Burroughs Audubon Society

American Woodcocks at Jerry Smith Park
2026-03-11 18:45 - 20:00 (America/Chicago) | Jerry Smith Park Trailhead Parking Lot, 13493 Prospect Ave, Kansas City, MO, 64146
Join us as we meet just before sunset in search of American Woodcocks! These birds generally display near the parking lot and along the trails of the prairie near the parking lot. The temperature tends to fall rapidly at dark; please dress for the weather and bring a flashlight as a short walk along the trail is possible. Meet at the Jerry Smith Trailhead Parking lot at the top of the ridge for a short 15-minute presentation about the aerial displays and courtship behavior of these birds. Feel free to arrive at 7:00 PM if you have already heard the presentation. Master naturalists who attend for the first time get 1 hour of advanced training for the talk and viewing.
Directions: From Holmes Rd, turn EAST at 139th St and travel approximately a mile to the 2nd drive on the LEFT; the first drive goes to a private residence. The park sign can’t be seen coming from this direction. From I-49, take the Main St. exit and turn WEST. Drive through downtown Grandview and across the railroad tracks to the first street on your LEFT. This is 2nd St. Turn LEFT and travel approximately 2 miles to the park entrance; the sign can be seen coming from this direction. The road does wind around and change names until it becomes 139th St.
Your leader for this trip is Sherry Leonardo (816/718-5888 or home172@aol.com). There are NO make-up dates. These programs are very weather-dependent. Any cancellation will be posted on Burroughs website by 3 pm day of the program. Please be sure to dress appropriately-it tends to be colder than people expect.
Featured Image: American Woodcock by Robert Hamilton

Field Trip: Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary
2026-03-14 09:00 - 12:00 | Martha Lafite Thompson Nature Sanctuary, 407 N La Frenz Rd, Liberty, MO, 64068
Join us for a walk around the nature sanctuary as we look for early spring migrants and year-round residents. The last time our group visited this property we saw a mating pair of Coopers Hawks building a nest. We’re hopeful that we’ll find them again. Meet at the parking lot outside of the visitor center at 9 AM. Wear sturdy hiking shoes, as this hike is on dirt trails. Please bring binoculars – there will be a few extra to share.
Leader: Sally Urdang — urdang.sal@gmail.com | 816-565-1839
Featured Image: Juvenile Cooper’s Hawk by Jason Kandume

Field Trip: Blue Springs Wetlands
2026-03-20 09:00 - 12:00 | Blue Springs Lake & Wetlands, MO
Join us at the wetlands as we look for early Spring migrants, year-round residents, waterfowl and shorebirds. Anticipate walking in grass and on dirt paths. Meet at the parking lot below the dam and we will walk down to the wetlands. Please bring binoculars – there will be a few extra to share.
Leader: Sally Urdang — urdang.sal@gmail.com | 816-565-1839
Featured Image: Wood Duck by Harry Collins

Field Trip: Tomahawk Park
2026-03-27 08:00 - 11:00 | Tomahawk Park, 3951 W 119th St, Leawood, KS, 66209, United States
We’ll meet at 8 am at the parking lot south of 119th between Roe and Mission in Leawood for a leisurely walk along the multi-use paved trails. We will be looking for winter visitors like Kinglets, Creepers, and Sparrows and year round residents. We may find some early spring migrants returning as well. We plan to walk a couple of miles out and back from the parking lot heading south towards I-Lan park. This trip is expected to last a couple hours and be done by 11am.

Malcolm Gold is the trip leader and questions can be directed to him at malcolmgold@gmail.com. Individuals of all experience and skill levels are welcome to attend. Malcolm will have a couple of extra binoculars with if you are brand new to birding and would like to borrow them for a couple of hours.

Field Trip: Weston Bend State Park
2026-03-28 07:30 - 12:00 | Weston Bend State Park, 16600 MO-45, Weston, MO, 64098, United States
Join us at Weston Bend State Park for this half-day of birding at an official Great Missouri Birding Trail. We will look for early Spring migrants and year-round residents. Meet at the entrance to the park and drive to our first destination together. We’ll walk both paved and dirt paths. Wear sturdy hiking shoes and bring your binoculars-there will be a few extra to share.

