ASM fall and spring meetings are the highlight of the birding year for many.
Read about the next meeting below. Registration will be available at least 30 days prior to the meeting.
**Field Trips**
SAT AM
Full Day Shawnee Trail CA, Prairie State Park (PSP), and Bushwhacker CA - Easy
Shawnee Trail, an IBA, has lots of grasslands, woodlands, a few lakes. Facilities at the main lake. PSP, another IBA, is a large prairie with bison and elk, plus a park-like woodland in the northwest corner, with facilities. Bushwhacker CA has over 4700 acres of grasslands and riparian woodlands and a couple of lakes. Primitive facilities available. Very little hiking required. Most of our spring migrants, flycatchers, vireos, and warblers should be present. We’ll leave from La Quinta Inn at 6:30 a.m. and return by 4 p.m. Box lunch should be ordered as there are no nearby restaurants.
Full Day Stoney Point / Golden Prairies IBA, Golden City/Lockwood Area, Barton County, MO - Easy
There are several prairies in this area that may be visited. Among them are Golden Prairie, Dorris Creek Prairie CA., Wah-Kon-Tah Prairie CA, and Cook’s Meadow. We may be able to find Upland Sandpiper and Henslow’s Sparrow, and possibly even Greater Prairie-Chicken. Some easy hiking, so bring appropriate foot gear and lots of insect repellant. We’ll leave La Quinta Inn at 6:30 a.m. and return by 4 p.m. Lunch and facilities will be at Cooky’s Café in Golden City.
Full Day Roaring River State Park, near Cassville, MO - Moderate
Roaring River is an IBA and is one of the best spots in the state for both migrating and nesting warblers. There is a wide variety of habitats including upland oak/hickory forest, riparian forest, dolomite glade w/ seeps, Ozarkian stream, and the 20th largest spring in the state. The main feature of the park is the trout hatchery. There are numerous trails of varying lengths and difficulty. Other amenities include restrooms, a store, a restaurant, and a nature center. Some of the species we should encounter are Painted Bunting; Blue Grosbeak; Prairie, Blue-winged, Hooded, Kentucky, and Yellow-throated warblers; Summer and Scarlet Tanager; and several vireo and flycatcher species, just to name a few. You can order a box lunch, bring your own, or eat at the restaurant at the lodge. We will leave from La Quinta Inn at 6 a.m. and return around 4 p.m.
Full Day Schell-Osage CA, Vernon County, MO - Easy
Schell-Osage is a large wetland complex operated by the Missouri Department of Conservation and is part of an IBA, along with near-by Four Rivers CA. Waterfowl and shorebirds are the main attraction here, but we should see a wide variety of species. Some other species we should see include nesting Bald Eagles, all the woodpeckers, waders, and migrant and resident passerines. Habitats include wetlands, Osage River bottomland forest, upland oak/hickory forest, and a stand of pines. Most of the birding will be done by vehicle and along the roads, but there will be some walking. The only amenities are primitive restrooms. Bring or order a box lunch. If time permits, this trip may also include Taberville Prairie and/or Four Rivers CA. Depart from La Quinta Inn at 6 a.m. and return by 4 p.m.
Full Day MSSU Wetland and Frisco Greenway Trail - Easy
This trip involves easy walking. Bring insect repellant as well as your binoculars. Spring migrants as well as our resident passerines should be found. We’ll leave from La Quinta Inn at 1 p.m. and return by 4 p.m. Facilities at the university or nearby fast food restaurant.
Half Day Diamond Grove Prairie CA and George Washington Carver National Monument - Easy
Some easy hiking planned. Bring insect repellant as well as your binoculars. This hike features both prairie and oak woodland, so spring migrants should be present. There will be facilities and a very nice visitor’s center at the George Washington Carver National Monument. We’ll leave from La Quinta Inn at 7:30 a.m. and return by noon.
Half Day Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center, Reding’s Mill to Center - Easy
This hike of less than two miles is easy walking with some gravel and some paved trails. We’ll start from La Quinta Inn at 7:30 a.m., car pool to Redings Mill Bridge, then take the north trail along Shoal Creek and hike back to WGC&AC. Lots of spring migrants should be found along this riparian stream. Other habitats experienced will include chert glade and savanna. This is a great spot for migrating and resident passerines, and Yellow-crowned Night Heron nest in the area. We’ll leave from La Quinta Inn at 7:30 and return by 11:30 a.m., depending on how the birding is! Facilities at the WCG&AC.
Half Day Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center, Wildcat Glade and Bluff Trail - Moderate
This trip includes the Wildcat Glades Natural Area. We will hike along the chert bluff overlooking Shoal Creek, then explore a chert glade. Both the bluff and the glade are composed of some of the thickest layers of solid chert in the world, and are globally unique habitats. The bluff affords beautiful views of Shoal Creek and great looks at passerines at tree-top level. Ticks are thick, so be sure to take proper precautions. We will leave from La Quinta Inn at 7:30 a.m. and return around 11:30 a.m. We will also visit the WCG&AC nature center if time allows.
