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Archive by tag: birdReturn
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Resurgence of avian influenza in wild birds

Resurgence of avian influenza in wild birds

  • 12/16/2024 7:01:00 AM
  • View Count 2251
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and its federal partners have been monitoring for the presence of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) in Iowa’s wild birds since early 2022. After nearly a year without detections in sick or dead birds, Iowa has seen a sharp jump in affected waterfowl across the state mostly, north of Interstate 80 since early December, spurred on by the stress of migration and the severe cold.
Sand Creek Wildlife Area is a birder, hunters paradise

Sand Creek Wildlife Area is a birder, hunters paradise

  • 7/2/2024 12:34:00 PM
  • View Count 3988
Tucked in to the rolling hills of southern Iowa’s Decatur County is Sand Creek Wildlife Area, a 3,700-acre destination for deer hunters and bird watchers. Here, cell service disappears and nature’s sounds take over – this isn’t a white noise machine – it’s the real thing.
World Migratory Bird Day is May 11

World Migratory Bird Day is May 11

  • 5/7/2024 12:05:00 PM
  • View Count 2241
World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD) has been raising awareness about the importance of migratory bird conservation since 1993. On May 11, WMBD is a chance to celebrate migratory birds across countries and continents. This year’s theme is “Protect Insects, Protect Birds."
Central Iowa birding opportunities abound at Chichaqua - Neal Smith Bird Conservation Area

Central Iowa birding opportunities abound at Chichaqua - Neal Smith Bird Conservation Area

  • 7/5/2023 12:08:00 PM
  • View Count 3857
Dedicated in the spring of 2005, the Chichaqua-Neal Smith Grassland Bird Conservation Area (BCA) is an important stop along the bird migration. Based on weather radar, an estimated 800 million birds migrate through Iowa in the spring, and up to one billion in the fall, which puts Iowa in the top five states in the country for volume.
Learn to Hunt program opens registration for women’s upland bird hunting workshop and mentored hunt

Learn to Hunt program opens registration for women’s upland bird hunting workshop and mentored hunt

  • 10/11/2022 12:04:00 PM
  • View Count 3716
DES MOINES - The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is offering a comprehensive program to teach skills needed to hunt upland game. This program is geared towards women 18 years of age and older who have had little to no upland bird hunting experience. The workshop is also an excellent opportunity for women looking to return to the field and build a network of female upland hunters.
DNR monitoring for avian influenza in wild birds

DNR monitoring for avian influenza in wild birds

  • 4/8/2022 9:15:00 AM
  • View Count 3460
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources and its federal partners are working together to monitor for the presence of avian influenza in Iowa’s wild birds.
If you are feeding birds right now you need to read this

If you are feeding birds right now you need to read this

  • 4/4/2022 2:21:00 PM
  • View Count 7513
If you enjoy feeding birds, late winter can be a very exciting time as the migrants start to arrive and claim a place on the feeder beside the birds we've been watching all winter. It's also a time, however, to be extra vigilant about keep your bird feeders clean!
Mystery ailment impacting birds inching westward

Mystery ailment impacting birds inching westward

  • 6/29/2021 1:28:00 PM
  • View Count 3111
Since May, state agencies, wildlife rehabilitators, and animal control operators in the Mid-Atlantic United States have received a sharp uptick in reports of sick or dead songbirds.
Backyard bird feeders encouraged to keep those feeders clean

Backyard bird feeders encouraged to keep those feeders clean

  • 4/27/2021 11:41:00 AM
  • View Count 4696
Each year, especially during late winter, the Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) receives reports of sick or dead birds at feeder locations, particularly in the southern part of the state. Unsanitary conditions at bird feeders can lead to the spread of several diseases amongst birds that frequent these feeders.
Virtual clinic aims to improve hunter skills

Virtual clinic aims to improve hunter skills

  • 11/3/2020 12:29:00 PM
  • View Count 2987
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is hosting a free virtual wing shooting clinic designed to help hunters age 16 and older become more effective waterfowl and upland bird hunters.
She Goes Outdoors releases birding box

She Goes Outdoors releases birding box

  • 10/6/2020 1:39:00 PM
  • View Count 2272
She Goes Outdoors has partnered with the Audubon Society, Kansas Ornithological Society, and The Wild Bird Habitat Store for this month's release – a birding box.
Shorebirds flocking to mudflats at Lake Red Rock

Shorebirds flocking to mudflats at Lake Red Rock

  • 8/25/2020 1:14:00 PM
  • View Count 3487
Birdwatchers know that heading north out of Pleasantville on North State Street, will lead them to a dead end at Lake Red Rock, near the impoundment that holds the greatest number of shorebirds available to birdwatchers without a boat.
Is it okay to look in a bird's nest?

Is it okay to look in a bird's nest?

