Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of the month from September through April. Speaker presentations are open to the public, providing environmental education to everyone in our community.
We sponsor outings and participate in bird- and conservation-related community events at the local, regional, and national level. We also participate in a number of community, regional, and even national events.
Events in May 2026
| MonMonday | TueTuesday | WedWednesday | ThuThursday | FriFriday | SatSaturday | SunSunday | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
April 27, 2026
|
April 28, 2026
|
April 29, 2026
|
April 30, 2026
|
May 1, 2026
|
May 2, 2026
|
May 3, 2026
|
|||||
May 4, 2026
|
May 5, 2026
|
May 6, 2026
|
May 7, 2026
|
May 8, 2026
|
May 9, 2026
|
May 10, 2026
|
|||||
May 11, 2026(1 event) – 
Our annual meeting has been rescheduled this year to coincide with a fundraiser. We hope you will join us for pizza, chicken, mashed potatoes, corn, salad bar and more at Pizza Ranch in Waite Park on May 11th, from 5:00-8:00 p.m.! Ten per cent of proceeds from the evening’s fundraiser will come to CMAS! Let us know if you are interested in helping staff a table about CMAS at this event. The meeting portion of the evening will be from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. The annual meeting is for purposes of electing board members every second year (not this year) and announcing our summer programs. This year we will also be honoring two of our very long-term members. Come help us celebrate! |
May 12, 2026
|
May 13, 2026
|
May 14, 2026
|
May 15, 2026
|
May 16, 2026(2 events) – 
Our own Jim Millard will be leading a bird walk at Avon Hills Folk School. From the Folk School’s website: Springtime is the time of migration and the largest variety of full plumage birds are most likely to be encountered. As we move into late spring / early summer, migrants have moved to their nesting grounds and pair off for the nesting period. Visual ID becomes much more difficult as the foliage often completely obscures birds, but their habits and audible clues still allow identification and enjoyment. Students can expect to be guided through the natural area of the Avon Hills Folk School and get an introduction to bird identification, habitat and activity. Bird identification will be through both visual [shape / color / behavior] and audio [calls / songs / behavior] means. Recommended: Head net and/or bug repellent, binoculars, good walking shoes. Your Instructor JIM MILLARD(he/him) Born and raised in the Midwest, I have had an interest in birds since early grade school. I had an older brother who inspired me with an enthusiasm for birding and helped me learn the sights, sounds and behavior of birds. After graduating from college and getting into the workplace my hobbies tended towards my 3 children; when they were old enough I took them to the state park near our house to observe wildlife and participated in the park’s bluebird monitoring program. My wife [Mary] and I took the University of Minnesota’s Master Naturalist Volunteer course in the spring of 2021, and my capstone project was an Eastern Bluebird nest box trail at Crow Wing State Park. Since moving to St. Joseph last summer I have become a member of the Central Minnesota Audubon Society Recently retired from 33 years with the US Army, I now have the time to spend doing more with wildlife. I have a passion to instill enthusiasm and participation from students so that they can learn, grow and enjoy the outdoors, birds in particular. I have found that the students’ questions and conversation also inspire me to learn more along with them. Curiosity is a quality which should be encouraged as it leads to life-long learning. Go to Avon Hills Folk School to register Click on ‘Explore Courses.’ – Stearns County is holding it’s Kids to Parks Event at Quarry Park again this year. CMAS is supporting with bird walks for kids and anyone interested after the presentations by Jackie Fallon on the Peregrine Falcon and the American Kestrel. |
May 17, 2026
|
|||||
May 18, 2026
|
May 19, 2026
|
May 20, 2026
|
May 21, 2026
|
May 22, 2026
|
May 23, 2026(1 event) –
Our own Jim Millard will be leading a bird walk at Avon Hills Folk School. From the Folk School’s website: Springtime is the time of migration and the largest variety of full plumage birds are most likely to be encountered. As we move into late spring / early summer, migrants have moved to their nesting grounds and pair off for the nesting period. Visual ID becomes much more difficult as the foliage often completely obscures birds, but their habits and audible clues still allow identification and enjoyment. Students can expect to be guided through the natural area of the Avon Hills Folk School and get an introduction to bird identification, habitat and activity. Bird identification will be through both visual [shape / color / behavior] and audio [calls / songs / behavior] means. Recommended: Head net and/or bug repellent, binoculars, good walking shoes. Your Instructor JIM MILLARD(he/him) Born and raised in the Midwest, I have had an interest in birds since early grade school. I had an older brother who inspired me with an enthusiasm for birding and helped me learn the sights, sounds and behavior of birds. After graduating from college and