PAST EVENTS 2025
MOST RECENT FIRST
Dubuque Audubon Member Meeting
Special Member Meeting to Vote on Amended Bylaws
Before our October program, we will hold a special member meeting, where we hope to approve the amended bylaws. All are welcome to the program and to attend the meeting, but only those with an active membership may vote on the bylaws. Please arrive by 6:30 PM to participate. (Contact us if you’re not sure of your membership status. If you receive a mailed newsletter, your national and/or local membership expiration date should be shown on the mailing label.)
As stated in the President’s Corner of our Fall 2025 newsletter, we encourage those interested to review the amended bylaws in advance (found on the ABOUT page). Please contact us if you have any questions or concerns. Going forward, you can expect us to hold an annual member meeting for board elections, according to the bylaws.
Dubuque Audubon October Program
Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge – Unique Birding Opportunity in Northwest Nebraska
Thursday, 10/9/25
6:30 PM Special Member Meeting
7 – 8 PM Program
EB Lyons Interpretive Center
8991 Bellevue Heights Road
Dubuque, IA 52003
View Map
Wildlife photographer Paul Winer will present a program on Crescent Lake National Wildlife Refuge in Northwest Nebraska, featuring photos from his visit in April, 2025.
Paul is an active member of the Stewards of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge, a “friends group” for the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge Savanna District. His photos are frequently posted on the Stewards of the Upper Mississippi River Refuge Facebook page.
4/21/25 © Paul Winer
4/23/25 © Paul Winer
4/24/25 © Paul Winer
Fall Raptor Watch 2024
Pop-up Event
Fall Raptor Watch
Sunday, 9/21/25
9:30 AM – 2 PM
Mines of Spain Cedar Ridge Viewing Platform
View Map
Fall raptor migration typically kicks into high gear the 3rd week of September, bringing large kettles of Broad-Winged Hawks (some as large as 300-800 birds!) and other birds of prey. Join Dubuque Audubon as we view and count hawks, falcons, eagles, and vultures from the Prairie Ridge viewing platform.
To access the platform, park at the Cedar Ridge parking lot at the south entrance to Mines of Spain and hike a short distance back to the platform. Come and go as you please. Expect ebbs and flows of migrant birds. Binoculars are recommended. This event is free and open to the public.
Sponsors: Dubuque Area Land and Water Legacy and University of Dubuque Department of Natural and Applied Sciences
Crude water: Is it Safe to Drink from Private Wells in Northeast Iowa?
Monday, 9/15/25
6:30 PM @ Blades Chapel, University of Dubuque
Facebook Event Listing
Dubuque Audubon September Program
Iowa’s Prairies: Remnants, Relics, and Restoration
Thursday, 9/11/25
6:45 PM Social/Sharing Time
7 – 8 PM Program
Note location change!
Swiss Valley Nature Center
13606 Swiss Valley Road
Peosta, IA 52068
View Map
Eastern Iowa once had lush tallgrass prairies, sunny oak savannas, and vibrant oak woodlands. Throughout the last 200 years of land use and practices, the Midwest has lost the majority of these natural areas which defined our region. Join Natural Resources Ecologist Tony Vorwald as we discuss the natural history and restoration of remnant prairies, oak savannas, and oak woodlands in Jackson and Dubuque Counties.
Bio from Tony: I am the Natural Resources Ecologist for Jackson County Conservation and a prairie/savanna obsessive. I have lived all over the world, meaning Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Rooted in Iowa, I strive to better manage the natural areas that I work for and educate folks on Iowa’s natural history and conservation needs. My educational background is that I have a Master’s in integrated Natural Resources from the University of Idaho, a B.S. of Environmental Science from the University of Dubuque, and an associate of applied science in Natural Resources Management from Hawkeye Community College.
Hosts: Iowa Audubon, Iowa City Bird Club, Cedar Rapids Audubon Society, Iowa Dept. of Natural Resources, and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers
14th Annual Pelican Festival
Sunday, August 24, 2025
11 AM – 4 PM
Hawkeye Wildlife Area, 2564 Amana Road NW, Swisher, IA 52338
See the event flyer for details including the program schedule, list of exhibitors, and a map!
Pelican viewing for visitors will be assisted by birding volunteers with binoculars and spotting scopes.
Sponsors: Dubuque & Jackson County Conservation
Birding Hike @ Pine Valley Nature Area (Monmouth, IA)
Saturday, 8/23/25
Registration is requested but not required.
Dubuque County Conservation Calendar
Jackson County Conservation Events
Sponsors: Dubuque & Jackson County Conservation
Birding Hike @ Whitewater Canyon Wildlife Area (Bernard, IA)
Friday, 7/18/25
Registration is requested but not required.
