Missouri River Bird Observatory

08/30/2026

08/29/2026

Plastic Earth Movie Screening
Sunday, August 30th from 2 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Monday, August 31st from 5:30 p.m. – 7:30 p.m.
Location: Phelps County Courthouse, 200 N Rolla Street, Rolla, MO
Hosted by Citizens’ Climate Lobby & Show-Me Less Plastic Advocate Network Members

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSdSQ0V0o4nVy2EBPzPCKIBieVEsG4QTIEXHHlsKU2O3E2BRwQ/viewform

08/28/2026

08/28/2026

Upcoming Plastic Brand Audits
Sunday, August 30th - Miami, MO
Saturday, September 12th - Glasgow, MO

The Missouri River Bird Observatory is conducting two Plastic Brand Audits this summer. We will be auditing plastic trash that our friends from Missouri River Relief pull out of the river that morning.

A Brand Audit consists of tallying the corporate brands found on the plastic trash collected by volunteer groups around the world. These audits allow us to determine which corporations’ single-use plastic packaging is contributing the most to the global plastic pollution crisis…and ultimately, to call them out on it. We will be following Break Free From Plastic’s audit methodology and submitting the data to their global brand report.

Get more information and sign up for the Miami audit here: https://bit.ly/4als0Ir

Get more information and sign up for the Glasgow audit here: https://bit.ly/4uQbFmp

08/27/2026

🪶 August’s Bird of the Month: Ruddy Turnstone (Arenaria interpres)
Ever wondered where the Ruddy Turnstone got its name? The “turnstone” part is pretty literal! These small shorebirds use their slightly upturned bills to flip over rocks, shells, and seaweed in search of insects, mollusks, and small crustaceans. And “ruddy”? That refers to the rich chestnut coloring on their wings and back. ❤️🤎
Ruddy Turnstones are true long-distance travelers. They breed in the High Arctic of Alaska, Canada, Greenland, and Russia, then migrate thousands of miles to winter along coastlines around the world. They’re found on nearly every coastline on Earth except Antarctica!
Missouri may seem a long way from the ocean, but Ruddy Turnstones pass through our state during migration. Southbound birds are typically seen in August and September, making now a great time to keep an eye out along mudflats, shorelines, and other suitable stopover habitat.
This year, Ruddy Turnstones have already been observed at:
📍 Loess Bluffs National Wildlife Refuge
📍 Four Rivers Conservation Area
📍 Schell-Osage Conservation Area
📍 Riverlands Migratory Bird Sanctuary
Despite being widespread and still relatively common, Ruddy Turnstones—and shorebirds worldwide—face growing pressure from habitat loss, coastal development, human disturbance, and climate change.
Protecting Arctic breeding grounds, wetland stopover sites, and shorelines helps ensure these remarkable migrants continue their incredible journeys for generations to come. 🌎🐦
Have you spotted a Ruddy Turnstone in Missouri this year? Let us know where!

08/26/2026

Plastic is the world’s largest oil spill.

The infamous Deepwater Horizon rig released over 160 million gallons of oil into the ocean over three months. That much oil—rebranded as plastic—enters the ocean each week. This doesn’t even account for the amount lost to other ecosystems.

The fossil fuel industry knowingly allows this. It relies on disposable plastics and continues to make about 40% of its products single-use and nearly none of them recyclable. They are made to be waste. With the excessive amount pushed into our lives, we can’t help but pass them on to the environment.

With efforts like extended producer responsibility and other reuse systems, we can push industry to turn off the plastic tap, stop the spill, and finally begin cleaning up their fossil fuel residue coating our ecosystems.

08/25/2026

Jefferson City Lunch and Local Action
Friday, September 25th from 12 p.m. - 1:30 p.m.
Location: To Be Determined

https://bit.ly/PlasticActionJC

08/24/2026

08/23/2026

✨Plastic Free July Business Spotlight✨

Thank you to Friendship Brewing Company in the City of Flint Hill for Skipping the Straw! This is a simple yet effective step toward reducing the amount of pollution our communities face. Next time you’re in Flint Hill, be sure to stop by and thank them for their work!

📍Find them on the map of Missouri businesses leading the way in plastics reduction: https://bit.ly/pfj2026-map
Plastic Free July may be over for now, but voluntary actions like this can happen all year long. Which business in your community is leading the way?