River Relief

October 4, 2011

Oct. 18 Big Muddy Speakers Series in Rocheport

Tales of a Shrub Nesting Migratory Songbird, the Bell's Vireo

presented by Cara Joos, Doctoral Candidate with the University of Missouri Biological Sciences, Columbia, discussing her research on habitat quality for breeding Bell’s Vireos in Missouri, specifically populations in the Overton Bottoms Big Muddy National Fish & Wildlife Refuge (NWR).

Bell’s Vireos are a shrub nesting migratory songbird whose populations are steadily declining, largely due to loss of quality habitat. Cara will discuss the history of shrublands in Missouri and the processes that maintain this disturbance dependent habitat.

7:00 p.m. - Tues. Oct. 18, 2011
lower floor of the
Les Bourgeois Vineyards Bistro
in Rocheport, MO
(directions below)

Presentation is FREE! Click here for flier (pdf)

Come early to purchase a great dinner upstairs at the Bistro!

The Bell’s Vireo (Vireo bellii) is a shrub nesting migratory songbird that breeds throughout the central and south western US. Interestingly, James Audubon himself first described this species on the Missouri River in 1844. They are a shrub nesting species that requires areas of true shrublands and are not associated with forest edges or openings.

The Central US sub-species, found here in Missouri, was historically associated with areas of frequent disturbances such as flood plains and prairies, where floods and fires maintained open areas with scattered patches of dense shrubs.

Come learn more about this interesting little bird making its home on the Big Muddy as Cara Joos discusses her dissertation research investigating habitat quality for breeding Bell’s Vireos in Missouri.

Join us for our monthly Big Muddy Speaker Series at the Les Bourgeois Bistro.

Directions

• Take I-70 to the Rocheport, MO, exit (Exit #115). It's the first exit east of the Missouri River.
• Head north toward Rocheport.
• After about a mile, turn left at the sign for Les Bourgeois Bistro. Follow the signs to the Bistro. You will probably need to park in the lot above the Bistro and walk the trail down.
• The presentations are held in the lower level. You can either enter at the restaurant entrance then go down the stairs to your left past the bar, or you can follow the walk to the right of the restaurant and enter through a glass door into the lower level.
  
• 14020 W. Hwy BB, Rocheport, MO (click for Google Map)