Calendar of Events

Great Backyard Bird Count

Join thousands of citizen scientists  around the world Feb 13 - 16th to count the birds! 

Count the birds for as little as 15 minutes in a location that is convenient for you.  Count the birds on only one or all of the days and count at as many locations as your would like. 

Every reported count helps make a difference!

Report your sightings on eBird   https://ebird.org/home   

Visit  https://www.birdcount.org/ to learn more!

Great Backyard Bird Count

Join thousands of citizen scientists  around the world Feb 13 - 16th to count the birds! 

Count the birds for as little as 15 minutes in a location that is convenient for you.  Count the birds on only one or all of the days and count at as many locations as your would like. 

Every reported count helps make a difference!

Report your sightings on eBird   https://ebird.org/home   

Visit  https://www.birdcount.org/ to learn more!

Great Backyard Bird Count

Join thousands of citizen scientists  around the world Feb 13 - 16th to count the birds! 

Count the birds for as little as 15 minutes in a location that is convenient for you.  Count the birds on only one or all of the days and count at as many locations as your would like. 

Every reported count helps make a difference!

Report your sightings on eBird   https://ebird.org/home   

Visit  https://www.birdcount.org/ to learn more!

Great Backyard Bird Count

Join thousands of citizen scientists  around the world Feb 13 - 16th to count the birds! 

Count the birds for as little as 15 minutes in a location that is convenient for you.  Count the birds on only one or all of the days and count at as many locations as your would like. 

Every reported count helps make a difference!

Report your sightings on eBird   https://ebird.org/home   

Visit  https://www.birdcount.org/ to learn more!

FUNGARIUM! Lunch & Learn

Join Art McBreen, Treasurer of the Prairie States Mushroom Club, for an informative presentation celebrating the launch of the Fungarium! exhibit. Be among the first to see this traveling exhibit, which will be on display at the Central Park Nature Center for a limited time only—from early March through the end of May. A light mushroom soup lunch will be provided by the Friends of Jones County Conservation and Nature Center.

Wednesday, March 4

Noon - 1 PM

Central Park Nature Center - Lower Level Meeting Room

FLY Tying Class - Older, Wiser, Livelier, Souls -

Learn to Tie Your Own Flies!

Join us Thursday, March 26, from 9:00 AM to Noon at the Central Park Nature Center for an introductory fly-tying class.

This hands-on class is perfect for beginners and includes expert instruction and guidance throughout the session. Each registered participant will be provided with a fly-tying vise, and all materials are included!

Participants will leave with 4–5 finished flies, ready to catch fish or share with friends!

Instruction provided by Hawkeye Fly Tyer, Mike Jacobs.

• $12 materials fee

• Pre-registration REQUIRED

• Space is limited

  Click here to register for this event.

Central Park Iowa Young Birders Association Outing

Join the Iowa Young Birders Association for a fun morning of birdwatching at Central Park — perfect for kids and families!

We’ll meet at the Central Park Nature Center at 9:00 AM to say hello and learn a little about birds before heading out on the trails together. We’ll see how many different bird species we can spot along the way!

Please wear comfortable walking shoes and dress for the weather. Binoculars and bird guides will be available to borrow, or you’re welcome to bring your own.

New birders welcome - you do not have to be a current member of the Iowa Young Birders Association to attend.

Discovering Chimney Swifts & Nighthawks! - Part of the Walk & Learn Birds & Binocular Series

Join the Walk & Learn: Birds and Binoculars Series this Summer!

Lace up your walking shoes, grab your binoculars (and bird field guide if you have one), and join fellow birding enthusiasts as we learn about Iowa’s chimney swifts and nighthawks. Along the way, we’re sure to spot other resident birds as we hike to and from several Monticello public parks in search of these special species.

We’ll meet at the Monticello Pocket Park at 7:00 PM for brief introductions before beginning our hike.

New to birding? No problem! Everyone is welcome to attend this relaxed, educational birdwatching outing.

Binoculars and field guides will be provided, or feel free to bring your own.

This series is co-sponsored by the Monticello Parks & Recreation Deaprtment and the Jones County Conservation Board.  

Following the Fall Migration - Part of the Walk & Learn: Birds & Binoculars Series!

Join the Walk & Learn: Birds and Binoculars Series this Summer!

Lace up your walking shoes, grab your binoculars (and bird field guide if you have one), and join fellow birding enthusiasts as we learn about Iowa’s Fall Migration.   Find out which birds head south for the winter, which birds stay, and which birds find Iowa a cozy winter retreat! 

We’ll meet at the Riverside Garden Gazebo at 9 AM for brief introductions before beginning our hike.

New to birding? No problem! Everyone is welcome to attend this relaxed, educational birdwatching outing.

Binoculars and field guides will be provided, or feel free to bring your own 😊

This series is co-sponsored by the Monticello Parks & Recreation Deaprtment and the Jones County Conservation Board.