A public celebration of the volunteers and organizations integral in the return of ospreys to Iowa will be held at Quarry Springs in Colfax, on May 20, from 11-3. The Quarry Springs location, just east of the Colfax exit off I-80, has been home to two nesting pairs of ospreys that have been fishing from its waters.
The celebration is open to the public.
Volunteers and their families from 12 osprey release sites will be recognized for their commitment, including the Macbride Raptor Project, White Rock Conservancy, Saving Our Avian Resources, Clear Lake Clean Water Alliance, Linn, Polk, Boone, Marion, Dickinson, Dubuque and Warren County conservation boards, along with key partners from Minnesota and Wisconsin. Yankton Chief Golden Eagle Elk will be the keynote speaker.
The restoration effort began in 1997 with the first release by the Macbride Raptor Project at Coralville Reservoir and has grown to include 24 nesting pairs across the state. The restoration effort was coordinated by the Iowa Department of Natural Resources.
The event is planned as a picnic so attendees are encouraged to bring their own sack lunch or, a catered box lunch, including a vegetarian option, is available for $10 by contacting Pat Schlarbaum at pat.schlarbaum@dnr.iowa.gov or 515-432-2823 ext 104.