Eric Wood moved that the board accept this proposal.  Motion seconded by Reed.  The board unanimously voted to approve this plan.

Nature Areas:  Bill Mees reported that the opportunity for a burn at CANS this season has passed.   A burn will be planned for December 2026.

Programs:  Emma Buckingham, Allison Vaughn and Lottie Bushman volunteered to form an ad hoc committee to schedule programs for the next year.

Education:   Lottie and Lisa will continue planning the Band with Nature program in October.

Lottie has again agreed to lead a field trip for a group of students from the Missouri Scholars Academy this summer.

Communications:   Submissions for the May issue of The Chat need to be turned in to Allison by April 29.

Dark Sky:  Allison reports that monitoring of conditions at RBMSP continues.  Plans toward certification are proceeding nicely.

Field Trips:  Recent field trips have been successful.  The web site lists upcoming events.

Membership:  nothing to report

Slate of board members and officers will be voted on at the general meeting tonight.

Meeting Adjourned:  6:45 pm

The general meeting was started at 7 pm.  Lottie Bushmann announced the slate of nominees for new board members and officers for 2026/2027:

Emma Buckingham for president.

Greg Leonard for vice-president.

Vickie Park for secretary.

Eric Seaman for treasurer.

Ragan Webb, David Neely and Chris Hagglund for members of the board.

Lottie then asked for any other nominations.   None were offered.

Jim Gast moved that the slate be approved.  Bob Glidewell seconded it.  The slate of nominees passed unanimously.

Submitted by Vickie Park

Sun. Feb. 1, 2026

The Nominating Committee Wants YOU!

by Lottie Bushmann, President

Lottie Bushmann, CAS President, has appointed a Nominating Committee composed of Lisa Schenker who is chair, Nancy Bedan, and Bill Mees.  This committee is charged with recruiting individuals who will serve on the Board of Directors of Columbia Audubon Society.  The Board is composed of a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer each serving a two year term.  Also serving on the board are at least three “at large” board members each serving staggered three year terms.

The Board meets monthly September – May with occasional special meetings called by the President as circumstances require.  Members of the Board must be a member of Columbia Audubon Society and have an interest in the ongoing activities of the Society as it endeavors to fulfill its mission:  To preserve the natural world and its ecosystems focusing on birds, other wildlife, and the earth’s biological diversity through education, environmental study and habitat restoration and protection.

The Nominating Committee is inviting members of Columbia Audubon Society with an interest in serving on the Board of Directors to please contact Lisa Schenker (lisaschenker107 at gmail.com) by February 20th.  Interested members can find the CAS bylaws on the website for information about the responsibilities of the various board positions. (https://www.columbia-audubon.org/columbia-audubon-society-bylaws/)

Thank you for considering this invitation to become a more active and involved CAS member.  The nominating committee will present a slate of nominees at the March 18th CAS membership meeting.

 

