Upcoming KOS Meetings

KOS 2026 Spring Meeting

The KOS 2026 Spring meeting is planned for Berea, Kentucky on the weekend of April 24–26. The Berea College Forestry Outreach Center at The Pinnacles will host the meetings.

Lodging information:

• Historic Boone Tavern will provide a block of rooms at a reduced rate
• Boone Tavern's reduced rate Group ID Code: 289539
• Reduced rate rooms are available for reservations until 3/25/2026
• Other hotels are nearby if rooms are unavailable at Boone Tavern

To reserve a room at Boone Tavern, you can contact the front desk at 859-985-3700 and let them know your group is Kentucky Ornithological Society. Alternatively, you can reserve through their website. If you choose to use the website, please, do the following:

• Visit the Boone Tavern website reservation page.
• Enter your arrival and departure date as "04/24/26"
• Enter the Group ID Code: 289539
• You will see availability and rates and you can select a room.

Meeting Details:

The following information can also be found in the KOS Spring 2026 Meeting Flyer (PDF)

Location: Berea Forestry Outreach Center
Dates: April 24-26, 2026
Registration: $10.00 ($3.00 for students)

Silent Auction – KOS will again hold a silent auction during the meeting, as we did at the most recent fall meeting. It was successful and well received, so we are going to repeat it.
For more details you can Jump to the Silent Auction Details

Food in Berea – We have some suggestions for restaurants you can try in the area.
For more details you can Jump to the “Eating in Berea” section

Schedule:

Friday, April 24

Saturday, April 25

Sunday, April 26

Friday Speaker: Pam Spaulding

Join Pam Spaulding on a photographic journey into the heart of spring, where prairie-chickens and grouse perform their ancient dances upon the leks. As winter loosens its grip, thousands of migrating Sandhill Cranes gather along the timeless flow of Nebraska's Platte River. Witness the rituals of these four wild species—and if you haven't seen them in person, you'll want to next year.

Keynote Speaker (Saturday): Greg Abernathy

Short Bio:

Greg is the Executive Director of Kentucky Natural Lands Trust, a conservation nonprofit working to safeguard biodiversity, stabilize the climate and support communities, with a primary focus in Central Appalachia. He has more than 25 years of experience as a conservation practitioner having helped protect tens of thousands of acres of wildlands. Greg has extensive knowledge of large landscape conservation including land acquisition, partnership collaboration, fundraising, planning, spatial data analysis/modeling and outreach/communications. He has worked for private, government and nonprofit organizations throughout the Appalachian region. Greg's background is in forest ecology, geographic information systems (GIS) and design. He holds a B.S. in Natural Resources Conservation and an M.S. in Forestry from the University of Kentucky. Greg is the lead editor, co-author, cartographer and illustrator of Kentucky's Natural Heritage: An Illustrated Guide to Biodiversity. Compiled by the Kentucky Natural Heritage Program, the book is an essential reference to the nature of the commonwealth and presents a persuasive case for biodiversity conservation.

Talk Overview: — Wildlands of Central Appalachia

Greg will talk about the extraordinary biodiversity of Kentucky with a focus on Central Appalachia and the efforts underway to safeguard this region.

Detailed Field Trip Descriptions:

Friday, April 24, 1:00 p.m.
David Bailey – Owsley Fork Reservoir – We will bird by walking along roads and around boat ramps, potentially driving briefly from one side of the reservoir to the other to bird both sides by foot. We'll keep an eye out for lingering waterfowl but will spend most of the time focusing on warblers, vireos, and other passerines in the trees around the lake.

Apple iOS Maps GPS Coordinates: 37.542723, -84.186330 (open Apple Maps)
Google Android Maps GPS Coordinates: 37.542723, -84.186330 (open Google Maps)

Friday, April 24, 3:00 p.m.
Rebecca Bates & Rob Foster – Berea College Forest – Meet at the Outreach Center doors. Depending on weather and participants' desire we will either do a short loop of about half a mile over mostly level terrain, or a slightly more strenuous loop, that requires an initial uphill climb then downhill and leveling out on the Learn & Burn Trail, about 1.25 miles. We will target migrating songbirds and possibly raptors. Restrooms and water fountain available at the Outreach Center.

Apple iOS Maps GPS Coordinates: 37.553996, -84.240804 (open Apple Maps)
Google Android Maps GPS Coordinates: 37.553996, -84.240804 (open Google Maps)

Saturday, April 25, 7:45 a.m.
Kyle Bixler – Lily Mountain Preserve – We will meet at the outreach center at 7:45 (earlier than the other groups) and caravan to the Lily Mountain Preserve. The preserve is about 25-30 minutes drive from the outreach center. We will be hiking a side loop (1-1.5 miles) and other lower trails through diverse habitats (Hardwood, scrub, prairie). We should encounter quite a diversity of species of warblers, vireos and other passerines here. The trails we will be hiking are easy to moderate with some hills on parts of the trails. The preserve has parking and a port-a-potty at the trail entrance.