Dubuque County Conservation Calendar
Sponsors: Dubuque Area Land and Water Legacy & The Dubuque Audubon Society
Public Input Meeting on the City of Dubuque Parks and Recreation Master Plan
Thursday, 5/22/25 @ 6 PM
Carnegie-Stout Public Library
360 W 11th St., Dubuque, IA
What do you want to invest in to preserve and enhance the community’s natural resources, wildlife habitat, and outdoor attractions as part of the Master Plan?
The sponsors are seeking your ideas and suggestions. We will have some initial ideas to share. Your suggestions will help guide our two organizations as we prepare our recommendations to the City of Dubuque.
Sponsors: Dubuque Area Land and Water Legacy, Convivium Urban Farmstead, Awestruck Nature Photos, and Dubuque Area Writers Guild
Music, Art and Story Fest for Land, Water & Wildlife @ Convivium Urban Farmstead
Sunday, 5/18/25
Donation requested.
Facebook Event Listing
Dubuque Audubon Annual Spring Species Count
Saturday, 5/10/25
(Traditionally the Saturday before Mother’s Day)
Join us for our annual fun day of spring birding! You’re welcome to spend as much or as little time as you like. We’ll meet up for a potluck picnic at the end of the day. This event is free, and no birding experience is required. Audubon guides will be on hand to help you identify species. Binoculars are recommended, and we will have a couple pairs available for use at the Mines of Spain location.
Start Option #1 – Julien Dubuque Monument: Arrive as early as 6 AM for birding around the monument, but be sure to arrive in the monument parking lot by 8 AM* if you want to continue to other locations. After 8 AM, we’re no longer guaranteed to be in the monument area. We’ll likely start on some trails at Mines of Spain, and we’ll drive between locations.
Start Option 2 – Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens: Meet at 7 AM* at the Visitor Center. We’ll bird in the morning for as long as we like. Then those who want to continue will have the option of moving to another location.
Birding leaders will be in communication, with some groups possibly meeting up for lunch. Some may continue birding into the afternoon, where the destinations are determined as we go.
* If you cannot arrive at one of the scheduled start times, you may make other arrangements by emailing AudubonDubuque@gmail.com no later than noon on the day before.
At 5 PM, we‘ll gather at Swiss Valley Park (not to be confused with Swiss Valley Nature Center) for a potluck picnic at the Sycamore Pavilion. We’ll provide brats and hotdogs, and we’ll tabulate the birding results. To help with our planning, please give us your brat and/or hot dog counts no later than noon on the day before.
[The sign-up option is no longer available.]
Optionally bring a dish to pass and/or table service, but neither are required. Bottled water will be provided. If you birded with us for part of the day, we’d be glad to have you return for the picnic!
Location Details
Start Option #1
Julien Dubuque Monument
1810 Monument Dr
Dubuque, IA 52003
View Map
Start Option #2
Dubuque Arboretum and Botanical Gardens
3800 Arboretum Dr
Dubuque, IA 52001
View Map
Potluck Picnic
Swiss Valley Park
Sycamore Pavilion
(not to be confused with Swiss Valley Nature Center)
13069 Swiss Valley Rd
Peosta, IA 52068
View Map
Sponsors: Dubuque & Jackson County Conservation
Birding Hike @ Prairie Creek Recreation Area (Maquoketa, IA)
Saturday, 5/10/25
Registration is requested but not required.
Dubuque County Conservation Calendar
Jackson County Conservation Events
© Dan Cohen
Dubuque Audubon May Program
Bird Friendly Iowa
Thursday, 5/8/25
6:45 PM Social/Sharing Time
7 – 8 PM Program
EB Lyons Interpretive Center
8991 Bellevue Heights Road
Dubuque, IA 52003
View Map
Dan Cohen will give a presentation on the Bird Friendly Iowa (BFI) program, and he’ll include a few photos and experiences from his work on rivers in Dubuque County. Dan retired about a year ago from the Buchanan County Conservation Board after 38 years working in the field as a Naturalist (15 years) and the Executive Director (23 years).
Through BFI, communities (cities or counties) apply to be designated as Bird Friendly. To be successful, they need to communicate how their community is addressing three areas that are important to birds and peoples’ enjoyment of birds:
- Protecting, restoring & enhancing bird habitat
- Reducing threats to birds
- Educating & engaging people in birding & conservation
To learn more about Bird Friendly Iowa, and the larger Bird City Network, visit https://birdcity.org/iowa.
Read more about Dan
Dan retired about a year ago from the Buchanan County Conservation Board after 38 years working in the field as a Naturalist (15 years) and the Executive Director (23 years). He now works as a consultant, and during the past few years he has been doing a lot of work with the Iowa DNR Water Trails program, doing river reconnaissance work that includes paddling, photography, writing, and more.
He has done quite a bit of work on rivers in Dubuque County, including North Fork Maquoketa, Catfish Creek, Lytle Creek, and the Mississippi River from Dubuque to Massey Marina.
