Join others who share your interest in nature, birds, and wildlife, and learn the basics of birdwatching. Beginners welcome. Registration is free and required. Register on the St. Louis Audubon Society website.
5 reasons to join us on this birdwalk:
-Hearing bird song can improve feelings of peace and well-being.
-The park and Fee Fee Greenway are beautiful this time of year with all of the trees coming into bloom!
-Being in nature decreases stress & sharpens concentration.
-You’ll get in a morning walk, on a greenway, in a lovely park.
-You’ll learn interesting facts about birds and how to see them and listen for them.
Mona Vespa is the President of GO! St. Louis. GO! is a local non-profit organization that encourages individuals and families in the #STL region to adopt a healthy and active lifestyle year round. They accomplish this through community collaborations, school-based programming and the creation of new and fun fitness events:
“Running is my sport, my hobby and my profession! Personally, I can’t imagine a better way to explore your own city than on foot, and the greenways are the perfect way to do that! Every time I run a greenway, I am reminded that our city is incredibly diverse in landscape and character, but is also comprised of neighborhoods and communities who are all working towards a similar goal: to make their part of our city a vibrant and welcoming home. And as a part of my job, what a joy it is to share that with the runners and walkers of our area. I’ve used greenways for several GO! St. Louis race routes, and our Summer Passport program’s entire focus is to introduce more runners to the incredible gem of these paths throughout our city. GO! St. Louis is thankful for GRG’s work and dedication to outdoor recreation in our region!”
Home Greenway: All of them!
Meet Erin
Posted on Thursday July 25, 2024
Erin Wilson is a Great Rivers Greenway Outreach Specialist. These valued team members help out at events and programs across the region- answering questions, sharing project updates and handing out maps and greenway “swag.” Erin explains why she wanted to join our team:
“My desire to work with Great Rivers Greenway stems from the passion I have around living a happy and healthy life, outside. As a runner, I am always looking for new places to train for whatever race is next. I found that I consistently turn to the greenways. With so many choices, running and training on the greenways lets me see parts of the city and county I otherwise hadn’t considered exploring. As an Outreach specialist, I am happy to help people get outside, explore, and exercise in areas they may not have previously considered.”
Home Greenway: Fee Fee
Meet the Hampton Family
Posted on Wednesday July 24, 2024
Stephanie and Mark Hampton have always loved the outdoors and hiking. As their family has grown to include three daughters, so has their knowledge of local and regional parks & trails. Stephanie’s Instagram blog @explorestlparks is a popular resource for parents & caregivers looking for places to go and things to do outside with kids. Stephanie has also launched a free monthly meetup for moms and kids called “Nature Play STL.
“Our middle daughter, Holly, was born three months early. She spent 58 days in Mercy’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and needed leg braces. When she started walking, her medical team (Neonatologist, Physical Therapist and Occupational Therapist) prescribed “walking on different surfaces” to help her get stronger and steadier on her feet. Walking and running on different surfaces, like grass or pavement, walking up and down hills, and standing on uneven surfaces along the edge of a trail would be a fun part of her therapy. So that’s where the greenways, parks and trails came in! Since the beginning of the pandemic in March 2020, we have hiked over 175 trails & have visited over 150 parks. Holly graduated from the NICU program a year earlier than her team expected and she is strong and steady on her feet! Fresh air works wonders and is so healing. We are so grateful for all of the beautiful parks and greenways in our area and across the state.”
Home Greenway: Fee Fee
Meet Mary Dueren
Posted on Wednesday July 24, 2024
Mary Dueren is the Beginner Bird Walk Coordinator for St Louis Audubon Society. She is a retired clinical lab scientist and a veteran birdwatcher with more than 30 years of experience (not to mention a deep appreciation and respect for the natural world!)
“Why should someone join us for a Beginner Bird Walk? There are many reasons!
1. There are expert guides from St. Louis Audubon leading each walk who will teach you about the birds who live here and others that migrate through our region.
