Field Trips
Competent field trip leaders, usually from within the club, open up for you the world of birds in and around Louisville and southern Indiana. Learning about birds, enjoying nature, and being with fellow birders are all part of the regularly scheduled field trips. The leaders are always glad to explain how to differentiate the similar birds.
Always check the monthly newsletter for any changes/updates to the list of field trips, and if you're not a member of the Beckham Bird Club and plan to go on a field trip, please contact the leader in advance to let him/her know you plan to attend. Please review the Field Trip Guidelines so all may have a more enjoyable experience. All field trips are rated easy unless stated otherwise.
JANUARY THROUGH JULY 2012
Saturday, January 7
9:00 a.m. – Noon
CAVE HILL CEMETERY – For winter birds and waterfowl. Meet inside the front gate on Baxter Avenue.
Bob Johnson
896-9638
Saturday, January 14
9:00 a.m. – Noon
BACK ROAD OF BERNHEIM FOREST – For eagles and other winter birds. Bring folding chairs if you wish. Meet at the Shell Station at exit 112 off I-65.
Brainard Palmer-Ball
502-330-3998
Sunday, January 15
9:00 a.m. – Noon
CREASY MAHAN / REFORMATORY LAKE - For winter residents and water fowl. Meet at Creasy Mahan, Highway 42 to Route 1793, about .5 mile to sign on the right.
Paul McAlister
290-4732
Sunday, January 21
9:00 a.m. – Noon
FREEMAN LAKE - From Lou. south on I 65 to exit 94..then go right on ST. 62 (also Mulberry St) about 1 mile (get in rt. lane) to light at Ring Road (st. 3005), turn rt. and go 7 miles. Small parking lot on LEFT at the lake. Meet at this parking lot, lake is in clear view. Bring scopes.
Bill Friel
502-348-8159
Cell - 502 -460 0503
Saturday, January 29
9:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
PUTNEY POND & PROSPECT - Meet at Prospect City Hall, east side of Hwy 42 after 2nd traffic light in Prospect.
Paul McAllister
290-4732
Saturday, February 4
8:30 a.m. – Noon
RIVER ROAD For waterfowl and winter birds. Meet in the lower parking lot of Ramada Inn at I-71 and Zorn Avenue.
Bob Johnson
896-9638
Saturday, February 11
9:00 a.m. - Noon
GARVIN-BROWN PRESERVE/HAYES KENNEDY - For waterfowl and winter residents. Meet at the parking lot of Hayes-Kennedy Park off Upper River Road.
Paul McAlister
290-4732
Wednesday, February 15
9:00 a.m. – Noon
BERNHEIM FOREST – For winter residents and waterfowl. Meet at the Bernheim Forest arboretum parking lot.
Bill Friel 502-348-8159
Cell – 502-460 0503
Saturday, February 18
8:30 a.m. – Noon
OHIO RIVER, INDIANA SIDE- For winter birds and waterfowl. Meet at Falls of the Ohio State Park parking lot.
Tom & Colleen Becker
812- 923-0145
Sunday, February 19
9:00 a.m. – Noon
CREASEY MAHAN / REFORMATORY LAKE - For winter residents and water fowl. Meet at Creasy Mahan, Highway 42 to Route 1793, about .5 mile to sign on the right.
Paul McAlister290-4732
Saturday, February 25
8:30 a.m. – ??
BEEHUNTER MARSH & GOOSE POND – Meet at McDonald’s on Highway 54 in Linton, IN for waterfowl and raptors. It is a 2 ½ drive from Louisville – We will be leaving McDonald’s at 8:30 a.m. sharp. Bring lunch or eat in town. Additional information call Tom
Tom & Colleen Becker
812- 923-0145
Saturday, March 3
9:00 a.m. – Noon
FARNSLEY-MOREMEN LEVEE WALK - For winter birds. Meet at the Farnsley-Moremen parking lot to walk the levee trail.
Bob Johnson
896-9638
Sunday, March 4
8:30 a.m. – ??
MUSCATATUCK NWR / HARDY LAKE - For waterfowl and resident species. Meet at the visitor center at 8:30 a.m. Bring lunch.
Pat & Jane Bell
326-9610
Sunday, March 11
8:30 a.m. – Noon
CHEROKEE PARK / NETTELROTH – Meet at the foot of Maple Road Bridge 5.
