Field Trip: Scoping Miami & Linn Counties
Join us for a full-day birding adventure! Participants are welcome to come and go as schedules allow.
We’ll begin the morning scoping Hillsdale Reservoir before heading to the Paola Water Treatment Ponds in Miami County. From there, we’ll continue south to La Cygnes Lake in Linn County to search for waterfowl, gulls, grebes, and loons.
This is primarily a driving trip, though we expect to walk about one mile along paved and gravel roads near the Quail Run Campground at Hillsdale State Park. We’ll pause for lunch at the Casey’s Convenience Store in La Cygne, but you may also choose to grab food in Paola and meet us at Linn County Park in the afternoon. Bringing a sack lunch or snacks is also an option.
Be sure to bring optics, field guides, and dress for the weather—conditions by the water can often be cold and windy this time of year. Birders of all skill levels are welcome!
Meeting Location & Time:
Meet at Hillsdale State Park Shelter 1 (near the park entrance) at 8:00 a.m.
- A $5 daily vehicle permit is required if you do not have an annual Kansas State Park Pass (available at the self-pay station).
- Linn County Park also requires a $5 daily permit for stays longer than one hour. If we explore the south end of La Cygnes Lake, we’ll stop at the marina kiosk to purchase passes before continuing north.
Trip Leader: Malcolm Gold | 608-807-6086 or malcolmgold@gmail.com.
Featured Photo: Herring Gull by Malcolm Gold