Photos by Ava Kitzi

In the spirit of Earth Day, you might seek ways to connect with the environment. Especially in the springtime, take a moment to absorb the beauty of our city’s landscapes, winding trails, and beautiful parks. Appreciating nature can help center yourself in times of stress. A great way to not only appreciate nature but give back to it is by bird-watching.

Bird-watching is a moderately popular pastime in the United States, with three in 10 Americans engaging in the activity, according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Bird-watching can range anywhere from simply observing the robins and blue jays in your backyard to joining a club or organization such as the Columbia Audubon Society.

Established in 1958, CAS serves six mid-Missouri counties: Boone, Audrain, Cooper, Monroe, Howard, and Randolph. But the organization is so much more than merely watching birds. At its core, CAS is a group of like-minded individuals with passions for birding and habitat restoration.

In March, the CAS will be awarded Conservation Organization of the Year by the Conservation Federation of Missouri. This is an annual, statewide recognition given to one organization that displays outstanding efforts in conservation and environmental activism.

Despite its small size of around 100 members, CAS has raised significant funding for habitat restoration, education, and upkeep of Columbia’s nature scene. CAS is composed entirely of volunteers with a mission to “preserve the natural world and its ecosystems, focusing on birds and other wildlife,” according to its website.

CAS is about extending care toward your environment and the creatures who inhabit it. Their conservation efforts, from fundraising to educating, keep Columbia a lush sanctuary for birds.

Lottie Bushmann, CAS president, encourages anyone looking to get in touch with nature to try out bird-watching. Whether you want to be involved in conservation efforts, join a birding group, or just keep an eye out for birds in your yard, this is your guide to birding.

Make Your Backyard Bird-Friendly

Bird feeders are the obvious choice to attract birds to your backyard, but the seed you choose is vital. Birdseed can be purchased anywhere; if you are hoping to see any type of birds enjoying the feeder, millet, the cheapest bird seed, will work perfectly! But if you want to see rare species, Songbird Station has a wide variety of seeds for your feeders. The better the quality of seed, the greater variety of birds you will see.

Even more effective than a feeder is a bird bath. Bushmann has a heated bird bath that provides comfort to the birds in winter. The water is both for drinking and for warmth, like a jacuzzi! Heated bird baths can range upward of $50, but the water is essentially a non-expense. Bushmann has used the same bird bath for over a decade and says the rare and unique species of birds it attracts justifies the cost. Bushmann says she may see over 22 different species in a day at her bird feeders and bath.

Join the Columbia Audubon Society

Columbia is a vibrant community of birders. Find like-minded individuals who share your passion for the environment at the Columbia Audubon Society. CAS membership ranges in levels with annual fees:

• Individual ($25)
• Family ($40)
• Donor ($60)
• Friend ($300)

Seniors and students can join for $15 per year. Family, Donor, and Friend levels include voting rights on CAS decisions, but all members contribute in research to national bird counts, manage nature areas, and plan field trips. CAS is also a Partner Friend of Columbia Public Schools. Membership dues contribute to scholarship funds and efforts to bring wildlife studies and ecology into classrooms.“ The majority of people (in CAS) are in Columbia. It’s a very active, dynamic group,” Bushmann says. “We want to be with like-minded people.(Joining Audubon) helps us care more, because if we care about the birds, we care more about the Earth.”

Connect with the Community

If you are not looking for a paid membership, no worries!The public is welcome to attend CAS meetings, which include guest speakers and talks on wildlife conservation.Afterward, a meeting is held only for society members. CAS’s First Friday Walks, an outreach effort throughSongbird Station, are open to all and are great examples of how welcoming bird-watching with a group can be. In over three years, CAS has not missed a single First Friday.These walks take place at theForum Nature Area, the 3MFlat Branch-Hinkson Creek Wetlands and MKT trailheads.“Going with a lot of people is great because you have more eyes watching,” Bushmann says. “I love showing a bird to somebody who’s never seen it before. It’s a really satisfying, exciting part of my job.”The First Friday walks are excellent ways to connect with the bird-watching community and get involved in conservation efforts. If you are a beginner birder, you can surround yourself with more experienced bird-watchers who can identify unique species of birds and give you tips on your birding journey.

Research Trustworthy Sources

Bushmann says Cornell University is the foremost authority on birds and anything from that source can be taken as fact. The university’s Lab of Ornithology is a great resource that can be accessed through their website, ebird.org. Ebird can help track your bird watching progress, give tips on whereto find rare species and allow you to connect with fellow birders around the world.Another great resource isMerlin, an app Bushmann calls “Shazam for birds.”With Merlin, you can submit audio recordings of bird songs in your backyard and the app will identify the bird by sound. Merlin is attached to Ebird and can identify birds by audio or photo with additional input from the use regarding location and season.Merlin and Ebird are excellent research tools for birders.

Why Birding?

In the season of Earth day, take the time to connect with the environment and appreciate the wide variety of birds that call Columbia home. In any of Columbia’s many trails and parks, you may see bald eagles, red-tailed hawks, cardinals, sparrows and more. Paying attention to the beautiful wildlife in our city reminds us of the importance of conserving our environment. Birding is also an excellent way to step out of your comfort zone and meet new people. CAS is a welcoming community; anyone with an interest in the environment is encouraged to attend their bird walks, meetings or field trips. CAS is composed of stewards of the environment who enjoy getting out in nature; there are no baseline skills required to join.“(Birding) gets you out in nature,” Bushmann says. “It’s pretty conclusive that it’s good for your mental health. It’s away to build friendships.”Whether you want to join the community, are interested in conservation or just want to watch birds from the comfort of your backyard,CAS is an excellent resource to get started on your birding journey.