Join on us New Year's Day to hike and look for birds along Grassland Trail. This area provides views of a restored prairie, open sky and sinkholes. Members of the Columbia Audubon Society will lead this 2-mile hike with the plan to look in the mixed grassland, shrub, and forest-edge habitats for sparrows, raptors, and any other fauna or flora of interest. This will be a fairly easy hike with a leisurely pace along relatively flat terrain.

Around dusk, hike leaders will return to the parking lot for an optional extra half hour of watching and listening for a last pulse of daytime bird activity, as well as possible evening birds, including owls. This is also a good opportunity to watch the sun go down on the first day of the new year.

This event is for ages 8 and up. We prefer that dogs do not join us. Participants should bring water, dress for the weather, and wear shoes that are suitable for muddy or snowy conditions.

We will meet at the Grassland Trail trailhead. Parking is available at the trailhead and along Rock Bridge Lane, a wide gravel road that leads to the trailhead parking lot.

This event is free, but space is limited and registration is required. Click here to register.

For more information, call the park office at 573-449-7402.

Meeting location: Grassland Trail trailhead