Read about the benefits of being a Bird Friendly community
Communities that are designated benefit in many ways. These communities:
- Are part of a local and international community of cities, towns, counties, and campuses that value birds and are working to protect them.
- Are publicly promoted through signage, local websites on the Bird City Network site, and media like news stories and press releases.
- Are tourism friendly and worthy of visiting with representation on the Bird City Network tourism map.
- Provide enhanced quality of life for residents and visitors by supporting habitat for birds that improves water and air quality, educational and recreational opportunities, property values, and more.
- Show support for agriculture through free rodent and insect pest reduction from birds.
- Help protect infrastructure by supporting habitat that reduces flooding and erosion.
- Receive access to program support like printed materials and professional consultations about bird conservation.
- Can use BFI membership to leverage grant dollars.
- Demonstrate the importance of valuing and protecting our natural resources, including birds!
What Comes with Your Bird Friendly Community Recognition?
Bird Friendly Iowa celebrates your initial recognition as an official Bird Friendly Community by providing you with:
- Two street signs with the Bird Friendly Iowa emblem;
- An all-weather Bird Friendly Iowa flag that can be flown at a prominent civic location;
- A recognition certificate suitable for display at the municipal center;
- A special page on Bird Friendly Iowa’s website devoted to your community’s bird conservation and education achievements for birds and other wildlife;
- An electronic Bird Friendly Iowa logo/emblem that can be used on appropriate municipal web sites and printed materials, as well as the web sites of partner organizations and local businesses; and
- Press releases to appropriate media.
If you missed our 5/8/25 program on Bird Friendly Iowa, a recording is available.
© Dan Cohen
Sponsors: Dubuque & Jackson County Conservation
Birding Hike @ Interstate Power Company Forest Preserve (location changed from Bowstring Wildlife Area)
Tuesday, 4/22/25
Dubuque County Conservation Calendar
Sponsor: Wisconsin Wetlands Association
Free Webinar: What do fall-staging Canvasbacks need on the Upper Mississippi River?
Friday, 4/18/25
Facebook Event Listing
Dubuque Audubon April Program
Capturing Moments in Nature
Thursday, 4/10/25
6:45 PM Social/Sharing Time
7 – 8 PM Program
EB Lyons Interpretive Center
8991 Bellevue Heights Road
Dubuque, IA 52003
View Map
Have you ever wondered how the wildlife photos you see in stores or magazines are taken and where they come from? The National Wildlife Refuge system is made up of wonderful places around our country that are often the sites for the pictures you see. In his program “Capturing Moments in Nature,” Stan Bousson will share photos that have been taken in many locations along the Mississippi River near his home in Illinois. Also included are photos taken at wildlife refuges and national parks from other areas of the country. He will discuss photographic equipment and techniques used to shoot those images and share information about where to look for wildlife you may want to observe or photograph.
I have always been interested in photography and wildlife. As a child growing up in Michigan, I gained an appreciation for nature. As an adult, I took whatever opportunities I could to take photos.
At the end of 2002, my wife and I retired. That allowed many hours of time to devote to nature photography. We have repeatedly traveled to several national parks and wildlife refuges to observe and take photos of a wide variety of animals and birds. Being retired also allowed for time to volunteer for U.S. Fish & Wildlife at several national wildlife refuges, including the Upper Mississippi River Wildlife & Fish Refuge. I also presented photo programs to local & National Audubon Society groups. Another activity that I have done is volunteer photography work for the Corps of Engineers and county conservation departments.
I have presented many photo programs to a variety of audiences and have won numerous awards in wildlife photo contests. In 2012, I was fortunate enough to have a photograph in National Geographic Magazine and also some video footage in a National Geographic TV program about Mississippi River wildlife.
Living near the Mississippi River has helped create a great interest in photographing bald eagles. Always looking for new types of photos of eagles, I developed ways to photograph baby eagles in their nest. The behavior of nesting eagles is very interesting to watch, even though success each year is not guaranteed.
Over the years, I have learned many aspects of the technical knowledge for photo equipment and computer hardware & software. This allows me to share my knowledge of taking photos of wildlife with any interested photographers.
Dubuque and Jackson County Conservation Virtual Information Session
County Conservation Citizen Science Virtual Rundown
Thursday, 3/27/25
6:30 PM (over Zoom)
Join us to learn about becoming a volunteer for wildlife monitoring! Help with butterfly & bee surveys, bird counts, Bluebird box monitoring, bat counts, and water quality monitoring. By participating, you will help us gather valuable data about the species that inhabit our local parks.
Dubuque and Jackson County Conservation are hosting this virtual information session to provide more details about these projects and their specific requirements. Representatives from the Xerces Society for Invertebrate Conservation and the Midwest Save Our Streams Izaak Walton League of America will be present to share insights and answer any questions you may have.