2. We walk a leisurely pace on a paved trail (you don’t need a machete to cut through underbrush!)
3. You will have a decent pair of binoculars to view the birds.
4. You will be a part of a group that is coming together around a shared interest.
5. It is an easy way to get close to nature and a relaxing way to spend two hours outside.
6. You will have a good time!
One of my favorite beginner bird walks was along the Fee Fee Greenway. We saw some Great Horned Owls up in a tree; they were perched on some branches facing the sun. It was late in the day, most likely getting ready for their dusk hunt. Our group was so excited to see them, they couldn’t believe these owls were in front of them. It felt like a mini party right there on the greenway!”
We have more Beginner Bird Walks planned for Fall 2023- find them here.
Meet Jessica Page
Posted on Wednesday July 24, 2024
Jessica Page joined her Equifax St. Louis coworkers on the Fee Fee Greenway last month as part of the company’s Worldwide cleanup Day efforts. Equifax offers all employees two paid days a year to volunteer in the community for causes they are passionate about. Jessica explains why her first greenway volunteer day won’t be her last:
“Great Rivers Greenway is one of my favorite organizations, so I was excited for the opportunity to volunteer. At first, I thought we were doing a trash cleanup, so I was a little nervous when I got there and saw all the tools and realized it was a honeysuckle hack. The crew leaders from GRG explained why it is so important to get rid of the invasive bush honeysuckle and taught us how to use the ‘loppers.’ I had no idea about how bad it is for the environment and now I see invasive honeysuckle everywhere. I feel informed! We got a lot more done in two hours than I expected—it was really motivating to see the before and after. I would encourage anyone who has been thinking about volunteering for a greenway workday to do it! It’s inspiring and fun to be a part of something that makes a positive impact on our environment in just a couple of hours!” (Find greenway volunteering opportunities here.)
Meet Sarah Lorentz
Posted on Monday July 22, 2024
Sarah Lorentz is an artist, teacher and lucky-for-us one of our volunteer Greenway Ambassadors. Many of her landscape paintings are created ‘en plein air,’ a French term that means “painting outside, on location from direct observation.” Over the next several months, you might find Sarah painting ‘en plein air’ on a greenway as she prepares for 2024 art exhibition at St. Louis Lambert International Airport.
“We are so lucky to have so many beautiful and unique outdoor places where we can connect to nature in St. Louis. This collection of paintings will focus on the significant biodiversity of the area. I want to capture all the different types of landscapes and ecosystems found along the greenways, creeks, bluffs, woodlands, wetlands, prairies, forests and more. I hope people who see these paintings will not only be inspired to visit these places, but also want to take care of them.” To learn more about Sarah’s work, visit her website here.
Five Great Greenways for Fall Color
Posted on Wednesday July 17, 2024
Greenways provide a front row seat to fall’s annual show of color. Those that meander through forests, along rivers or bottom lands are typically your best bet—but you can’t go wrong with any greenway this time of year! Take your pick of the following (or plan to visit them all this fall!)
Busch Greenway: Katy Trail to Missouri Research Park to August A. Busch Conservation Area The prime viewing spot along this greenway is the .75 mile route through the forest bottom between Missouri Research Park and the Katy Trail. For a longer walk or ride, explore the portion of the greenway that meanders through the Weldon Spring Conservation Area.
Meramec Greenway: Glencoe to Sherman Beach Park The Rock Hollow spur will wow you with a showy display of color as it drops down from Ridge Road to meet the Al Foster Trail. Once you reach the river, you’ll enjoy splashes of sunlight reflecting off the Meramec and colorful leaves along the bluffs along the Al Foster Trail. You might even spot a few Paw Paws along the way!
Mississippi Greenway: Cliff Cave Park Your first stop should be the overlook atop the 170 foot bluff where you’ll be treated to sweeping views of the Mighty Mississippi River. For an up-close look at leaves in all their fall glory, be sure to explore the paved greenway and natural paths in the upper section of the park.