Apple iOS Maps GPS Coordinates: 37.651812, -84.099163 (open Apple Maps)
Google Android Maps GPS Coordinates: 37.651812, -84.099163 (open Google Maps)

Saturday, April 25, 8:00 a.m.
Rebecca Bates & Rob Foster – Owsley Fork Reservoir – Meet at the Outreach Center. Once at the reservoir's boat ramp, try to park at the top of the lot, so anglers have space to launch their boats. We will walk Radford Hollow Road (paved and level) and maybe a fairly level logging road at the end of Radford Hollow, totaling about 1.25 to 1.5 miles. After looking for waterfowl from the ramp, we will look for migrating songbirds and waders from the road. There is also a parking area on the other side of the reservoir in Jackson County. One can park there and walk the one-lane dirt road (Owsley Fork Road) for some good views of the water. Be aware that the area at the end of that road is sometimes used as an informal shooting range. No restrooms are available at Owsley.

Apple iOS Maps GPS Coordinates: 37.542723, -84.186330 (open Apple Maps)
Google Android Maps GPS Coordinates: 37.542723, -84.186330 (open Google Maps)

Saturday, April 25, 8:00 a.m.
Ronan O’Carra – Berea College Forest – Meet at the Outreach Center. We will be birding the lower reaches of Berea College Forest on forest trails that are uneven but not steep. We will do multiple loops out and back from the Outreach center allowing for varied length of distance and time. We will also include a road walk up to the local reservoir across the road from the parking.

Apple iOS Maps GPS Coordinates: 37.553996, -84.240804 (open Apple Maps)
Google Android Maps GPS Coordinates: 37.553996, -84.240804 (open Google Maps)

Saturday, April 25, 8:00 a.m.
Michael Patton – Brushy Fork Trail – Meet at the Outreach Center and caravan to the trail parking lot. We will be walking the easy trail loop which will be about 1.5 miles on mostly level ground. We will be focused on migrating songbirds in the forest, but there is some early successional habitat and a bit of grasslands to bird as well.

Apple iOS Maps GPS Coordinates: 37.565553, -84.288493 (open Apple Maps)
Google Android Maps GPS Coordinates: 37.565553, -84.288493 (open Google Maps)

Saturday, April 25, 1:00 p.m.
Rebecca Bates & Rob Foster – Anglin Falls – Update: this trip is currently full.
Registration and carpooling necessary. Anglin Falls preserve is a closed area that Berea College is restoring. Because of limited access, participants are asked to sign up beforehand and plan on carpooling from the Forestry Outreach Center. The site includes an uneven dirt (sometimes mud) 1.6 mile trail (there-and-back total) that gains about 250 feet to its terminus at a 75-foot waterfall. In some years the area has spectacular spring wildflowers (trillium, trout lilies, occasionally lady's slipper). It is also a good place for migrating songbirds. No restrooms are available at Anglin Falls.

Information about registration and directions will be provided at the meeting.

Saturday, April 25, 1:00 p.m.
Joyce Bender, David Bailey, Ronan O'Carra – iNaturalist hike at “Burn Loop” Trail. We will introduce participants to the iNaturalist app that will help in identifying plants, insects and fungi. We will hike the Burn Loop of Berea College Forest and use the app to identify spring flowers and any other wildlife we come across. The Burn Loop is an uneven trail with small inclines but we will be going at a slow pace. Please download the app to your phone and sign up for an account prior to the outing. We will meet at the Forest Outreach Center and walk a bike trail to the burn unit for an easier route. Restrooms and water fountain available at the Outreach Center.

Apple iOS Maps GPS Coordinates: 37.553996, -84.240804 (open Apple Maps)
Google Android Maps GPS Coordinates: 37.553996, -84.240804 (open Google Maps)

Sunday, April 26, 8:00 a.m.
Rebecca Bates & Rob Foster – Big Sit & photography session, Boxend (131 Lorraine Court, Berea). Our back porch is well positioned for morning photography of birds foraging in our yard and visiting our water feature. The yard backs up on the Berea Cemetery with some of the oldest oaks in town. So, at this time of year we usually have a good mix of resident and migrating birds, often including Cape May Warblers in our spruce trees. Feel free to drop by anytime, park in our driveway or on the street. Then climb the steps at the top of the driveway to our porch. (Rebecca's cell number: 859-200-9391)

Apple iOS Maps GPS Coordinates: 37.5799212, -84.2800259 (open Apple Maps)
Google Android Maps GPS Coordinates: 37.5799212,-84.2800259 (open Google Maps)

