Field Trip and Meeting Schedule
ABOUT OUR FIELD TRIPS AND MEETINGS:
The Beckham Bird Club conducts field trips throughout the year, except from the middle of June until the middle of August. We welcome birders of all ages and skill levels on our field trips, especially beginning birders. The Beckham Bird Club welcomes guests, non-members and out-of-town visitors to participate in field trips and meetings. Field trips mostly visit a variety of birding spots in the Louisville area, with regular outings to more distant locations.
Monthly meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month except March (annual dinner) and June (club picnic.) Meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2822 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206, 38.254256, -85.689458. St. Mark’s is at the corner of Frankfort Avenue and Kennedy Ave. Please enter by way of the back door near the parking lot. Members and non-members are welcome. Speakers are announced a month in advance in the newsletter.
FIELD TRIP INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES
1. IMPORTANT: Field trips are subject to cancellation, rescheduling or relocation due to weather, habitat conditions or other circumstances. If there is constant rain, extreme hot or cold temperatures, ice or snow, you should contact trip leaders for the latest update on the trip. Trip leaders will post information about any changes on the birdky listserv and - time permitting - on the field trip list below. To look for updates, go to http://birding.aba.org/maillistdigest/KY. To subscribe, go to https://www.freelists.org/list/birdky.
2. Arrive a few minutes before the scheduled start time. Trips depart at the stated time. Arriving early will give you time to sign the release form and prepare to go.
3. Please stay with the leader. Do not go ahead of the leader(s) or lag behind. If you need to leave early, let the leader know when you do.
4. DOGS AND OTHER PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON FIELD TRIPS. The presence of even the best-behaved dogs disturbs birds and other wildlife and makes observing them that much more difficult.
5. Try to minimize disturbance to the birds by talking in quiet tones and keeping to paths and trails unless the leader directs otherwise.
6. Smoking and vaping are not permitted during field trips. Please refrain from smoking or vaping until the field trip has concluded.
7. Minimize disturbance to other birders. If you need to use your cell phone or have a long conversation be considerate of the other members on the trip and step away from the group.
8. A NOTE TO NON-MEMBERS: You are welcome to participate in BBC field trips. If you find them to your liking and attend regularly, we respectfully request that you consider becoming a club member.
Monthly meetings are held on the second Tuesday of each month except March (annual dinner) and June (club picnic.) Meetings begin at 7 p.m. and are held at St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, 2822 Frankfort Ave, Louisville, KY 40206, 38.254256, -85.689458. St. Mark’s is at the corner of Frankfort Avenue and Kennedy Ave. Please enter by way of the back door near the parking lot. Members and non-members are welcome. Speakers are announced a month in advance in the newsletter.
FIELD TRIP INFORMATION AND GUIDELINES
1. IMPORTANT: Field trips are subject to cancellation, rescheduling or relocation due to weather, habitat conditions or other circumstances. If there is constant rain, extreme hot or cold temperatures, ice or snow, you should contact trip leaders for the latest update on the trip. Trip leaders will post information about any changes on the birdky listserv and - time permitting - on the field trip list below. To look for updates, go to http://birding.aba.org/maillistdigest/KY. To subscribe, go to https://www.freelists.org/list/birdky.
2. Arrive a few minutes before the scheduled start time. Trips depart at the stated time. Arriving early will give you time to sign the release form and prepare to go.
3. Please stay with the leader. Do not go ahead of the leader(s) or lag behind. If you need to leave early, let the leader know when you do.
4. DOGS AND OTHER PETS ARE NOT ALLOWED ON FIELD TRIPS. The presence of even the best-behaved dogs disturbs birds and other wildlife and makes observing them that much more difficult.
5. Try to minimize disturbance to the birds by talking in quiet tones and keeping to paths and trails unless the leader directs otherwise.
6. Smoking and vaping are not permitted during field trips. Please refrain from smoking or vaping until the field trip has concluded.
7. Minimize disturbance to other birders. If you need to use your cell phone or have a long conversation be considerate of the other members on the trip and step away from the group.
8. A NOTE TO NON-MEMBERS: You are welcome to participate in BBC field trips. If you find them to your liking and attend regularly, we respectfully request that you consider becoming a club member.
