We know taxes aren't a lot of fun, but there is a small thing you can do to feel better about the process. Donating to the Fish/Wildlife Fund (also known as the Chickadee Checkoff), on line 21 of your Iowa state tax form, can help support thousands of vulnerable wildlife through research, habitat development and education.
Just over 5,300 tax payers donated generously during the 2023 tax year. These donors gave around $134,000; an almost $14,000 decrease from the year before. A huge heartfelt thanks to all of you who made a donation and a difference! We hope more donors will come onboard because it is such an easy way to donate!
You can make a big difference!
The Chickadee Check-off was put on the state tax form in the early 1980s and it is one of the vital sources of funding for the Iowa DNR's Wildlife Diversity Program. It allows Iowa tax payers to donate a portion of their state tax refund to wildlife conservation. The wildlife diversity program does not receive general state taxpayer funds and is primarily supported through the voluntary chickadee check-off and the sale of Natural Resources License Plates.
If every Iowa taxpayer gave $1 that would mean $1.6 million for wildlife!
Here are a few non-game wildlife projects that Chickadee Check-off funds helped support in 2024:
WOOD THRUSH PROJECT
Have you ever been walking through the woods and been suddenly transfixed by an ethereal, flute-like sound? You were probably hearing the breeding song of the wood thrush! It changes a simple walk in the woods into a magical experience. Unfortunately, Wood Thrush have experienced an almost 50% decline since 1966, so in an effort to learn more about them, Iowa joined other states to band and radio-tag several birds. Non-game wildlife staff were able to band 34 wood thrush in Iowa and put transmitters on 28 of those. These tagged birds are being tracked by the Motus network of towers.
Multiple Species Inventory and Monitoring Program
Every year crews of young biologists spend 6 months tromping around collecting data on the thousands of species of wildlife that call Iowa home. Since 2006, no single project has added more to our understanding of wildlife in Iowa. In 2024, the MSIM team found a fish that hadn't been seen in Iowa since the 1930s - the Starhead Topminnow! This little fish created some big excitement! Photo by Kaitlyn Mathews.
IOWA BUMBLE BEE ATLAS
We still have so much to learn about the insects in Iowa - small in size but big in overall species number AND impact they have on all of our ecosystems. Non-game wildlife staff helped launch and collect data for the inaugural year of the Bumble Bee atlas! Iowa volunteers recorded almost 1,200 bumble bees representing 10 species! You can read all about the 2024 season and could maybe join us in 2025!
Look for the Checkoff on the Iowa State Tax Form.
It's easy to do: Look for the Fish/Wildlife Fund, line 21 on Form 1040. If you use a tax preparer, be sure and ask about the Fish/Wildlife Fund! They may overlook it.
Thanks for your support!