SAT PM
Full Day Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center, Wildcat Glade and Bluff Trail - Easy
We will hike along the chert bluff overlooking Shoal Creek, then explore a chert glade. Both the bluff and the glade are composed of some of the thickest layers of solid chert in the world, and are globally unique habitats. The bluff affords beautiful views of Shoal Creek and great looks at passerines at tree-top level. Ticks are thick, so be sure to take proper precautions. We will leave from La Quinta Inn at 1 p.m. and return around 4 p.m. We will also visit the WCG&AC nature center if time allows.
Half Day MSSU Wetland and Frisco Greenway Trail - Easy
This trip involves easy walking. Bring insect repellant as well as your binoculars. Spring migrants as well as our resident passerines should be found. We’ll leave from La Quinta Inn at 7:30 a.m. and return by noon. Facilities at the university or nearby fast food restaurant.
Half Day Diamond Grove Prairie CA and George Washington Carver National Monument - Easy
Some easy hiking planned. Bring insect repellant as well as your binoculars. This hike features both prairie and oak woodland, so spring migrants should be present. There will be facilities and a very nice visitor’s center at the George Washington Carver National Monument. We’ll leave from La Quinta Inn at 1 p.m. and return by 4 p.m.
Half Day Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center, Reding’s Mill to Center - Easy
This trip includes the Wildcat Glades Natural Area. This hike of less than two miles is easy walking with some gravel and some paved trails. We’ll start from La Quinta Inn at 1 p.m., car pool to Redings Mill Bridge, then take the north trail along Shoal Creek and hike back to WGC&AC. Lots of spring migrants should be found along this riparian stream. Other habitats experienced will include chert glade and savanna. This is a great spot for migrating and resident passerines, and Yellow-crowned Night Heron nest in the area. We’ll leave from La Quinta Inn at 1 p.m. and return by 4 p.m., depending on how the birding is! Facilities at the WCG&AC.
Half Day Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center, Wildcat Glade and Bluff Trail - Moderate
We will hike along the chert bluff overlooking Shoal Creek, then explore a chert glade. Both the bluff and the glade are composed of some of the thickest layers of solid chert in the world, and are globally unique habitats. The bluff affords beautiful views of Shoal Creek and great looks at passerines at tree-top level. Ticks are thick, so be sure to take proper precautions. We will leave from La Quinta Inn at 1 p.m. and return around 4 p.m. We will also visit the WCG&AC nature center if time allows.
SUN AM
Half Day Diamond Grove Prairie and Tipton Ford Access - Easy
Some light hiking is required. Bring insect repellant and binoculars. Spring migrants are expected. We’ll leave La Quinta Inn at 7:30 a.m. and be back by 11 a.m. There are facilities at a convenience store located at the junction of Highway 71 and Gateway Drive.
Half Day Wildcat Glades Conservation and Audubon Center, Reding’s Mill to Center - Easy
This hike of less than two miles is easy walking with some gravel and some paved trails. We’ll start from La Quinta Inn at 7:30 a.m., car pool to Redings Mill Bridge, then take the north trail along Shoal Creek and hike back to WGC&AC. Lots of spring migrants should be found along this riparian stream. Other habitats experienced will include chert glade and savanna. This is a great spot for migrating and resident passerines, and Yellow-crowned Night Heron nest in the area. We’ll leave from La Quinta Inn at 7:30 a.m. and return by 11:30 a.m. Facilities at the WCG&AC.
Half Day MSSU Wetland and Frisco Greenway Trail - Easy
Easy walking is planned. Bring insect repellant as well as your binoculars. Spring migrants as well as our resident passerines should be found. We’ll leave from La Quinta Inn at 7:30 a.m. and return by 11:30 a.m. Facilities at the university or nearby fast food restaurant.
Half Day Southeast Kansas Nature Center, Galena, KS - Easy
This wonderful spot is in Schermerhorn Park on the south side of Galena, just across the state line along Shoal Creek. This stop includes short trails through upland oak/hickory forest, a small savanna/grassland, and the entrance to Schermerhorn Cave. There is also some riparian and grassland habitat on State owned land on the south side of Shoal Creek. Birds we may expect to see include Yellow-throated, Prothonotary, and Parula Warblers; Fish Crow; Kingfisher; all the woodpecker species; and migrating passerines.
This is also the best spot in Kansas to see Black Vultures. We’ll leave from La Quinta Inn at 7:30 a.m. and return by 11:30 a.m. Facilities at the nature center.
FRI
Half Day Joplin Area Lagoons - Easy
The Joplin area has four Wastewater Treatment Plants.
They are Shoal Creek, Turkey Creek, Webb City’s Center Creek, and Carl Junction. No hiking required. We’ll leave from the La Quinta at 3 p.m. and return by 5:30 p.m. Migrant ducks should be present.
Participants may register for the meeting when they return.