About the Area
The 28-acre Columbia Audubon Nature Sanctuary (CANS) is owned and operated by Columbia Audubon Society. It seamlessly borders the 92-acre Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary, which is city owned and operated. The convenient location of this 130-acre property is a nice perk. It is only 5-10 minutes from downtown Columbia, in the heart of a quiet subdivision along the western border of Columbia.
The area features a riparian woodland habitat. A project to rebuild a 15-acre prairie is underway. Seeding with native Missouri grasses, wild flowers, and forbs was completed in January 2016. Restoration efforts continue on the area.
More than 130 bird species have been reported to eBird. Birds of prey are not unusual in the area, including Cooper’s hawks, red-shouldered hawks, barred owls, and the ubiquitous red-tailed hawk. A wide variety of warblers also arrive during migration, with American redstarts and northern parulas common sightings during the summer. The woodland is great for finding your woodpecker species, including pileated, red-headed, and red-bellied.
The area is bordered on the south and east sides by the ADA-accessible concrete Scott's Branch trail. Trails within the property are designed to offer a natural outdoor experience with strategically located benches. This metro trail spot is also a magnet for migrating wood warblers. Visitors have encountered blackburnian, orange-crowned, blackpoll, palm, and many more. You may also see summer tanager, orchard oriole, and blue grosbeak. Trails are natural surface with dogs and bicycles prohibited. There is a kiosk at the CANS trailhead that offers descriptions of ongoing habitat restoration projects and information on the area’s two squirrel species, box turtles, and butterflies. Recent birding reports to eBird are posted for quick reference. Toilet facilities during warm months are located at Bonnie View Nature Sanctuary off the Rollins Road parking area.
Bonnie View is located in Columbia's city limits at the north end of Cunningham Road, off Bray Avenue.
Dining and lodging accommodations are available in nearby Columbia. While Columbia offers the typical chain restaurants, it also has many local favorites. For its size, Columbia hosts many art museums and theaters, adding a splash of culture to central Missouri. Residents will also be familiar with the MKT bike trail, a spur of the larger Katy Trail, which allows foot and bike traffic across the city. Many beautiful parks are scattered throughout the city and offer birding opportunities in their own right.