Calendar of Events

Building Better Birders Workshop Series - Waterfowl Field Day

Would you like to learn how to identify waterfowl?  Join birder, Kelly McKay (BioEco Research and Monitoring Center) and Jones County Conservation Department Staff for “A Waterfowl Field Day” on Saturday, November 6th.

The morning will kick off with a birding hike to view waterfowl on the Central Park Lake, ponds, and wetlands from 8-10 AM.  Anyone interested should meet in the parking lot of the Central Park Nature Center at 8 AM. Dress for the weather and wear hiking footwear.   A detailed Waterfowl ID PowerPoint, presented by Kelly McKay, will be shown at the Central Park Nature Center from 10 AM -Noon.    Learn how to identify waterfowl from their shape, plumage, and calls. Bring a sack lunch or grab a quick bite to eat at a local restaurant before meeting at the south side access at Muskrat Slough at 1 PM to observe waterfowl on the remnants of this ancient glacial remnant lake.   

Bring your own binoculars and field guide or borrow one for the day.  Register for the entire day or pick and choose which sessions you would like to attend.  To register for this event please contact Michele at (319)481-7987 or naturalist@jonescounytiowa.gov  or register at https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Jones/Park/Central-Park/Events.aspx  Please register by 4 PM, Thursday, November 4th. 

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.