Announcing Missouri’s 1st Guidelines for Conservation Siting of Energy Infrastructure

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Development of alternative and conventional energy is increasing in Missouri. Growth of wind and solar energy infrastructure and transmission is addressing the need for carbon-neutral, domestic energy production. However, many conservation groups and individuals are concerned about the potential, negative impacts of energy development facilities, transmission lines, and pipelines on the wildlife and remaining, intact … Read more

The Audubon Question

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“Audubon the Naturalist” Oil painting portrait of John James Audubon by John Woodhouse Audubon and Victor Gifford Audubon, 1848. Credit: American Museum of Natural History Library   A name that is unmistakable – Audubon. It is immediately associated with birds. Wild birds. Birds spectacularly illustrated by John James Audubon, after whom so many chapters and … Read more

Happy Birthday To Us!

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“Father of Burroughs”, Albert Shirling, author of “The Birds of Swope Park”, published in 1920. He passed away in October 1947 after spending 42 years in Kansas City.   April 15, 2019 was the official 100th anniversary of the founding of Burroughs Nature Club which later became Burroughs Audubon Society of Greater Kansas City. The … Read more

Our Club’s Namesake

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John Burroughs and Ida Tarbell in Roxbury, NY c. 1902 at the estate of Helen Shepherd (Gould), daughter of railroad magnate Jay Gould.   A most interesting item placed in our archives by past Burroughs librarian, Mary Conrad, is a photograph of John Burroughs taken around 1902 when he was 65 years old. Burroughs was … Read more

The Father of Burroughs Nature Club

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Albert Shirling with a young Turkey Vulture, ready for its closeup. Notice that Mr. Shirling had the foresight to wear an apron–vultures are notoriously messy birds!   Albert Shirling (1875-1947) was a teacher and naturalist who lived in Kansas City for over 40 years and was one of the founding members of Burroughs Nature Club. … Read more

World of Nature Coca-Cola Memorabilia

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The “World of Nature” cards were produced during the years 1929 to 1933, and there were 8 different sets of 12 cards each.   Unless you’re an avid collector of Coca-Cola memorabilia, you probably don’t know that the company once created a beautiful series of educational nature cards! The series was designed by Ernest R. … Read more

Bridges Built to Last

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Upland Sandpiper by wildlife artist, biologist, author, conservationist, and filmmaker, Charles Schwartz (1914-1991). Schwartz’s career with the Missouri Department of Conservation lasted for thirty-nine years.   BAS President, Mary Nemecek, recently explained how our Audubon chapter helped both the Missouri Department of Conservation (MDC) and the Missouri Prairie Foundation (MPF) purchase and preserve two great … Read more

An Early Christmas Bird Count

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“Marsh Hawk” is now known as Northern Harrier; “Sparrow Hawk” is an American Kestrel.   Here is a record of one of the first winter bird counts ever taken by our club–December 19, 1920. Some notable folks participated in this event! Albert Shirling had just published his book “The Birds of Swope Park” earlier that … Read more

Flyers to protect fliers

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Front side of tri-fold sheet. Have you ever heard Snowy Owls described as “friendly”? One of my favorites, the Kestrel, made the cover.   We enjoy a lot of raptor sightings during these bleak winter months, but it has been a struggle for decades to save these birds from extermination. (For more details, see my … Read more

CBC Can Also Mean ‘Cold Bird Count’

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Kansas City Star article from January 1979 recounting the season’s Kansas City CBCs in late December.   Recent frigid temperatures made me think of the conditions endured by BAS members performing the Kansas City Christmas Bird Counts in December 1978! The Kansas City Star published two articles by Lynn Cheatum about that event: “Bird Counters … Read more