getting into the workplace my hobbies tended towards my 3 children; when they were old enough I took them to the state park near our house to observe wildlife and participated in the park’s bluebird monitoring program. My wife [Mary] and I took the University of Minnesota’s Master Naturalist Volunteer course in the spring of 2021, and my capstone project was an Eastern Bluebird nest box trail at Crow Wing State Park. Since moving to St. Joseph last summer I have become a member of the Central Minnesota Audubon Society Recently retired from 33 years with the US Army, I now have the time to spend doing more with wildlife. I have a passion to instill enthusiasm and participation from students so that they can learn, grow and enjoy the outdoors, birds in particular. I have found that the students’ questions and conversation also inspire me to learn more along with them. Curiosity is a quality which should be encouraged as it leads to life-long learning. Go to Avon Hills Folk School to register Click on ‘Explore Courses.’ |
May 24, 2026
|
|||||
May 25, 2026
|
May 26, 2026
|
May 27, 2026(1 event) – 
|
May 28, 2026
|
May 29, 2026
|
May 30, 2026(1 event) –
Our own Jim Millard will be leading a bird walk at Avon Hills Folk School. From the Folk School’s website: Springtime is the time of migration and the largest variety of full plumage birds are most likely to be encountered. As we move into late spring / early summer, migrants have moved to their nesting grounds and pair off for the nesting period. Visual ID becomes much more difficult as the foliage often completely obscures birds, but their habits and audible clues still allow identification and enjoyment. Students can expect to be guided through the natural area of the Avon Hills Folk School and get an introduction to bird identification, habitat and activity. Bird identification will be through both visual [shape / color / behavior] and audio [calls / songs / behavior] means. Recommended: Head net and/or bug repellent, binoculars, good walking shoes. Your Instructor JIM MILLARD(he/him) Born and raised in the Midwest, I have had an interest in birds since early grade school. I had an older brother who inspired me with an enthusiasm for birding and helped me learn the sights, sounds and behavior of birds. After graduating from college and getting into the workplace my hobbies tended towards my 3 children; when they were old enough I took them to the state park near our house to observe wildlife and participated in the park’s bluebird monitoring program. My wife [Mary] and I took the University of Minnesota’s Master Naturalist Volunteer course in the spring of 2021, and my capstone project was an Eastern Bluebird nest box trail at Crow Wing State Park. Since moving to St. Joseph last summer I have become a member of the Central Minnesota Audubon Society Recently retired from 33 years with the US Army, I now have the time to spend doing more with wildlife. I have a passion to instill enthusiasm and participation from students so that they can learn, grow and enjoy the outdoors, birds in particular. I have found that the students’ questions and conversation also inspire me to learn more along with them. Curiosity is a quality which should be encouraged as it leads to life-long learning. Go to Avon Hills Folk School to register Click on ‘Explore Courses.’ |
May 31, 2026(1 event) – 
John and Linda Peck open their farm to CMAS and the St. Cloud Unitarian Universalist Fellowship for nature exploration and community. Bring lawn chairs or a blanket, a dish to share, plates, silverware and your own drinks. We will be close to the Rockville County Park and Eagle Park, and there are also grassy paths with small elevation changes on the Peck property. There are steps into the house where the desserts are kept. There is an indoor and outdoor toilet. We hope to see you there! M |
Photo: Doris Minnerath-Kneip
Annual Outings
These are outings that occur every year.
April
Sand Prairie WMA – look and listen for Woodcocks in their mating ritual. Programming the date is challenging as we are still subject to snowstorms, but the display is always worth the effort.
May
Albany Wastewater ponds – migrating ducks and shorebirds
Peck Farm in Rockville – Annual picnic. This event has been held for the past thirty years.
August
Varying locations – Chimney Swift Sit. We choose a location where there is a migratory communal roost. This outing had been very popular in previous years. We have just restarted it this past year and plan to continue, hoping to identify additional communal roosts in the CMAS area.
December
St Cloud/Collegeville area – Christmas Bird Count. The CBC has been around for 125 years, and the St Cloud circle has participated since 1980. Brian Jungels is the compiler for the CBC
Community Events
CMAS members are also encouraged to participate in area birding events:
February
Great Backyard Bird Count, promoted by National Audubon, Cornell Lab, and Birds Canada
May
Birding Days at St. John’s Arboretum, Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge, and Crane Meadows National Wildlife Refuge.
October
Sand Hill Crane Viewing at Sherburne National Wildlife Refuge.
Summer/Fall
Removing Invasive Species, Planting Native Species, Building Bird Houses or Feeders, Placing and Monitoring BlueBird Houses in Trails.