Leader: Sally Urdang — urdang.sal@gmail.com | 816-565-1839
Featured Image: Cedar Waxwing by Jesse Gordon

Field Trip: Marais des Cygnes Wildlife Area
2026-04-11 07:00 - 15:00 | La Cygne Reservoir and Wildlife Area
We’ll meet at 7am at the parking lot in front of Price Shopper near 119th and Metcalf in Overland Park to carpool south along 69 to Linn County. This trip will likely last until the afternoon and it is recommended that you bring snacks, lunch, and/or water along in the car. We’ll plan to drive south and stop at Unit F and walk approximately a mile along the trail to the south end of West unit to look at shorebirds. The trail is grass covered and can be muddy. Boots and appropriate footwear is highly recommended as is spring them and pants with permethrin ahead of time to help mitigate ticks and chiggers. From Unit F we will likely visit Unit C, Unit E, or Unit G for additional scoping of shorebirds. Where we go will depend on water levels and conditions. If the water levels are not conducive for shorebirds in Linn County but are elsewhere (Perry, Clinton, or Hillsdale) the destination may be changed near the trip and could include a $5 Kansas State park entrance fee if you do not have an annual pass.

Malcolm Gold is the trip leader and questions can be directed to him at malcolmgold@gmail.com. Individuals of all experience and skill levels are welcome to attend. Malcolm will have a couple of extra binoculars with if you are brand new to birding and would like to borrow them for a couple of hours.

Field Trip: Forest Hill Cemetery
2026-04-12 09:00 - 12:00, 2026-05-31 09:00 - 12:00 | Forest Hill Cemetery, 6901 Troost Ave, Kansas City, MO, 64131, United States
Join us at this 160-acre property in the middle of urban KC. We will walk the roads that weave through the cemetery, visiting graves of famous Kansas Citians while we bird. We will look for Spring migrants, resident Red-Headed Woodpeckers and Great Horned Owls, as well as Warblers and other songbirds. Meet at the cemetery office. Wear good walking shoes and bring your binoculars-there will be a few extra to share.

Leader: Sally Urdang — urdang.sal@gmail.com | 816-565-1839
Featured Photo: Great Horned Owl by Brian Kushner

Field Trip: Charlotte Sawyer Nature Area
2026-04-26 09:00 - 11:00 | Charlotte Sawyer Nature Area, 6075 NW Union Chapel Road, Parkville, MO, 64152, United States
Join us at CSNA, a property managed and maintained by the Platte Land Trust. We will look for Vireos, Warblers, Summer Tanagers, Indigo Buntings and other Spring migrants. Meet at the parking lot as you enter the property. Wear sturdy shoes-all walking is done on dirt paths and uneven ground. Wear good hiking shoes and bring your binoculars-there will be a few extra to share.
Leader: Sally Urdang — urdang.sal@gmail.com | 816-565-1839
Featured Image: Summer Tanager by Doug Greenberg

Field Trip: Blue River Parkway
2026-05-01 07:30 - 11:00 | Blue River Parkway, 11420 Blue River Road, Kansas City, MO, 64131
Join us as we conduct a spring bird census along the Blue River. We’ll search for migrant and year-round residents that use this riparian habitat. This census assists KC WildLands and their mission of preserving the natural communities around Kansas City. This census counts toward volunteer hours for Master Naturalists.

Your leader for this trip is Don Arney. Meet at 7:30 a.m. at the Minor Park tennis courts parking lot. We’ll walk the hiking/biking trails along the Blue River, approx. 2 miles. Trail conditions can be very muddy, depending on precipitation and temperature. Watch this page for weather/cancellation updates, and feel welcome to contact Don at 22sora@gmail.com with any questions.

Featured Image: Black-throated Green Warbler by Tim Lenz

Field Trip: Longview Lake
2026-05-02 08:00 - 11:00 | Longview Lake Shelter 11
Join us as we venture around the lake both by car and by foot. We will look for Flycatchers, Vireos and other Spring migrants, as well as waterfowl. Meet at Shelter #11 and walk the Longview Lake Greenway as well as down to the lake. We’ll get back in our cars to travel to other shelters as well as the Marina. Wear walking shoes-we’ll be walking paved and dirt paths. Bring your binoculars-there will be a few extra to share.
Leader: Sally Urdang — urdang.sal@gmail.com | 816-565-1839
Featured Image: White-eyed Vireo by Jukka Jantunen

