Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary - Spring Tour

Information on spring insects and birds.

Tour Information
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Tour Stops
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Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary - Spring Tour

Columbia, Missouri 65203, United States

Created By: Donna Brunet

Tour Information

Welcome to the Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary. Learn about spring insects and birds from sixteen points of interest along approximately one mile of trails through woodlands and prairie grasses.

Exits along the nature sanctuary trails provide access to additional city trails.

Some tour stops have multiple photos; swipe to see all of the photos. Tap on each photo to view the entire image instead of a partial thumbnail.


Tour Map

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What You'll See on the Tour

Each yellow sign represents a tour stop in PocketSigns. The first tour stop with important information for all visitors is just ahead near the kiosk. The tour is 1 mile; the app calculated 0.7 miles by walking in a straight line between po... Read more
We love dogs! But we don't want them on our trails - even on a leash. Wildlife views dogs - even friendly, leashed dogs - as predators and will leave the immediate area. Studies have shown that the impact of dogs on trails extends 100 meter... Read more
Pawpaw trees are native understory trees that bloom in March and April. The flowers are pollinated by blowflies and carrion beetles and produce fruit that is eaten by wildlife, including raccoons and squirrels.  Pawpaws are the only host ... Read more
Search in this area (on the right side of the trail if walking counter-clockwise) for the tree lying on the ground in photo #1. Follow the purple arrow to the standing tree and examine the trunk approximately 10-20' up to view scars from sa... Read more
Rocks on the trail ahead mark an intermittent stream crossing; approach damp areas anywhere along the trail slowly and quietly and watch for butterflies puddling - slurping up nutrients from the ground. Puddling butterflies are usually male... Read more
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Bridge over Scott's Branch. There are two trail loops on the other side of the bridge for a combined half-mile walk with 5 tour stops. Those loops will return you to this bridge where you will then continue this tour to the parking lot. ... Read more
During the winter of 2021-22 this six acre area was seeded with numerous prairie plants. Photo #2 shows a Cloudless Sulphur caterpillar on Partridge Pea. Despite their bright yellow color, Cloudless Sulphurs can be amazingly cryptic when pe... Read more
This White Oak is a Bicentennial Tree -- it was growing here when the City of Columbia was founded in 1821. According to the Missouri Dept. of Conservation, there are 22 oak tree species in Missouri - some of them are not native to the stat... Read more
Plasterer Bees are important pollinators. A close search of the ground here and in a few additional locations along the trails will reveal burrow openings. There is another group of these bees on this small loop along the creek. In the spri... Read more
Six-spotted Tiger Beetles can be spotted from spring into early summer. They live in forests and adjacent fields and are often found on trails where they can run and fly short distances without being blocked by tall vegetation. They have b... Read more
Some tree species have bark with deep crevices which create hiding places for insects.  White-breasted Nuthatches, year-round residents in Missouri, search for insects by going head-first down tree trunks.  Brown Creepers avoid competitio... Read more
Water Striders are found in still or slow moving water. Hairs on their legs repel water, allowing them to walk on the surface. Adult water striders spend the winter in leaf litter or under rocks and logs.They may return to their aquatic hab... Read more
Snags are standing dead or dying trees and are used by many species of wildlife. Almost 100 species of North American birds nest in cavities. The snag in photo #1 is high above Scott's Branch near the trail. Woodpeckers are primary cavity n... Read more
Find the scene in photo #1 just ahead on your right. Birds and mammals feed on grapes; insects feed on grape leaves. Bark from the woody vine is shredded and used in bird nests. Adult Grapevine Epimenis moths can only be found for a few we... Read more
There are several bluebird nest boxes along the trails.If you have been alert on your walk, you probably saw or at least heard one or more Eastern Bluebirds today. Bluebirds enjoy eating fruit, including wild grapes and poison ivy berriesÂ... Read more
Photo #1 was taken near this location and shows poison ivy in early spring before leafing out. Berries will appear in the summer. Poison ivy is an important source for wildlife; only people and a few other primates are affected by urushiol.... Read more
I hope you have enjoyed your visit to CANS. If you have any comments or suggestions about the tour please email me at tours@donnabrunet.com. Learn more about Columbia Audubon, including a list of upcoming events you can participate in, a... Read more

 

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