8:00 a.m.

These two properties located southeast of Columbia are active sites of agricultural and horticultural research, but they also include habitat features that attract interesting birds. Recent finds include White-winged Scoter, Red Crossbill, Smith’s Longspur, Short-eared Owl, and Ferruginous Hawk. During November, we can expect to find ducks and other waterbirds, raptors, sparrows, blackbirds, and grassland species.

We will meet at the commuter parking lot at US 63 and Route AC and form carpools of vehicles equipped with permits that  allow us to enter these restricted areas. We’ll start birding around the fishing lake and other areas at South Farm,  then we’ll drive  to Bradford Farm and look for birds on the ponds and in crop fields, and grassland and shrubland habitats.

We’ll depart from the AC/63 commuter lot (map) promptly at 8 AM and return before noon.  We will bird on foot on level grass or gravel surfaces and bird from cars on rural roads. Restrooms will not be available.

This trip will be led by John Besser (jbesser1@gmail.com).