Field Trip: Jerry Smith Park
2026-05-06 07:30 - 10:00 | Jerry Smith Park Trailhead Parking Lot, 13493 Prospect Ave, Kansas City, MO, 64146
The 15th Annual Spring Migration Bird Census at Jerry Smith Park will take place on Wednesday, May 6, beginning at 7:30 a.m.
We’ll walk the park during peak migration, searching for warblers, vireos, flycatchers, sparrows, orioles, and tanagers. Indigo Buntings are likely, and with a bit of luck, a Blue Grosbeak or two may make an appearance.
Please bring water, a snack, insect repellent, and sunscreen. Birders of all skill and experience levels are welcome and encouraged to attend. This census supports KC Wildlands and their ongoing land stewardship efforts throughout the Kansas City metro area. Participation also counts toward Master Naturalist volunteer hours.
The census will be led by Sherry Leonardo. For questions, she can be reached at home172@aol.com.

Field Trip: Heartland Overlook Preserve
2026-05-23 08:00 - 11:00
Join us at the Heartland Overlook Preserve (HOP) along the Blue River Corridor in Kansas City. This nature preserve is 40 acres, and is a high-point in the area. We will look for Spring migrants, like Flycatchers, Vireos and Warblers. Anticipate walking on off-camber trails. We’ll meet at the parking area at the top of the property. We will travel to Lake Alex George at 11am, looking for waterfowl and kingfishers. Wear good hiking shoes and bring your binoculars-there will be a few extra to share.
Note: The Heartland Conservation Alliance asks for anyone wanting to attend this event to register. You can register here for free.
Leader: Sally Urdang — urdang.sal@gmail.com | 816-565-1839
Featured Image: Yellow Warbler by Jesse Gordon

Field Trip: Marais Des Cygnes National Wildlife Refuge
2026-06-13 08:00 - 16:00
Join us for this all-day field trip South of the city to this NWR, full of bottomland hardwood forests. We will be on the lookout for Orioles, Meadowlarks, Vireos, Bobwhite and birds of prey. Meet at the visitor center. We will also travel to York road and other accessible points within the refuge. Once we complete our birding on the refuge, we’ll travel West across the highway to Marais Des Cygnes Waterfowl Area (state property) and visit a few moist soil units on the property. Bring a sack lunch. Be prepared to be walking on uneven ground throughout our trip. We’ll travel to each area by car but otherwise be on foot. Bring binoculars-there will be a few extra to share.
Leader: Sally Urdang — urdang.sal@gmail.com | 816-565-1839
Featured Image: Northern Bobwhite by Stephen Pollard

Field Trip: Baker Wetlands
2026-06-19 08:30 - 12:00 | Baker Wetlands, 1365 N 1250 Rd, Lawrence, KS, 66046, United States
Join us for this field trip to the beautiful wetlands outside of Lawrence, KS. We’re on the lookout for shorebirds, songbirds, waterfowl and other interesting species, like Grosbeaks and Bitterns. Meet at the Discovery Center (closed on Saturdays). Paths are made of peat gravel and there are wooden bridges to cross. Expect lots of walking. Bring binoculars-there will be a few extra to share.
Leader: Sally Urdang — urdang.sal@gmail.com | 816-565-1839
Featured Image: Blue Grosbeak by James Diehl

Field Trip: Loess Bluffs NWR
2026-06-20 09:00 - 15:00 | loess bluffs wildlife refuge, 159 State Hwy E, Mound City, MO, 64470
Join us for this all-day field trip North of the city to this iconic National Wildlife Refuge, full of moist soil units (wetlands) with an auto-tour route around the property. We’ll be looking for Egret, Bobwhite, blackbirds, Pelicans and more. Travel time is approximately 1.5 hours from KC, so plan accordingly. Meet at the visitor center. Bring a sack lunch-we’ll eat at noon. After lunch we’ll hike the dirt trail behind the visitor center, looking for species like Wood Thrush, Cedar Waxwing, Cuckoo and Vireo. The hike portion of this trip is moderately difficult with rigorous ascents. Wear hiking shoes and prepare for hot weather. Bring binoculars-there will be a few extra to share.
Leader: Sally Urdang — urdang.sal@gmail.com | 816-565-1839
Featured Image: Great Egret by Jerry Amende