Rob Lane
(205) -276-9580
Saturday, March 17
8:30 a.m. – Noon
ANCHORAGE TRAIL - Meet at the trailhead in Anchorage at the intersection of Evergreen Rd and Station Rd just past the fire station.
Carol Besse
454-5971
Sunday, March 18
8:30 a.m. – Noon
CEDAR GROVE COMMERCIAL PARK - Directions: Go south on I-65 and take exit 116; turn left onto Cedar Grove Rd; turn right onto Buffalo Run Rd. at Shell Station, park on side of road.
Ryan Ankeny
727-7233
Wednesday, March 21
6:30 p.m.- 8:30 p.m.
TOM SAWYER STATE PARK – For Woodcocks. Meet at parking lot on Hurstbourne Lane south of the airfield.
Carl Bochmann
618-0574
Saturday, March 24
9:00 a.m. – Noon
FREEMAN LAKE - From Lou. south on I 65 to exit 94..then go right on ST. 62 (also Mulberry St) about 1 mile (get in rt. lane) to light at Ring Road (st. 3005), turn rt. and go 7 miles. Small parking lot on LEFT at the lake. Meet at this parking lot, lake is in clear view. Bring scopes.
Bill Friel
502-348-8159
Cell – 502-460 0503
Sunday, March 25
9:00 a.m. – Noon
Moderate
HARRODS CREEK –“a walk to the heron rookery” and for early spring residents and waterfowl. Some steep walking and wet conditions. Meet at Prospect City Hall
Paul McAllister
290-4732
Thursday, March 29
9:00 a.m. – Noon
BERNHEIM FOREST – For Spring residents and waterfowl. Meet at the Bernheim Forest arboretum parking lot.
Bill Friel
502-348-8159
Cell – 502-460 0503
Saturday, March 31
8:00 a.m. – Noon
GARVIN-BROWN PRESERVE/HAYES KENNEDY - For waterfowl and summer residents. Meet at the parking lot of Hayes-Kennedy Park off Upper River Road.
Michael Autin
773-0598
Sunday, April 1
9:00 a.m. – Noon
Moderate
JOE CREASON PARK / BEARGRASS NATURE PRESERVE – For early spring migrants. Meet at the Metro Parks Administration Bldg. off Trevilian Way
Win Ahrens
228-5800
Saturday, April 7
9:00 a.m. – Noon
FREEMAN LAKE- From Lou. south on I 65 to exit 94..then go right on ST. 62 (also Mulberry St) about 1 mile (get in rt. lane) to light at Ring Road (st. 3005), turn rt. and go 7 miles. Small parking lot on LEFT at the lake. Meet at this parking lot, lake is in clear view. Bring scopes.
Bill Friel
502-348-8159
Cell – 502-460 0503
Saturday, April 14
8:00 a.m. CDT – ??
Moderate/Strenuous
SLOUGHS WMA, HENDERSON CO.KY—For waterfowl and migrants. Bring lunch, shoes for wading, & extra clothes. Meet at the observation platform on Highway 268. For directions check DeLorme Atlas page 44 quadrant A 2&3.
Brainard Palmer-Ball
502-330-3998
Sunday, April 15
8:30 a.m. – Noon
TOM SAWYER PARK – For spring migrants. Meet at the second parking lot on Freys Hill Rd near archery field
Carl Bochmann
618-0574
Saturday, April 21
8:30 a.m. – Noon
CAVE HILL CEMETERY—For spring migrants. Meet inside the front gate on Baxter Avenue.
Bob Johnson 896-9638Eddie Huber 261-9698
Sunday, April 22
8:30 a.m. – Noon
CHEROKEE PARK / NETTELROTH – For spring migrants. Meet at the foot of Maple Road Bridge 5.
Barbara Woerner
485-9017
Saturday, April 28
8:00 a.m. – Noon
IROQUOIS PARK – For spring migrants. Meet at the Amphitheater Park & Tarc lot
Michael Autin
773-0598
Sunday, April 29
8:30 a.m. - Noon
FALLS OF THE OHIO - For spring migrants and waterfowl. Meet at the Interpretive Center
Rob Lane
205-276-9580
Wednesday, May 2
8:30 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
MOUNT ST. FRANCIS, IN Meet at the rear parking lot of Mt. St. Francis “near the old water tower” for spring migrants. Take I-64 west to exit 119, follow hwy.150 about two miles through two traffic lights. Entrance is left at the third light. 2½ mile hike of moderate terrain.