Sunday, April 26, 8:00 a.m.
Brad Everhart – Lake Linville – Easy walking, no hills, approximately 1.5 -2 miles total. Depending on possible recent rains, some initial parts along the shoreline may be slightly muddy, so appropriate footwear recommended. We will be starting off at the Marina viewing any lingering waterfowl such as Canada Geese, Teal, and Wood Ducks, along with Heron and Wilson's Snipe, possible shorebirds such as Killdeer, Sandpipers, and Yellowlegs. We'll walk North up along the creek to Mt Zion Church Road and then swing south along Barnett Rd. Possible birds include Osprey, Bald Eagles, Vireos, Warblers, Pileated Woodpeckers, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Kingbirds, Orioles, Swallows and Kingfishers. Depending on time, on the way back up Barnett Rd we may walk a bit north through Lake Linville Park along the treeline and Renfro Creek.

Apple iOS Maps GPS Coordinates: 37.401706, -84.348798 (open Apple Maps)
Google Android Maps GPS Coordinates: 37.401706, -84.348798 (open Google Maps)

Eating In Berea

Fast Food Restaurants are available off of I-75 at both exit 76 and 77

Local Restaurants

On the College Square – Papaleno's (College Pizza Joint), Dona Maria's Tamales (Authentic Mexican), Burt's Speakcheesey (Expensive Grilled Cheese), Boone Tavern “Crafted” (Upscale)

Around Town – Honeysuckle and Bourbon (Upscale, located at the former Churchill Weaver's), Rio Grande (Tex-Mex), Native Bagel and Nightjar (the only restaurant in town named for a bird!), Apollo Pizza (located in Old Town)

Silent Auction Details

A message from KOS Councillor Asher Higgins:

The Kentucky Ornithological Society is excited to announce we will be holding another silent auction at our spring meeting in Berea on April 24–26. Proceeds will go to KOS. Bidding will open at 6:00 p.m. Friday evening when registration opens and will close fifteen minutes after the Saturday evening meeting ends. All purchases must be paid for and picked up by the end of the Saturday evening meeting. Auction rules and bidder numbers will be provided at registration.

If you wish to donate bird or nature related items to the auction, first send an email to asher.higgins@birdky.org with a list of items you will be bringing or sending, and note whether you will be dropping them off Friday or Saturday. Please have submissions emailed by Wednesday, April 22. Donations can be dropped off at the meeting room (registration table) anytime after 5:00 p.m. Friday, or on Saturday evening beginning at 6:30 p.m. Items of interest include books, birdhouses, bird feeders, optics/tripods, artwork, birding/outdoor clothing items, native plants, etc.

If you wish to donate items for the auction but do not plan to attend the meeting, feel free to send them along with a friend who will be attending, or contact me at asher.higgins@birdky.org to try to connect you with someone who will be able to transport your items to the meeting.

A reminder will be sent out a week before the meeting.

TOS-KOS Joint Fall 2026 Meeting September 18-20

A message from KOS President David Bailey:

I'm excited to announce that our KOS fall meeting this year will be a joint meeting alongside the Tennessee Ornithological Society!

We will be meeting at the Land Between the Lakes area on September 18-20. Due to ongoing construction at the parks, our meetings will take place at Lake Barkley State Resort Park and lodging will be a short drive away at KenLake Resort Park. There is plenty of camping all around as well.

If you plan to make a reservation at KenLake, cottage and lodge rooms are available ranging from $111-$143/night, plus taxes. To get our special rate, use group code 3076 when making a reservation. You may reserve online at this link or by calling (207) 474-2211. Reservations must be made by July 18th for cottages and August 18th for lodge rooms, but I would encourage you to make your reservations quickly because we anticipate this to be a well attended meeting. Also keep in mind that breakfast is not included in the room rate, but there are breakfast restaurants located on site, you may just want to plan on arriving there early for meals as it could be busy.

Most excitingly, our keynote speakers on both Friday and Saturday nights will be Cin-Ty Lee and Andrew Birch who co-authored two books: Field Guide to North American Flycatchers: Empidonax and Pewees and Field Guide to North American Flycatchers: Kingbirds and Myiarchus . If you haven't picked up these field guides, they are tremendously useful (the empidonax one for anywhere in the US and the kingbirds/myiarchus one to prepare for a rare vagrant to show up in your yard!). Cin-Ty and Andrew should teach us quite a bit and have us returning home from the weekend as better birders than when we arrived.

We are still working on details surrounding field trips, separate business meetings, and other aspects of the fall meeting, so check BirdKY.org for more details as they become available and I will also plan on sending out a reminder or two as we get closer to the fall meeting.