UPCOMING EVENTS

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• Dale Maffitt Reservoir

  • When
    February 14, 2026
  •  
    9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Location
    West Des Moines
  • Registered
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  Dale Maffitt Reservoir hosts a diversity of waterbirds each winter, often including a large group of Trumpeter Swans, and allows for great looks at these birds at close range.  The upland habitats surrounding the reservoir are also great for winter songbirds.  Join us for a fun morning of birding near Des Moines!

  This field trip is free to attend and open to any young birders and their parents/guardians. Advance registration is required. Iowa Young Birders welcomes everyone to the outdoors regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, religion, creed, national origin, or disability status. Our events can accommodate wheelchairs, vision and hearing impairments, and other health conditions. For questions, or to request accommodations for an upcoming event, please send us a message or email.
  

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• Lake Wapello

  • When
    February 21, 2026
  •  
    9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Location
    Drakesville, Iowa
  • Registered
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  At Lake Wapello State Park, an area of water is left open using an aerator. This allows for great concentrations of waterfowl, including swans. Lake Wapello in the winter can hold massive flocks of Trumpeter Swans that occasionally include the less common Tundra Swan (juvenile Tundra Swan pictured). There are also some great trails where you can find all seven of Iowa's woodpecker species. Join us as we attempt to count the flock at Lake Wapello State Park.

  This field trip is free to attend and open to any young birders and their parents/guardians. Advance registration is required. Iowa Young Birders welcomes everyone to the outdoors regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, religion, creed, national origin, or disability status. Our events can accommodate wheelchairs, vision and hearing impairments, and other health conditions. For questions, or to request accommodations for an upcoming event, please send us a message or email.

  
  

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• Painting Birds Workshop

  • When
    February 28, 2026
  •  
    9:00 AM - 11:00 AM
  • Location
    Hartman Reserve Nature Center - Cedar Falls
  • Registered
    1 registrant

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  Join us for a fun, hands-on Painting Birds Workshop, led by local artist Caylin Jayde. During the workshop, Caylin will guide kids step-by-step as they learn about birds and create their own bird-inspired paintings. Participants will explore different bird shapes, colors, and patterns, and bring their favorite birds to life on canvas. No prior art experience is needed—just creativity and enthusiasm!

  The cost of this workshop will be $5 for each kid that is an Iowa Young Birders member and $8 for each kid that is not a member of Iowa Young Birders. Fees will be used to purchase art supplies for kids and will be paid at the time of online registration.

  This event is open to any young birders and their parents/guardians. Advance registration is required. Iowa Young Birders welcomes everyone to the outdoors regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, religion, creed, national origin, or disability status. Our events can accommodate wheelchairs, vision and hearing impairments, and other health conditions. For questions, or to request accommodations for an upcoming event, please send us a message or email.
  

  
  

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• Red Feather Prairie Woodcock Walk

  • When
    March 14, 2026
  •  
    6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Location
    Polk City
  • Registered
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  We're heading back to Red Feather Prairie in search of the American Woodcock, an upland representative of the shorebird family. Last time we visited Red Feather Prairie, we heard several American Woodcocks overhead in their aerial courtship display. Join us for dusk on the prairie!

  This field trip is free to attend and open to any young birders and their parents/guardians. Advance registration is required. Iowa Young Birders welcomes everyone to the outdoors regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, religion, creed, national origin, or disability status. Our events can accommodate wheelchairs, vision and hearing impairments, and other health conditions. For questions, or to request accommodations for an upcoming event, please send us a message or email.
  

  Photo credit: Chris Wood, Macaulay Library

  
  

  
  

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• Lime Creek Woodcock Walk

  • When
    March 21, 2026
  •  
    6:30 PM - 8:30 PM
  • Location
    Lime Creek Nature Area, Mason City
  • Registered
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  Known also as the "bogsucker", the American Woodcock is one of the first species to return to Iowa as spring arrives. Join us for an evening walk at Lime Creek Nature Center to observe the "sky dance" of this unique species! We'll kick off the evening with a short program about woodcocks and end with a sunset walk through the prairie. If time allows, we'll also look and listen for owls and other species that are active at dusk.

  This field trip is free to attend and open to any young birders and their parents/guardians. Advance registration is required. Iowa Young Birders welcomes everyone to the outdoors regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, religion, creed, national origin, or disability status. Our events can accommodate wheelchairs, vision and hearing impairments, and other health conditions. For questions, or to request accommodations for an upcoming event, please send us a message or email.
  

  Photo credit: Chris Wood, Macaulay Library

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• Pioneer Ridge Nature Area

  • When
    March 28, 2026
  •  
    9:00 AM - 11:00 PM
  • Location
    Bloomfield
  • Registered
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  Join us for a relaxed, family-friendly birding field trip to Pioneer Ridge Nature Area with Wapello County Conservation Board as we welcome the first signs of spring! This outing is perfect for beginners, families with kids, and anyone eager to enjoy birds and nature together. We’ll explore woodland edges and open areas while looking and listening for early spring migrants including the Eastern Phoebe and the American Woodcock. Along the way, leaders will help with bird identification and share tips on spotting birds by sight and sound.

  Expect an easy-paced walk, time for questions, and plenty of opportunities to learn and enjoy the outdoors. We will have a limited number of binoculars available to use but please plan to bring some if you have them. We hope you can join us for some spring birding!

  Photo: Eastern Phoebe

  This field trip is free to attend and open to any young birders and their parents/guardians. Advance registration is required. Iowa Young Birders welcomes everyone to the outdoors regardless of age, race, ethnicity, gender, orientation, religion, creed, national origin, or disability status. Our events can accommodate wheelchairs, vision and hearing impairments, and other health conditions. For questions, or to request accommodations for an upcoming event, please send us a message or email.

  
  

  
  

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