Del Striegel
812-951-2368
Friday, May 4
8:00 a.m. CDT – ??
MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK – For spring migrants. Meet at the service center in the park just past the campground entrance. This is the parking lot just to the right of the gas station. Bring lunch.
Pat & Jane Bell
326-9610
Saturday, May 5
8:30 a.m. – Noon
ANCHORAGE TRAIL - Meet at the trailhead in Anchorage at the intersection of Evergreen Rd and Station Rd just past the fire station.
Pat & Jane Bell
326-9610
Sunday, May 6
8:30 a.m. – Noon
JOE CREASON PARK/BEARGRASS NATURE PRESERVE - For spring migrants. Meet at the Metro Parks Administration Bldg. off Trevilian Way.
Barbara Woerner
485-9017
Wednesday, May 9
SHAKER VILLAGE – More details in the April Observer
Pat & Jane Bell
326-9610
Saturday, May 12
8:30 a.m. – Noon
FLOYDS FORK PARK – For spring migrants. From Gene Snyder get off at Taylorsville Rd, go toward Fisherville, go about a mile take a right on South Pope Lick Rd. Follow signs to Floyds Fork Park. Park in parking lot.
Eddie Huber
261-9698
Saturday, May 12
NORTH AMERICAN MIGRATION COUNT Jefferson Co. Ky.- Contact Ben Yandell ; Clark Co. Ind. - Contact Stuart Jenkins. More details in April Observer
Ben Yandell 594-3819
Stuart Jenkins 282-9798Sunday, May 13
8:30 a.m. – Noon
CAVE HILL CEMETERY - For spring migrants. Meet inside the front gate on Baxter Avenue.
Rob Lane
205-276-9580
Saturday, May 19
5:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Moderate
MORGAN CONSERVATION PARK – For late spring migrants and nightjars. Meet at the park off KY 524 in Northeast Oldham County. From downtown LaGrange, go north on KY 53 & turn right on U.S. 42. Turn left on KY 524. The park is 1.3 miles on the right.
Mike Callan
502-592-7008
Sunday, May 20
8:30 a.m. – Noon
CHEROKEE PARK / NETTELROTH – Meet at the foot of Maple Road Bridge 5.
Carol Besse
454-5971
Sunday, May 27
8:00 a.m. – Noon
HARRODS CREEK – for summer residents and waterfowl. Steep walking and maybe wet conditions. Meet at Prospect City Hall. Bring insect repellent
Paul McAllister
290-4732
Sunday, June 3
BECKHAM BIRD CLUB PICNIC – More details in May/June Observer.
Saturday, June 9
8:00 a.m. - Noon
OTTER CREEK PARK – For summer residents. For carpooling contact field trip leader.
Mike Callan
502-592-7008
Sunday, June 10
8:00 a.m. CDT – ??
Moderate
MAMMOTH CAVE NATIONAL PARK – For summer residents. Meet at the service center in the park just past the campground entrance. This is the parking lot just to the right of the gas station. Bring lunch.
Pat & Jane Bell
326-9610
Sunday, June 17
8:00 a.m. – Noon
TOM SAWYER PARK – For summer residents. Meet at the second parking lot on Freys Hill Rd near archery field.
Carl Bochmann
618-0574
Saturday, June 23
8:30 a.m. - Noon
JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST – For summer residents Meet at Welcome Center, 11311 Mitchell Hill Rd.
Barbara Woerner
485-9017
Rules of the Road
TO MAKE OUR TRIPS MORE ENJOYABLE:
- Arrive a few minutes before the scheduled field trip. The time stated is the STARTING time, not the arrival time. This will give you time to sign the release form and be ready to go.
- Check the monthly Observer for changes or corrections to the field trip schedule.
- PLEASE NOTE: Field trips are subject to cancellation due to the weather. If there is constant rain, extreme cold temperatures, ice or snow you should contact trip leaders for the latest update on the trip. Also, if you have internet service you can go to http://www.birdingonthe.net/mailinglists/KNTY.html to see if there are any updates to the trip.
- Keep talking to a minimum and speak in hush tones. Birds react to motion so minimize your movements.
- Please stay with the leader. Do not go ahead of the leader(s) or lag behind.
- If you need to use your cell phone, smoke, or have a long conversation be considerate of the other members on the trip and step away from the group.