2025 Field Trips

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Contact Roger Boyd at rboydbird69@gmail.com or 785-424-0595 for more information.

In general, field trips last two hours, but participants are free to come and go any time. All trips are subject to change due to weather or scheduling conflicts.​​ Check our Facebook page for last-minute changes.

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OCTOBER FIELD TRIPS:

Oct. 8 (Wed.)  |  Burcham Park  | 8 a.m.

Meet in the main parking lot near the river. We will walk the road and trails in the park and to the north. Should be a variety of late warblers, perhaps a flycatcher and vireos and should be some early winter migrant sparrows. This area is also good for a variety of resident birds. We usually can see a variety of waterfowl and gulls along the river during this time. Since it is late in fall migration it is difficult to predict what we might find. Bring layers in case there is a chilly breeze.

 

Oct. 25 (Sat.)  |  Clinton Lake Dam and Model Airplane Field  |  8 a.m.

Meet on the dam at the pullout by the outlet tower. Focus will be on the identification of numerous waterfowl (geese, ducks, grebes, and loons) and gulls.  Once we have seen what we can we will travel to the south end of the dam and scope that area of the lake. Depending on cloud cover and wind the species diversity and abundance can vary greatly from one day to the next. From there we will go below the dam to the model airplane field and those wetlands. We will look primarily for a variety of sparrows and wrens. This is often a good time and location for LeConte’s, Nelson’s, Savannah, Song and Swamp Sparrows and possible American and Sprague’s Pipits. Both Marsh and Sedge Wrens should be present as well as Sora and Virginia Rails.

 

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NOVEMBER FIELD TRIPS:

Nov. 5 (Wed.)  |  Baker Wetlands Discovery Center  |  8 a.m. 

Meet in the parking lot at the Discovery Center.  We have a variety of directions to walk. We might walk the loop trails west of the Discovery Center or down the diagonal trail to the SW parking area, or we might start out east on the N. 1250 Rd trail.  The direction we take will largely depend on what has been seen recently, water levels, and the current weather, primarily the wind speed and direction.  We will focus on sparrows, blackbirds, wrens, finches and keep an eye to the sky for eagles, falcons, gulls and anything else that might be in the area. We expect to finish the field trip around 9:30 a.m.

 

Nov. 28 (Fri.)  |  BLACK FRIDAY ESCAPE at Clinton State Park  |  8 a.m. 

While some are searching for great buys in the stores we will take advantage of free entrance to the Clinton State Park. Meet at the Clinton Lake Visitor’s Center (872 N. 1402 Rd) parking lot. This is north of the dam, just south of the RV and boat storage.  There are many pine trees in the area and we will search for crossbills while waiting for others to arrive. When everyone has arrived we will go to the marina first to look for wintering ducks, gulls, possibly loons and grebes.  From the marina we will return to the main road and head west, perhaps stopping along the way but eventually ending up at the far west boat ramp. This is an excellent place for more wintering ducks, loons, and grebes, and occasionally gulls.

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DECEMBER FIELD TRIPS: 

Dec. 6 (Sat.)  |  Clinton Lake Dam and Model Airplane Field  |  8 a.m.  

Meet on the dam at the pullout by the outlet tower. Telescope available.  Focus will be on the identification of numerous waterfowl (geese, ducks, grebes, and loons) and potentially gulls. Once we have seen what we can we will travel to the south end of the dam and scope that area of the lake. Depending on cloud cover and wind the species diversity and abundance can vary greatly from one day to the next. From there we will go below the dam to the model airplane field and those wetlands. We will look primarily for a variety of sparrows, pipits and wrens.  This is often a good time and location for LeConte’s, White-crowned, Harris’s, Savannah, Song and Swamp Sparrows and possible American and Sprague’s Pipits. Both Marsh and Sedge Wrens could be present.

 

Dec. 14 (Sun.)  |  Baldwin Christmas Bird Count  |  All Day

Contact Calvin Cink: 

785-594-6546  ccinkbird76@gmail.com 

 

Dec. 16 (Tues.)  |  Linn County Christmas Bird Count  |  All Day 

Contact Roger Boyd: 

785-424-0595 rboydbird69@gmail.com

 

Dec. 20 (Sat.)  |  Lawrence Christmas Bird Count  |  All Day 

Contact Galen Pittman: 

785-760-3572 galenpitt@gmail.com