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Wednesday Morning Birding
See details on the Field Trips page
See details on the Field Trips page
International Dark Sky Week April 21-28
International Dark Sky Week (April 21-28, 2025) is a global celebration of the night. From the darkness that supports a restful night’s sleep to the wonder we experience beneath starry skies, the night plays a vital role in our health, the well-being of wildlife, scientific discovery, cultural heritage, and more. Yet with the rapid rise of light pollution, we risk losing the natural night we depend on. The time to act is now!
Join the celebration by taking meaningful action to protect the night—whether it’s working with your local government or simply signing the online pledge, there are easy ways for anyone, anywhere to get involved, including an exceptional lineup of speakers offering virtual sessions!
Of special interest in May will be the passage of Mars very close to the Beehive open star cluster that will be seen best with binoculars.
"Our society is to be the steward of the natural world, not its unreasoning overlord."
- Florida Supreme Court. 1995
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Monarchs Threatened
by David Voigts
by David Voigts
One of the anticipated events of spring is the arrival of migrating monarch butterflies, but in recent years their number has declined greatly. Much of this loss has been caused by a great reduction in the abundance of milkweeds, the required food of monarch larvae, as a result of intensive farming practices. However, the warming climate also plays an increasingly important role.
It has been shown that very warm spring temperatures, such as those experienced recently in the southwestern states, will kill monarch larvae. In one study, temperatures above 97 degrees caused significant larval mortality and temperatures above 84 degrees led to developmental delays, resulting in decreased adult body mass and a less likely chance of survival.
Temperature also triggers the start and speed of monarch migration, and warm temperatures can cause a mismatch between monarchs and their milkweed host plants. This has led to limited reproduction. In addition, hot and/or dry conditions can reduce the quality of milkweeds as food for larvae.
With all these threats to monarchs, it is important to do what we can to help them survive. Even a backyard waystation of milkweeds for larvae and nectar producing plants to provide food for migrating adults will help.
Embrace the Night
by David Voigts
by David Voigts
It is no secret that If you live in a city or town, you see fewer stars. The reason for this is that light escapes from where it is needed and forms a dome of light overhead. Although not obvious, this waste light brightens the night sky far into the country. Only a few places are far enough away from cities to be truly dark.
Waste light does more than reduce the number of stars that we see, it has effects that are far-reaching. For example, most birds migrate at night, and they are increasingly being affected by light. They have been known to circle a bright light source until they drop from exhaustion. Others are attracted to lights and crash into windows or other light sources.
Insects are also affected. One study found that there was a 60% decline in nighttime pollinator visits to flowers and crops. The brightening night can even affect humans by disturbing our circadian rhythms, which can cause sleep disorders, obesity, depression, and more.
While governments are encouraged to take measures to reduce light pollution, we can take action in our homes. Even drawing the curtains at night to keep our light indoors will help.
Nurtured By Nature: A Wellness Experience
Saturday, May 3rd, 9 AM - Cortright Wildlife Area - Buchanan County
Enjoy this slow-paced, therapeutic guided walk that promotes wellness through a series of gentle, sensory-opening invitations in nature. This practice helps participants to slow down, heighten their senses, and be in the moment. It’s a time for individual, quiet reflection. Studies have shown a wide array of health benefits to being in nature, especially in the cardiovascular and immune systems, and to help stabilize mood and improve cognition. A growing number of health professionals are prescribing a walk in the woods to complement or even substitute for traditional medicine. We will be on a relatively flat, soft surface trail for around ½ mile to accommodate those with mobility issues. This 2 1/2 hour personal experience is limited to ten people. Your guide will be Connie Svoboda, Certified Forest Therapy Guide. Fee: $25.00
See more details and register here. Call Fontana Nature Center 319-636-2617 with questions.
See more details and register here. Call Fontana Nature Center 319-636-2617 with questions.
Iowa Ornithologists' Union (IOU) Spring Meeting
South Sioux City, NE
May 16-18th
Joint conference with NE-SD-IA
Joint conference with NE-SD-IA
Birders from the Iowa, Nebraska, and South Dakota Ornithologists' Unions are joining together for a great weekend of birding, learning, and socializing! The meetings will be hosted at the Salvation Army Western Plains Camp in South Sioux City, NE. There is a fantastic array of field trips scheduled as well as a keynote by Nebraska's own Michael Forsberg (https://www.michaelforsberg.
