Matt Gearheart: Winged Beauty / Birding in the Flint Hills 

Sat. Aug. 27, 2022, 8-10 a.m.
Flint Hills Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, Cassoday
(meet at the Cassoday Country Store, 15133 KS-177, Cassoday, KS 66842)

Matt, when he’s not busy being and architect, husband, and dad to two future birders, is on the Kansas Bird Records Committee (KBRC) and a reviewer for Eastern Kansas of Cornell University’s eBird database, as well as past president of Kansas Ornithological Society, and former trustee with Audubon of Kansas. He’s also really fun and easy going and can answer all your bird-related questions. We’ll start in a circle of chairs in a shady glen listening to Matt talk about what is great about birding; using technology in birding; changes we are seeing in bird populations with habitat loss/global warming, and how important the Flint Hills are for nesting prairie birds and migratory shorebirds.

We’ll also hear from special guest Tony Capizzo, Flint Hills Initiative Manager for The Nature Conservancy, about the special qualities of the new Flint Hills Prairie Preserve and the rare bird species that contributed to getting it recognized as an important habitat. Then we’ll take an easy one-hour hike that involves a creek crossing (not difficult but your shoes will get wet).

IMPORTANT NOTE: We will meet in the parking lot of the Cassoday Country Store, just south of the Cassoday turnpike exit on I-35, and we will carpool to the preserve, where parking is limited. Wear sun protective clothing, bring bug spray and a refillable water bottle.

In the event of rain, the event is cancelled and tickets will be refunded.

Maximum guests: 25