Wed. Oct. 1, 2025

Background on a Growing Issue at Gans Creek Recreational Area

by David Diamond

Gans Creek Recreation Area Fact Sheet

1. Gans Creek Recreation Area shares a common border with Gans Creek Wild Area within Rock Bridge Memorial State Park. These public lands together form an important, core natural habitat that has been recognized by national and statewide organizations.  No other City Park land is so ecologically important based on connectivity and landscape context.
   1. The area is at the northeast edge of an Important Bird Area designated by the American Bird Conservancy and The Audubon Society.
   2. The area is within a Conservation Opportunity Area designated by Missouri Department of Conservation.
   3. Gans Creek is designated an Outstanding State Resource Water by the Missouri Department of Natural Resources immediately downstream within Gans Creek Wild Area.
2. The area contains natural features, including the creek, karst topography (cave and sinkholes), highly erodible soils, and steep slopes that are recognized as sensitive to development and disturbance by the City’s Natural Resource Inventory (2023) and Columbia Imagined (2013).
3. City plans in 2010 and 2018 included a 87.5-acre natural preservation area along Gans Creek and adjacent steep slopes, but these plans were ignored by the 2024 development plan.
4. Despite the area’s natural ecological significance and highly sensitive features, and in opposition to the City’s own 2010 and 2018 development plans, the City proposed a high density of mountain bike trails for development. Bike trails north of Gans Creek were approved for development in late 2024.  A trail south of Gans Creek was put on hold by the City Council due to advocacy of environmental groups.  That trail originally crossed Gans Creek, had switchbacks that crossed a steep upland drainage 4 times, and consisted of high density in sensitive uplands with karst features and highly erodible soils.
5. Mountain bike trail construction and use is inherently destructive to the environment compared to nature trail development, causing removal of native vegetation and increased levels of soil erosion and sedimentation of Gans Creek.
6. Development of mountain bike trails would effectively exclude other recreational users who favor a nature trail system due to competition between mountain bikers and hikers as has occurred in other communities with dual purpose trails.
7. Environmental groups propose to designate Gans Creek Nature Preserve (about 140 acres) within Gans Creek Recreation Area (about 320 acres) and limit development to uses that are compatible with the sensitive natural features, such as nature trails, and preserve and improve the core connectivity with Gans Creek Wild Area. Ecological restoration should be a focus of future management plans.

 

Tue. Apr. 1, 2025

Note from the President

by Lottie Bushmann

Spring has finally sprung!  I love seeing the daffodils and crocuses, along with all the buds on the trees. Bird activity has certainly picked up, and the migrants are continuing to drop in. I don’t know about you, but I’m ready for another migratory season of confusing and exhilarating bird song. Every year it takes me a few times to remember the migrants from last spring, but every year it comes back a little quicker. Don’t be daunted—pull out your Merlin and start hunting. You’re sure to find a jewel among the branches.

I hope that you’ll plan to make CAS events a part of your spring. We have a very different April general meeting. It will be held at Ellis Library, adjacent to the Museum of Art and Archaeology, where Dr. Alicia Dissinger will talk to us about her research into bird imagery on ancient pottery. We can test our skills with a visit into the museum immediately after her talk. She will be here on campus for two talks, and you’re invited to both! Check out the details (including where to park) on our website and in this month’s Chat.

We have fabulous field trip birding opportunities available as well, and I hope you can join us for one or all of them. Nothing improves birding skills quite like hanging out with an expert that can zero you in on the important details to notice. It’s also a great way to meet like-minded folks and perhaps meet a new friend that you might enjoy birding with.

We had a fantastic March meeting, with Isaac Breuer sharing with us all the native plant work they have done at the A. L. Gustin golf course on the MU campus. Plans are in the works for an evening field trip to bird the golf course with Isaac. Watch the Chat next month for details.

You may have noticed a lot of emails from Audubon asking for volunteers to help with invasives control at Wild Haven. We have a young man working with us (using funds from a donation for this purpose) and more folks makes for greater coverage. Wild Haven is a jewel of a property and looking better by the day. Thanks to all who’ve participated, and I want to encourage you to check it out if you’re so inclined.

Happy Spring! Hope to see you on the trail!

 

Mon. Mar. 3, 2025

Article with CAS Representing on the Big Business of Birding

by Allison Vaughn

Here’s a nice article several CAS members contributed to last year on the economic impact of birding:

https://www.missouribusinessalert.com/industries/booming-birding-business-spurs-spending-encourages-conservation-in-missouri/article_921f6230-e8c8-11ef-a458-3314da13ea2f.html

Upcoming Events

First Friday Bird Hike: 3M Wetlands

Friday, May 1, 2026 | 8:00 AM

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Kiwanis Park: Birding Without Bush Honeysuckle

Wednesday, May 6, 2026 | 7:00 AM to 9:00 AM

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Weeknight Social at Logboat Brewing Co.: Pre-Global Big Day Edition

Thursday, May 7, 2026 | 6:30 to 7:30 PM

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Global Big Day!

May 9, 2026

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May 2026 Potluck and Bird Walk at Bonnie View and CANS

Sunday, May 10, 2026 | Bird walk at 3:30 PM, Potluck at 5:30 PM

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First Friday Bird Hike: 3M Wetlands

Friday, June 5, 2026 | 8:00 AM

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