Michael is a celebrated photographer, author, and conservationist who has dedicated over three decades to capturing and telling the story of wildlife and conservation in the Great Plains through his work. He has very recently published a new book, Into Whooperland, that tells the story of the endangered Whooping Crane. Copies of the book will be available during the meeting!
BEE a hero and sign up for Iowa's Bumble Bee Atlas!
Have you ever been enjoying time in the outdoors and been shocked into exclaiming loudly “what was that?!?” as an enormous black and gold fuzzball buzzed past your head? You may have had a close encounter with a Black and Gold Bumble Bee queen!
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Common Eastern Bumble Bee foraging on Butterfly Milkweed
Or maybe you’ve enjoyed a quiet half hour among the flowers and been astounded by the busy-ness, concentration and grace of a few fat fuzzy bees? These could have been any of Iowa’s roughly 15 species of Bumble Bee.
Notice I said roughly 15 species? We aren’t very confident about just how many species of Bumble Bee call Iowa home and where precisely they like to reside. And that is where you come in - we need your help! Iowa’s Bumble Bee Atlas turns 2 years old this summer and this is your opportunity to expand your world by learning and collecting data about these important pollinators.
Get Involved!
- WHAT?: Iowa's Bumble Bee Atlas! This is a volunteer community science project with a goal of learning everything we can about Bumble Bees in Iowa, particularly what species we have in Iowa, where they are in the state and what kind of habitat and flowers they like?
- WHO?: You! Do you enjoy hiking in areas with lots of flowers during the summer? Do you want to connect with nature more deeply and learn something new? Do you appreciate all that pollinators do for the world? Want to get involved in conservation? Then this is for you! Older kids are welcome to participate as well under the supervision of an adult.
- WHY?: Because you will make a significant contribution to what we know about bumble bees in Iowa. And because it’s so much fun and bumble bees are delightful!
- WHERE?: Anywhere in the state but we especially need folks who live in or are willing to drive to survey in rural areas! The map below shows where no one surveyed last year and we’d love to fill in those gaps! However, we do also need more bumble bee data in all the areas that were visited during last year’s survey. TAKE NOTE: Some areas, mostly in the eastern part of the state, are off limits to most surveyors because of the presence of the Endangered Rusty-patched Bumble Bee.
- HOW?: Visit the Iowa Bumble Bee Atlas site and register to get trained! There are two initial trainings that will be held on ZOOM.
- WHEN?: Training Part 1 is on April 19th (2pm-3:30pm) and Part 2 is on May 10th (10am-Noon). Not available on those dates? No sweat! Go ahead and register for the trainings and you’ll be notified when the recordings are posted which you can then watch at your leisure!
Find an injured bird or animal? Call Black Hawk Wildlife Rehabilitation Project 319-939-4635
Note: As of Dec 2024 BHWRP is not accepting sick or injured waterfowl due to the avian influenza outbreak found in Iowa.
Find other wildlife rehabilitators.
New to Birding?
Check out this great new brochure from Iowa Audubon that gives you all the information about enjoying the activity of watching birds!
Subscribe to our Online RedTail Newsletter
Bird Flight Patterns and Music Concert Program
You are now able to access the online concert video and curriculum (see link and password below-posted with permission by the copyright holder).
The link provides the full concert video and online curriculum with activities, lessons, extra musical performances, composer interviews and educational games. This resource will remain active through June 2022 (for one year), so utilize it for your programs, personal edification working with your children or grandchildren to teach them about music and birds!
You are now able to access the online concert video and curriculum (see link and password below-posted with permission by the copyright holder).
The link provides the full concert video and online curriculum with activities, lessons, extra musical performances, composer interviews and educational games. This resource will remain active through June 2022 (for one year), so utilize it for your programs, personal edification working with your children or grandchildren to teach them about music and birds!
Bird Flight Patterns and Music Link: https://nbsymphony.org/bird-
Password: BFPMC (case sensitive)
Subscribe to the PRAS YouTube Channel if you are interested in watching recordings of our past Zoom meetings for which we have permission to post for viewing.
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