The pandemic forced a long suspension of Columbus Audubon Avid Birders activities. But as of February, 2024, we have restarted! We’re taking it few trips at a time rather than developing a yearly schedule, so look for periodic announcements on the Current Schedule page.
Avid Birders are interested enough in birding to get out of bed very early for day-long field trips. The only requirements to join us are enthusiasm, binoculars, and a reliable alarm clock. A spotting scope is often useful, but not required. You do not have to be a member of Columbus Audubon to come along.
Ordinary trips involve no lengthy or arduous hiking, although we occasionally traverse snow, loose sand, or rocks, and a few miles of leisurely walking is often called for. We can accommodate an unlimited number of persons on most trips; occasionally, longer trips out of state are planned, and these are usually limited to a small number of participants. The longer trips fill up early, and first priority is reserved for those who participate most regularly on the weekend trips.
Our destinations are announced just before each trip. For information on the next trip, please see the Avid Birders Current Schedule page, the Columbus Audubon Calendar of Events, the Facebook – Birding Central Ohio group page, or the Ohio Discord – Central Ohio Chat.
For all trips, bring a sack lunch, as well as water, suncreen, bug repellent, and other supplies as appropriate, and remember that we encourage carpooling. (Please reimburse your driver for travel expenses.) Dress appropriately; remember that the weather to our north, particularly along the windy Lake Erie shore, is often a lot colder than in Columbus.
Most of us are very interested in finding unusual Ohio species. Because we have access to good up-to-the-minute news about rarities, planned destinations may change without notice, even en route.