Centennial Greenway: Forest Park to Washington University to Vernon Make a day of it on this greenway! Start with shopping and lunch in the Delmar Loop followed by a walk beneath the colorful canopy of trees on the Washington University campus. Top it off with one or more of the attractions in St. Louis’ colorful crown jewel- Forest Park!
Fee Fee Greenway to Centennial Greenway: Katy Trail to Schaefer Park & Spencer Creek Trail via Creve Coeur Park Bring your bike for an amazing fall ride that will take you all the way from the Maryland Heights Community Center to the St. Charles County Heritage Museum, Schaefer Park (and the St. Peters Rec Plex via Spencer Creek Trail) ! Take a spin around Creve Coeur Lake and enjoy the changing leaves as you traverse two greenways—and two counties—via the Creve Coeur Connector Trail!
Birdwatching on the Greenways
Posted on Wednesday July 17, 2024
Birdwatching is a hobby that combines fresh air, exercise, and beautiful scenery wrapped up in a treasure hunt. Not only that, birdwatching has no age limitations, requires minimal equipment and gives everyone the opportunity to be a citizen-scientist. The only word of caution from experienced birdwatchers is that once you start, it can become addicting!
Greenways are great places for birdwatching. In fact, several have been recognized by the Audubon Society as “important bird areas.” We asked the St. Louis Audubon Society to recommend the best greenways for spotting a wide variety of birds along with some tips for beginners.
The best place for spotting birds along this greenway is the area from McKelvey Woods to Creve Coeur Park. It meanders through what is known as an “edge habitat”—the space between a developed area and a natural habitat. The greenway’s location on a prairie flood plain near the Missouri River provides food and refuge for many migrating waders, waterfowl, and shorebirds.
Carondelet Park is on the eastern end of the River des Peres Greenway. This historic, 179-acre park provides stopover habitat for many migrating species in spring and fall. It also provides some breeding habitat for many birds excluded from the surrounding urban landscape (e.g., hawks and owls). The Audubon Society recently recorded 29 different species of birds on a single early-morning beginner bird walk in Carondelet Park!
Busch Greenway: Katy Trail to Missouri Research Park to August A. Busch Conservation Area
A good portion of the Busch Greenway passes through second-growth upland and bottomland forest, shrubland, and cropland areas managed by the Missouri Department of Conservation. All of this great breeding and stopover habitat means great birdwatching! If you want to see lots of birds, focus on the area between the Duckett Creek trail head and Katy Trail or the section that stretches between Weldon Spring and August A. Busch Conservation areas.
Birdwatching for Beginners: What do you need?
A pair of binoculars
Comfortable walking shoes
Weather-appropriate clothing
A field guide to birds. There are several options:
If you prefer to use an app on your phone, Cornell Lab of Ornithology has created the Merlin Bird Identification App. It prompts you to answer five questions about the bird you have seen and it offers suggestions about what kind of bird it is based on your location. Learn more about Merlin here.
The Audubon Society also has a free app for identifying birds. Learn more about the Audubon Society app here: https://www.audubon.org/app
Birdwatching Tips
Walk slowly
Use quiet voices; no shouting
Smaller groups are better
Observe; do not interact with the birds
Look low along the ground in “shrubby” areas and high up in the tree tops
Listen carefully (If you want to familiarize yourself with different bird songs, visit the Cornell Lab of Ornithology “All about Birds” field guide. You can enter the name of the bird and hear their song. Find it here: https://www.allaboutbirds.org/guide/ )
Become a Citizen Scientist: Share the birds you have seen on the greenways!
eBird is the world’s largest biodiversity-related citizen science project, with more than 100 million bird sightings contributed each year by eBirders around the world. This collaborative effort is managed by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology. eBird lets you:
10 Great River Views You Can Only Enjoy From a Greenway
Posted on Monday July 15, 2024
Almost every greenway is either named for, connected to, meanders alongside or crosses over one of our region’s rivers or creeks.