FIELD TRIP AND MEETING SCHEDULE
DOWNLOAD HERE
FEBRUARY 14-17 – GREAT BACKYARD BIRD COUNT - PARKLANDS
Monday, February 17 CANCELLED
8:30 a.m. – noon
easy
BECKLEY CREEK PARK – Creekside area – For winter visitors and residents. Meet at PNC Achievement Center. GPS: 38.21735, -85.47685 (https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L2108847)
Parklands staff
Curtis Carman
502-592-7618
Monday, February 17 CANCELLED
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
easy
TURKEY RUN PARK – SKY DOME – For winter visitors and residents. Meet at the hilltop parking lot near the fishing pond. Directions: From I-265 exit (19) Billtown Road, go south and turn left at the T; go 1.5 miles and turn right into Turkey Run Park entrance; parking lot is about a mile into the park on the left. GPS: 38.126418, -85.530846 (https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L3970586)
Andrew Melnykovych
502-608-4655
RESUME NORMAL PROGRAMMING
Saturday, February 22
6:30 p.m until dark
BECKLEY CREEK PARK – GRAND ALLEE SECTION – For woodcocks. Meet at the entrance end of the soccer field/“Port-a-Potty” parking lot at the south end of the Humana Grand Allee just before the large bridge over the creek. GPS: 38.209077, -85.474110 (https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L2876955
Meg and Steve Brown
502-435-3967
Sunday, March 2
8:30 a.m. – ??
easy
MUSCATATUCK NWR/HARDY LAKE – For waterfowl, cranes and others. Meet at the Muscatatuck visitor center at 8:30 a.m. Bring lunch. Directions: I-65 north from Louisvillle to Exit 50 (Seymour). Take US Highway 50 east about 3 miles to refuge entrance. About 1 hour north of Louisville. Bring a two-way radio if you have one. GPS: 38.959304, -85.798258
(https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L1307600)
(https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L2034604)
(https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L768475)
Pat Bell
502-419-5262
Saturday, March 8
8:30 a.m. – noon
easy
JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST – For winter visitors, residents and waterfowl. Meet at the welcome center, 11311 Mitchell Hill Road. From Gene Snyder Freeway, take Manslick Road exit south to Fairdale. At the traffic circle in Fairdale, take Mitchell Hill Road 1.6 miles to visitor center. GPS: 38.08588, -85.76758 (https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L662168)
Meg and Steve Brown
502-435-3967
Tuesday, March 11
ANNUAL MARCH DINNER MEETING—Details in the February and March Observer
Saturday, March 15
8:30 a.m. - noon
easy
LONG RUN PARK – For winter visitors, residents and waterfowl. From intersection of Shelbyville Road and Flat Rock Road, about 2 miles north on Flat Rock Road to park entrance, then ¼ mile to first fork and left at fork and then first right to boat launch ramp parking area. GPS: 38.266796, -85.419667 (https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L2706091)
Kevin Flowers
502-648-6826
Wednesday, March 19
9 a.m. – noon
easy
DRAUT PARK – For winter birds and residents. Meet in parking lot on Bowling Boulevard. GPS: 38.242791, -85.629445 (https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L1161147)
Karen Bonsell
502-794-3526
Saturday, March 22
8:30 am-noon
easy
BERNHEIM FOREST – For early migrants, wintering birds and residents. Meet at the Bernheim Forest Arboretum Way parking lot, next to Lake Nevin and the old education center rotunda. Directions: I-65 south from Louisville to exit 112. Bernheim entrance is about one mile east on KY 245. About 30 minutes from Louisville. GPS: 37.918889, -85.669087 (https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L286341)
Meg and Steve Brown
502-435-3967
Sunday, March 30
8 a.m. – noon
easy
HAYS-KENNEDY PARK/GARVIN BROWN PRESERVE – Residents, lingering winter birds, early migrants, waterfowl. Meet in the parking lot of Hays Kennedy Park off Upper River Road. GPS: 38.352711, -85.630354
(https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L673935) (https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L607668)
Michael Autin
502-298-2456
BBC FIELD TRIPS ARE SMOKE-FREE and VAPE-FREE
In response to member concerns and after careful consideration, the Beckham Bird Club board determined that, effective August 2022, field trips will be no-smoking and no-vaping events. The past policy of asking participants who smoke and vape to step away from the main group proved both ineffective and unworkable. Therefore, participants are asked to refrain from smoking or vaping for the duration of the field trip.
