Birding - education and monitoring

We're long-time birders who share a deep fascination with birds themselves and their role in our ecosystems. We're also gardeners and orchardists who recognize that birds can sometimes come into conflict with people!

Our backgrounds as keen observers of nature and as data-driven scientists have led us to explore various interesting questions about bird populations and their interactions with human endeavors. For example, how do Chimney Swifts choose urban roosting sites? What role does agriculture play in the growth or decline of different birds?

We're also dedicated to public outreach and education, through teaching introductory birding classes, leading public field trips, writing articles, and more.

Birds in big numbers

We're fascinated by the spectacle of birds in big numbers. Beyond the awe inspired by thousands or even millions of birds gathered together, there are complex and interesting questions that such dense concentrations raise. For example, are the massive numbers of Snow Geese shown here a conservation success story of restoring once-devastated waterfowl populations, or are they a cautionary tale about the role of agriculture and hunting in favoring some kinds of birds (grain-eating waterfowl) over others (seed/insect-eating grassland birds)?

We used data analysis and personal experience to write a series of articles in an Audubon newsletter exploring various "birds in big numbers" situations, later consolidating our thoughts in a talk for the Missouri River Bird Observatory and an article for the Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative.

Overwintering Trumpeter Swans increasing in Missouri

Bird in big numbers - Introduction to a series

Birds in big numbers - Broad-winged Hawk migration

Birds in big numbers - Flocks of blackbirds and starlings

Birds in big numbers - Migratory Chimney Swift roosts

Birds in Big Numbers: 2023 webinar for the Missouri River Bird Observatory Winter Learning Series

Going against the grain: Lessons from studying birds in big numbers: Missouri Bird Conservation Initiative Newsletter,. 2023.

Rapid increase in Trumpeter Swan reports in Missouri over time

Migrating Broad-winged Hawks peak in late September in Missouri.

Monitoring projects

Winter blackbird roosts

In early 2020 we discovered a massive winter blackbird roost previously unknown to the birding community. At least 2 million birds gather nightly in this field of miscanthus, an uncommon biomass crop that seems to mimic the structure of wetl,and vegetation. We have been monitoring, reporting on, and raising awareness of this site ever since. In late 2024, the Cornell Lab of Ornithology sent a world-renowned videographer and accompanying sound recordist to document this spectacle.

Millions of blackbirds at a winter roost in miscanthus fields (peer-reviewed report in The Bluebird, Missouri Birding Society, September 2020)

Massive blackbird flocks gather at winter roost site (YouTube video, February 2023)

Requiem for a roost: crop harvest displaces millions of blackbirds (YouTube video, February 2023

Large winter blackbird roosts in central Missouri: 2024–2025 update on an “ornithological spectacle” (The Rectrix, newsletter of the Missouri River Bird Observatory, Vol 15-1, spring 2025)

Urban Chimney Swifts

We have been monitoring the behavior of migratory and resident Chimney Swifts in central Missouri, especially with regard to their complex decision-making regarding the choice of roost chimneys. Our observations have shown that swift behavior is fascinatingly complex. For example, during fall migration, we observed swifts making varying and unpredictable use of at least ten different chimneys in a single urban area, of varying sizes, heights, and ages. Chimney use during migration was also spread out over a wider date range than suggested by previous eBird data.

The US Fish & Wildlife Service provided funding for our 2024 monitoring and a subsequent swift-watching event for the public. We have also organized several other Audubon field trips aimed at raising awareness of the magnificent spectacle formed by hundreds of migrating swifts circling, tornado-like, around their chosen chimney before swiftly descending in to roost as darkness falls.

Public education/outreach

We've developed and led a series of themed field trips for the Columbia Audubon Society, including:

  • Birding without Binoculars

  • Millions of Blackbirds at a Boone County Roost

  • Invasive Plant Bingo and Birding at Garth Nature Area

  • Chimney Swift Roost Watch

  • Swift Night Out: A Tour of Bird-Friendly Chimneys in Downtown Columbia

  • Rocheport Katy Trail Evening Bird Walk

  • Hundred Acre Woods: Joint field trip with the Native Plant Society

  • Slow Birding at Wild Haven Nature Area

Other Audubon walks we’ve led include:

  • First Day Hike at Rock Bridge Memorial State Park

  • Nightjars at Rocky Fork Lakes Conservation Area

  • Twilight Timberdoodle Trek

Wild Haven Nature Area, map development and formatting:

Self-guided Moss Walk at Wild Haven Nature Area. Developed and written by Louise Flenner; mapping, formatting, and editing by Ozark Outsider:

Basic birding skills class, taught through Columbia Area Career Center, offered annually in April 2015-2018.

Other projects include:

Presentations

  • Birds in Big Numbers: webinar for the Missouri River Bird Observatory Winter Learning Series (YouTube recording)

  • Introduction to Bird Song: July 2018, Daniel Boone Regional Library (Columbia) and April 2019, Burroughs Audubon (Kansas City)

Publications