Whether it’s the Mighty Mississippi or Dardenne Creek, greenways are great places to not only see stunning river views, but also enjoy the calming side effects of flowing water. There’s a good chance you’ll also spot some of the many birds and animals who make their home or migrate along the rivers. Here are 10 amazing river views you can enjoy on foot or bike via a greenway:
1. Mississippi River at the Old Chain of Rocks Bridge Take the Mississippi Greenway: Chouteau Riverfront to Old Chain of Rocks Bridge (Riverfront Trail) to its northernmost point and walk or ride out to the center of the Historic Old Chain of Rocks Bridge. Depending on the season, you might spot a family of eagles. Look downstream and you can see the Gateway Arch. Listen closely and you can hear the water rippling over the chain of rocks below. If you want to drive, park on the Illinois side of the bridge here.
2. Missouri River at the Page Avenue Extension/364 Bridge Walking & Biking Lane The Page Avenue Extension/364 Bridge has a dedicated walking and biking lane that connects to the Katy Trail at mile 42.8 just south of the Family Arena in St. Charles County. On the east side, it connects to the 3.6 mile Creve Coeur Park Connector Trail. In the middle of the bridge there is a bump-out where you can pause to enjoy a bird’s- eye view of the Missouri River. The Centennial Greenway: Katy Trail to Schaefer Park and Spencer Creek Trail connects to this bridge on the St. Charles County side. In St. Louis County, you can take the Fee Fee Greenway: Aquaport to Creve Coeur Park all the way from the Maryland Heights Community Center, through the park to link up with the Connector Trail to the bridge.
3. Mississippi River from Mississippi Greenway: River City Casino to Jefferson Barracks Park This section of the Mississippi River Greenway offers magnificent views of the river as it stretches from Jefferson Barracks County Park north along the river. Be sure to slow down to watch the barges working the river. Plan your visit here.
4. Missouri River at Sunset Park The more the leaves fall, the better the views of the Missouri River in Sunset Park via the Sunset Greenway: Old Town Florissant to Sunset Park. Plan to spend the day exploring this greenway and finish with a sunset!
5. Mississippi River at Cliff Cave Park The Mississippi Greenway: Cliff Cave Park offers stunning views of the river from an overlook nestled into the rocky bluffs towering 170 feet over the river. You can also watch the river flow by on the paved 5 mile greenway in the lower section of the park.
6. Missouri River on the Boone Bridge The walking and biking path on the I-64 Daniel Boone Bridge lets you slow down and enjoy the Missouri River from the middle of the bridge—something you can’t do in a car. You can connect to the bridge via the Busch Greenway and Katy Trail in St. Charles County. The Missouri Greenway: Monarch Chesterfield Levee will get you there too!
7. Meramec River at Lower Meramec Park The greenway and St. Louis County Park not only offers great river views, but also serves as a natural flood plain so the river can spread out during high water and flooding. As you walk or ride, you’ll enjoy a mixture of woodlands and open fields. The trees are highly diverse with some of the best remaining woodlands in the Lower Meramec Valley. Plan your visit here.
8. Meramec River at Al Foster Trail Views of the river from the Al Foster Trail along the Meramec Greenway is sure to improve your mood as you meander through a bottomland forest next to soaring limestone bluffs. It’s a must see! Plan your visit here.
9. Meramec Greenway: Greentree Park to Arnold’s Grove The Meramec River makes a big turn near Kirkwood’s Greentree Park and it’s especially lovely to watch the light sparkling on the water in the morning and late afternoon. You can start your walk or ride in Greentree Park and follow the river all the way to Arnold’s Grove in Valley Park…or vice versa. Either way it’s a great way to enjoy the Meramec River. Plan your visit here.
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