Jones County, Iowa

A Visit to the Blackberry Patch

Nothing says summer quite like a basket of fresh picked blackberries! Join AmeriCorps Naturalist, Diana Reuber, on Saturday, July 31st for a hike on Central Park’s Blackberry Trail, and the chance to bring home fresh, local blackberries!  The hike will begin at Noon at the Central Park Nature Center. Be sure to bring a basket or container to collect berries and enjoy the taste of summer!  Wear pants and a long-sleeved shirt to avoid scratches when picking.  For more information on this program, please contact Diana Reuber at dreuber@dbq.edu.  

Make N Take Hummingbird Feeders

Head to the Central Park Nature Center to make a simple hummingbird feeder you can take home.  Learn how you can make your own hummingbird mix at home to feed your neighborhood hummingbirds.  Find out what flowers attract hummingbirds to your yard.  Stop by the Nature Center on Saturday or Sunday, August 7th and 8th between the hours of 1 and 5 PM to make your hummingbird feeder.

Make N Take Hummingbird Feeders

Head to the Central Park Nature Center to make a simple hummingbird feeder you can take home.  Learn how you can make your own hummingbird mix at home to feed your neighborhood hummingbirds.  Find out what flowers attract hummingbirds to your yard.  Stop by the Nature Center on Saturday or Sunday, August 7th and 8th between the hours of 1 and 5 PM to make your hummingbird feeder.

Music in the Park

Bring your bag chair or picnic blanket and picnic supper to join us for an evening of music at Central Park.  Visit with and listen to the music performed by The Real Ridgerunners on August 20th beginning at 6:30 PM.  Music will be performed outside near the Enclosed Pavilion area - look for the musicians when you arrive.  

Building Better Birders Workshop Series - Iowa's Owls & Owl Prowl

How many types of Owls can be found in Iowa?  What is the most common Iowa Owl?  Which Iowa owl is known as the “skunk owl”?  Join birder, Kelly McKay (BioEco Research and Monitoring Center) and Jones County Conservation Department Staff for “Iowa’s Owls Presentation and Owl Prowl” at 6:30 PM on Friday evening, October 22nd at Central Park. 

Participants will meet in the lower level of the Central Park Nature Center at 6:30 PM for an informative PowerPoint presentation on the owls of Iowa.  Then head outside for an evening “Owl Prowl” along the trails of Central Park as we attempt to see and hear local owls.  Wear hiking footwear and dress for the weather.  Please contact Michele at (319)481-7987 or naturalist@jonescounytiowa.gov to pre-register for this event by 4 PM, October 21st. 

The Building Better Birders Workshop Series is designed to improve your bird identification skills and promote greater citizen science.  All workshops are free of charge with funding supported by the Resource Enhancements and Protection – Conservation Education Program (REAP -CEP).   This program is open to all ages but is geared toward participants age 12 & over. 

Family Farm Tax Credit Filing Deadline

Monday, November 1, is the filing deadline for the Family Farm Tax credit. For more details, visit the Credits & Exemptions page.