Early risers at AOS 2025 are invited to join us for morning bird walks around St. Louis! These offer great opportunities to add to your life list and enjoy the natural beauty and exciting wildlife around this beautiful city. Transportation information is provided below for these events. Details about meet-up times and locations will be added closer to the meeting dates.
Gateway Arch National Park
Two options!
- Monday, 11 August
- Friday, 15 August
Start Time: TBA
Leader: TBA
Meeting Location: Gateway Arch National Park outside the main entrance (right across the street from the Hyatt Regency)
Join us for a one-hour walk through the Gateway Arch National Park with views of the Gateway Arch and the magnificent Mississippi River. We will walk around the park’s ponds, forests, and riverfront to search for lingering breeders, local year-round residents, and potentially an early migrant or two. We should see Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, Eastern Kingbirds, Peregrine Falcons, Mississippi Kites, and Indigo Buntings, but we could see more than a couple dozen species on this morning walk!
Transport
Walkable/Accessible from venue.
Forest Park
Two options!
- Tuesday, 12 August
- Thursday, 14 August
Start Time: TBA
Leader: Rad Widmer
Meeting Location: If taking the MetroLink train (~20 min ride), meet at the 8th and Pine Station (link below) (0.3 mi walk from Hyatt Regency). If meeting the group at Forest Park, meet at the General Franz Sigel Statue.
Forest Park is one of the largest and oldest urban parks in the U.S. at 1,300 acres (larger than New York City’s Central Park!). The park’s diverse habitats support a wide array of bird species throughout the year. Join us for an approximately one-hour bird walk through Deer Lake Savanna and the forests on the northeast side of the park to the Fish Hatchery. Species such as Eastern Wood-Pewee, Warbling Vireo, Baltimore Oriole, and plenty of others (maybe an early migrant or two) will likely be found in the forests during the first part of the walk. The group will then walk to the Fish Hatchery which provides ample habitat for aquatic species such as Little Blue Heron, Yellow-crowned Night Heron, and Mississippi Kites.
Transport
- The metrolink (about 20 mins)
- Enter at 8th & Pine Station just west of the conference center
- Every 15 minutes
- Exit at the Forest Park-DeBaliviere Station (20 minute ride)
- Cost: $3 each way
- Enter at 8th & Pine Station just west of the conference center
- Driving (about 15 mins)
- Park along the road nearby the statue
- Meet group at the General Franz Sigel Statue
- Uber/Lyft/Taxi
- Meet group at the General Franz Sigel Statue
- Approximate cost: $20
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