  • 5/8/2019 12:46:00 PM
  • View Count 6930
This time of year is very busy outdoors. Birds are in the process of building and rebuilding nests, sitting on eggs or taking care of their young. Not all birds nest at the same time. Some start as early as mid-February, such as great horned owls. And some as late as August, such as the American goldfinch.
Wildlife in the Wood Shop

Wildlife in the Wood Shop

  • 2/26/2019 9:39:00 AM
  • View Count 7336
No, not the occasional rogue chipmunk that finds a way in and runs amok. We’re referring to building projects that help wildlife and which you can undertake in the coziness of your heated wood shop, while the snow flies outside.
Warblers are Starting their Fall Migration

Warblers are Starting their Fall Migration

  • 9/27/2018 2:25:00 PM
  • View Count 4790
Migration season is always a birder’s paradise as species that aren’t usually found in Iowa can be seen passing through. August through October are typically peak migration months.
Badger Lake offers an easy nature stop off I-29

Badger Lake offers an easy nature stop off I-29

  • 9/11/2018 1:13:00 PM
  • View Count 5341
Whiting, Iowa - Sitting not quite halfway between Sioux City and Council Bluffs with I-29 going right through it, it’s easy to think that Badger Lake Wildlife Area would be overrun with bird watchers, duck hunters, kayakers and nature lovers 24/7/365. While it does get busy when the duck migration is on, many days the only visitor is a wayward cormorant or a neighbor stopping by to wet a line.
Iowa's teal season opens Sept. 1

Iowa's teal season opens Sept. 1

  • 8/21/2018 12:40:00 PM
  • View Count 7294
Iowa’s first duck hunting season begins September 1 with the 16 day teal-only season. These fast flying early migrators use the first cool spell in late August as a sign to start heading south.
Soap Creek and Stephens State Forest to become a bird conservation area

Soap Creek and Stephens State Forest to become a bird conservation area

  • 1/23/2018 9:07:00 AM
  • View Count 5764
OTTUMWA - A public ceremony to dedicate Soap Creek and Eldon Wildlife Areas, Stephens State Forest Unionville Unit, Lake Wapello State Park, and a portion of the Soap Creek watershed as Iowa’s newest Bird Conservation Area (BCA) will take place on Thursday, February 8 at 1:30 pm.
Annual winter bird survey opens Dec. 14

Annual winter bird survey opens Dec. 14

  • 12/12/2017 1:04:00 PM
  • View Count 4692
The annual Christmas bird count begins across Iowa with volunteers working with count coordinators from the Iowa Ornithologists Union to identify one day between Dec. 14 and Jan. 5 to count every bird – seen or heard – in their designated area.
Kellerton Grasslands Named a Globally Important Bird Area

Kellerton Grasslands Named a Globally Important Bird Area

  • 12/8/2017 8:12:00 AM
  • View Count 3534
In August, Ringgold County’s Kellerton Grasslands Important Bird Area (IBA) was elevated to status of a Globally Important Bird Area (GIBA) by BirdLife International, based in Great Britain, and the National Audubon Society.
Winter Bird Feeding Basics

Winter Bird Feeding Basics

  • 11/27/2017 8:50:00 AM
  • View Count 14045
Peanuts are another favored food and can be mixed with sunflower seed or fed separately. With high levels of both fat and protein, peanuts are especially a favorite of woodpeckers, nuthatches, titmice, and Carolina wrens. And don’t forget the suet, definitely a cold-weather bird attractant that is eaten by most winter birds. It can be fed from a variety of feeders, ranging from a suet cage to a wooden suet feeder, which is designed so that birds feed on it while hanging upside down beneath it.
Public meeting to discuss bird conservation area near Ottumwa

Public meeting to discuss bird conservation area near Ottumwa

  • 11/21/2017 11:43:00 AM
  • View Count 3975
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will discuss the proposed designation of the region including Soap Creek, Fox Hills and Eldon Wildlife areas, Stephens State Forest, Lake Wapello State Park and Pioneer Ridge Nature Area as a state Bird Conservation Area (BCA) during a public meeting on Dec. 7. 
Kellerton Grasslands named globally important bird area

Kellerton Grasslands named globally important bird area

  • 11/15/2017 9:55:00 AM
  • View Count 8274
In August, Ringgold County’s Kellerton Grasslands Important Bird Area (IBA) was elevated to status of a Globally Important Bird Area (GIBA) by BirdLife International, based in Great Britain, and the National Audubon Society.  
Fall is hawk watch time

Fall is hawk watch time

  • 10/10/2017 2:36:00 PM
  • View Count 11841
Fall is when birds of prey migrate. Attend a Hawk Watch event to see and learn about fascinating raptors!
Tieville Bend Wildlife Area is western Iowa’s secret hunting hot spot

Tieville Bend Wildlife Area is western Iowa’s secret hunting hot spot

  • 8/29/2017 1:08:00 PM
  • View Count 10507
The parking lot of the Super 8 at I-29 and Hwy. 175 fills each fall with trucks pulling boats covered with duck blinds. For hunters, the bread and butter at Tieville Bend is the fall duck migration and if you want to know how the hunting is, go to Onawa and stop in Dave’s World Truck Stop and Restaurant, Suds and Jugs, or Millers Kitchen.
North Raccoon Wildlife Area is building a recreation reputation

North Raccoon Wildlife Area is building a recreation reputation

  • 8/1/2017 11:44:00 AM
  • View Count 4507
The North Raccoon Wildlife Area just might be the biggest playground in Greene County. But rather than teeter-totters and swings, this playground offers excellent deer hunting, turkey, dove and rabbit hunting, river access and sandbar camping, bird watching, hiking and more.
Red Rock’s wild side

Red Rock’s wild side

  • 7/3/2017 11:23:00 AM
  • View Count 8916
The evidence was easy to see that hunters had found the recently mowed 10-acre sunflower field at the Red Rock Wildlife Area on the first day of dove season – 25-30 vehicles were parked along the road whose drivers had abandoned their bucket seats for real buckets set few rows deep in the remaining sunflowers waiting for the nation’s most popular game bird to come rocketing through.
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