Saturday, September 26, 2026

Morning field trip: Riverlands

Time: 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Event type: Birding field trip

Meeting point: Audubon Center at Riverlands (301 Riverlands Way, West Alton, MO 63386)

Guides: David Becher, Bill Rowe, Josh Uffman, Matt Schamberger, Nate Swick

Getting there: About 30 minutes north of downtown; carpool only, no transit to the site. From the Forest Park / Clayton area: I-170 N to I-270 E, then MO-367 N (which becomes US-67 N) toward Alton; watch for the Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary signs before the Clark Bridge and turn in to the Audubon Center. Carpools arranged through WeTravel; bus parking on site. Guides may continue to nearby confluence hotspots (Ellis Island, Melvin Price Locks & Dam) after a couple of hours, depending on what’s around.

Accessibility: The Audubon Center building and its wrap-around viewing deck are wheelchair-accessible, with indoor exhibits and spotting scopes; about a mile of short, looped paved trails runs along Ellis Bay beside the Center. The other sanctuary trails (Two Pecan, Heron Pond, Teal Pond, Ellis Island) are a mix of grass, dirt, and gravel and are not all accessible. Much of the sanctuary can also be birded by car along Riverlands Way, with pull-offs at the Two Pecan and Heron Pond trailheads. Restrooms at the Center, which opens at 8:00 AM. 

Fees: Free admission, free parking. 

Afternoon workshop: Confusing Fall Warblers

Time: 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Event type: Workshop / Talk

Speaker: Bill Rowe

Venue: The Learning Lab, Dennis & Judith Jones Visitor and Education Center, Forest Park (5595 Grand Dr)

Getting there: In Forest Park; about a 15-minute walk or short rideshare from the Forest Park–DeBaliviere MetroLink station, plus MetroBus Routes 1 and 90; free parking. Roughly a 35-minute drive back from Riverlands, leaving time for lunch before the 1:30 start.

Accessibility: Fully ADA-compliant; step-free entry, ground-level education room, accessible restrooms.

Fees: Park entry free; two free car-parking lots by the Visitor Center.

Late afternoon social

Time: 4:00 PM – 6:00 PM

Event type: Social (cash bar)

Venue: Urban Chestnut Brewing, Midtown Biergarten (3229 Washington Ave)

Hosts: Open to all participants and the on-site team

Getting there: Walkable from the Grand MetroLink station, with MetroBus routes nearby; street and lot parking. About a 10-minute drive or rideshare from Forest Park and the Central West End.

Accessibility: Ground-level entry and accessible restrooms; indoor seating plus the outdoor biergarten.

Fees: No entry fee; everyone pays for their own food and drinks. Parking is Midtown street parking (some free, some metered), no dedicated paid lot.

Sunday, September 27, 2026

Morning field trip: Forest Park (& Tower Grove)

Time: 8:00 AM – 11:30 AM

Event type: Birding field trip

Meeting point: Forest Park Visitor & Education Center (5595 Grand Dr)

Guides: Rad Widmer, David Becher, Bill Rowe, Josh Uffman, Nate Swick

Getting there: About a 15-minute walk or short rideshare from the Forest Park–DeBaliviere MetroLink station; MetroBus Routes 1 and 90; free parking. Tower Grove Park is a ~10-minute drive south, reached by carpool between the two parks (direct transit between them is limited).

Accessibility: Forest Park: paved perimeter paths around Deer Lake are fully wheelchair-accessible; interior Kennedy Forest trails have roots, mulch, and uneven terrain; multiple ADA-compliant restrooms. Tower Grove Park: the paved main loop and drives are wheelchair-friendly; the Gaddy Bird Garden has packed-gravel paths with some uneven sections; restrooms at the park pavilions.

Fees: Forest Park entry free; two free car-parking lots by the Visitor Center. Tower Grove free public park, free parking.

Early afternoon workshop: Birds, Migration, & Buildings: Exploring the Connection Between Nature and our Built Environments

Time: 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Event type: Workshop / Talk

Speaker: Matt Barton

Matt Barton is the Urban Conservation Specialist with St. Louis Audubon Society. He oversees the BirdSafeSTL program, which seeks to establish long-term community relationships that support bird-safe practices and reduce bird fatalities in the St. Louis region. Through documenting bird collisions with infrastructure, the program works to identify areas that experience high mortality and engage with property managers and stakeholders to improve conditions. The program also advocates for bird-safe building practices at new developments.

Matt works to educate and spread awareness about the risks of glass and light pollution to birds through public engagements and speaking opportunities. He also leads bird walks throughout the St. Louis area. 

Matt serves as reporter for the St. Louis region in the US Fish and Wildlife Service's Urban Bird Treaty program.

Topic: Birds, Migration, & Buildings: Exploring the Connection Between Nature and our Built Environments.  Hundreds of millions of birds pass through the Mississippi Flyway and the St. Louis region on their annual migratory journeys. However, this important time in many birds lives can put them in perilous situations. Join us as we explore bird migration, the ways our urban spaces affect birds, and how we can improve bird safety in our cities and at our homes.

Venue: Hartford Coffee Company | The Hartford Reserve, 3974 Hartford St, St. Louis MO 63116

Getting there: Getting from Forest Park to Hartford Coffee Company in St. Louis takes about 12 minutes by car depending on traffic. Head south out of Forest Park via South Kingshighway Boulevard, turn left onto Oakland Avenue, take McRee Avenue and Tower Grove Avenue southward, and proceed toward the Tower Grove South neighborhood to 3974 Hartford Street. There is free street parking with close proximity to the corner location

Accessibility: Accessible entrance ramp, flexible and accessible seating options available inside, and an accessible restroom

Fees: None

Note: Hartford Coffee Company is also a great location to have a quick lunch in between birding Forest Park / Tower Grove and the start of the workshop!