Monday, February 17 CANCELLED
8:30 a.m. – noon
easy
BECKLEY CREEK PARK – Creekside area – For winter visitors and residents. Meet at PNC Achievement Center. GPS: 38.21735, -85.47685 (https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L2108847)
Parklands staff
Curtis Carman
502-592-7618
Monday, February 17 CANCELLED
1:30 p.m. – 3:30 p.m.
easy
TURKEY RUN PARK – SKY DOME – For winter visitors and residents. Meet at the hilltop parking lot near the fishing pond. Directions: From I-265 exit (19) Billtown Road, go south and turn left at the T; go 1.5 miles and turn right into Turkey Run Park entrance; parking lot is about a mile into the park on the left. GPS: 38.126418, -85.530846 (https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L3970586)
Andrew Melnykovych
502-608-4655
RESUME NORMAL PROGRAMMING
Saturday, February 22
6:30 p.m until dark
BECKLEY CREEK PARK – GRAND ALLEE SECTION – For woodcocks. Meet at the entrance end of the soccer field/“Port-a-Potty” parking lot at the south end of the Humana Grand Allee just before the large bridge over the creek. GPS: 38.209077, -85.474110 (https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L2876955
Meg and Steve Brown
502-435-3967
Sunday, March 2
8:30 a.m. – ??
easy
MUSCATATUCK NWR/HARDY LAKE – For waterfowl, cranes and others. Meet at the Muscatatuck visitor center at 8:30 a.m. Bring lunch. Directions: I-65 north from Louisvillle to Exit 50 (Seymour). Take US Highway 50 east about 3 miles to refuge entrance. About 1 hour north of Louisville. Bring a two-way radio if you have one. GPS: 38.959304, -85.798258
(https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L1307600)
(https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L2034604)
(https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L768475)
Pat Bell
502-419-5262
Saturday, March 8
8:30 a.m. – noon
easy
JEFFERSON MEMORIAL FOREST – For winter visitors, residents and waterfowl. Meet at the welcome center, 11311 Mitchell Hill Road. From Gene Snyder Freeway, take Manslick Road exit south to Fairdale. At the traffic circle in Fairdale, take Mitchell Hill Road 1.6 miles to visitor center. GPS: 38.08588, -85.76758 (https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L662168)
Meg and Steve Brown
502-435-3967
Tuesday, March 11
ANNUAL MARCH DINNER MEETING—Details in the February and March Observer
Saturday, March 15
8:30 a.m. - noon
easy
LONG RUN PARK – For winter visitors, residents and waterfowl. From intersection of Shelbyville Road and Flat Rock Road, about 2 miles north on Flat Rock Road to park entrance, then ¼ mile to first fork and left at fork and then first right to boat launch ramp parking area. GPS: 38.266796, -85.419667 (https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L2706091)
Kevin Flowers
502-648-6826
Wednesday, March 19
9 a.m. – noon
easy
DRAUT PARK – For winter birds and residents. Meet in parking lot on Bowling Boulevard. GPS: 38.242791, -85.629445 (https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L1161147)
Karen Bonsell
502-794-3526
Saturday, March 22
8:30 am-noon
easy
BERNHEIM FOREST – For early migrants, wintering birds and residents. Meet at the Bernheim Forest Arboretum Way parking lot, next to Lake Nevin and the old education center rotunda. Directions: I-65 south from Louisville to exit 112. Bernheim entrance is about one mile east on KY 245. About 30 minutes from Louisville. GPS: 37.918889, -85.669087 (https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L286341)
Meg and Steve Brown
502-435-3967
Sunday, March 30
8 a.m. – noon
easy
HAYS-KENNEDY PARK/GARVIN BROWN PRESERVE – Residents, lingering winter birds, early migrants, waterfowl. Meet in the parking lot of Hays Kennedy Park off Upper River Road. GPS: 38.352711, -85.630354
(https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L673935) (https://birdinghotspots.org/hotspot/L607668)
Michael Autin
502-298-2456
BBC FIELD TRIPS ARE SMOKE-FREE and VAPE-FREE
In response to member concerns and after careful consideration, the Beckham Bird Club board determined that, effective August 2022, field trips will be no-smoking and no-vaping events. The past policy of asking participants who smoke and vape to step away from the main group proved both ineffective and unworkable. Therefore, participants are asked to refrain from smoking or vaping for the duration of the field trip.