About the Area
The library is a warm-up stop for birders on winter outings around Blue Springs Lake and Lake Jacomo. The feeders consistently bring in yellow-bellied sapsucker, purple finch, and Harris’s sparrow, as well as the occasional fox and white-crowned sparrow. The library has a restroom and two viewing areas for viewing birds feeding at the many bird feeders. Burroughs Audubon maintains the library, the feeders, and the small prairie adjacent to the building. The natural history library contains over 2,500 books. The books contain a wide range of topics, but many are about birds and birding locations. This may be a good place to start if you want to do some research on birds you may encounter on vacation at an exotic locale. The library hosts bird banding events several times a year so birders and their children can see birds up close. Banders, while conducting their research, freely share their knowledge and passion with everyone who wants to learn. The center also has programs for kids on a variety of topics; check their website for the schedule.
Google Maps Directions
From MO-291, take NE Woods Chapel Road towards Lake Jacomo and turn right onto W Park Road.
Downtown Kansas City is literally minutes away and offers all the dining and lodging accommodations a tired and hungry birder would ever need. Kansas City is especially famous for its fantastic BBQ and history of jazz music so be sure to take this special culture in while you are there.
The Nature Center and Library is adjacent to Lake Jacomo, which offers excellent waterfowl birding during migration. There are many trails looping around lake and the Pa-Huska Trail is one of the better birding routes around.