This program is free and open to the public. Read more and find the Zoom link at the event summary.
Dubuque Audubon March Program
Forest Management for Birds
Thursday, 3/13/25
6:45 PM Social/Sharing Time
7 – 8 PM Program
EB Lyons Interpretive Center
8991 Bellevue Heights Road
Dubuque, IA 52003
View Map
Dr. Adam Janke of Iowa State University will speak about forest management for birds. Forest birds set the soundtrack of summer for many forest landowners and managers. Those summer-time serenades come from a wide variety of places within the forest: ranging from the tops of the canopy to the banks of a stream, and everywhere in between. In this presentation, we’ll explore the biology and ecology of the birds we share our forests with and explore how forest management practices can help ensure the soundtrack of summer keeps playing in your forest for years to come.
Adam Janke is an Associate Professor and extension wildlife specialist in the Department of Natural Resource Ecology and Management at Iowa State University. His research and education focus on finding opportunity areas for wildlife habitat conservation in working Midwestern landscapes.
© Marty Corfman
Dubuque Audubon Annual Duck Waddle
Saturday, 3/8/25
(Traditionally the 2nd Saturday in March)
Green Island Wildlife Management Area
located in Jackson County, IA
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Join us on our annual trip to Green Island to observe migrating waterfowl! Green Island is one of Iowa’s largest wetland complexes and attracts thousands of ducks, geese, cranes, and other aquatic-based birds each March. Audubon guides will be on hand to help identify the numerous species. Binoculars are recommended. You may come and go as you choose.
To carpool from Dubuque, meet in the parking lot of EB Lyons Interpretive Center at 8991 Bellevue Heights Rd, Dubuque (View Map) at 6:00 AM. Please note that this meeting location is a change from previous years!
Otherwise you can meet the group at Green Island on Fish Lake Road where it intersects Green Island Road (View Map) between 6:45 and 7:00 AM.
Normally the trip lasts most of the morning, and for those that wish, we end by having breakfast/lunch at a restaurant.
Some of our members and followers might enjoy the Aldo Leopold Foundation’s biggest event of the year: Leopold Week! It is a 3-day fully virtual event featuring livestreamed speakers running March 4-6. Come for the latest in conservation, environmental writing, and human-nature relationships.
Read the Leopald Week 2025 FAQ for information on speakers (Amy Tan, Margaret Renkl, and Camille Dungy) and registration. The event is free, but donations are welcome.
SPECIAL PERFORMANCE TICKETED EVENT
Sponsored By:
Dubuque Audubon Society,
Dubuque County Conservation Society, &
Friends of Dubuque County Conservation Board
A Visit from Will Dilg
& Songs from Our Mighty Mississippi
Minnesota Opera baritone, American Cruise Lines actor, and “riverlorian” (river historian) Steven Marking brings to life the true and inspiring story of Will Dilg in a multi-media show you won’t soon forget. Will Dilg is the singular driving force behind the formation of the Izaak Walton League and the formation of our Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge.
Date: Friday, February 28, 2025
Time: 7 – 9 PM (with 15 min. intermission)
Ticket Cost: $25 plus fees
General Admission (no reserved seating)
Tickets are on sale now.
Location: University of Dubuque Babka Theatre (Located in the Heritage Center)
2255 Bennett Street, Dubuque, IA 52001
View map
Farber Box Office: 563-585-SHOW
Box office hours: Weekdays 11am to 2pm
Farber Box Office
In A Visit from Will Dilg, Steven Marking plays environmental leader Will Dilg, sharing the story of grassroots activism that led to the protection of America’s first Fish and Wildlife Refuge. A civic engagement success story, the performance showcases the transformation that can happen when people work together for conservation and environmental protection for future generations. The 50-minute multimedia performance is followed by an interactive discussion by Riverlorian Steven Marking. After a 15-minute intermission, Steven will share songs and stories from another of his creations, Our Mighty Mississippi – from the Headwaters to the Gulf of Mexico.
A century ago, Will Dilg was the driving force behind our nation’s first successful large scale grassroots environmental movement. After Dilg’s only son drowned in the Mississippi River, he rose up from the depths of depression and mourning to become a tireless, fanatic firebrand – leading an extraordinary national crusade to form the Izaak Walton League and save a 261 mile stretch of Mississippi River Backwaters we now know as the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife and Fish Refuge. While his life was cut short, his accomplishments are still legendary, and we all will benefit by hearing from him a century after this monumental achievement.
This show is a must-see performance if you treasure beautiful views of the Mississippi River backwaters, or if you enjoy birding, fishing, boating, or hunting in those fish and wildlife-rich backwaters. Because one hundred years ago all of that was about to go away as wetlands throughout the upper Mississippi were being drained to satisfy the insatiable demands of settlers for factories, farms and towns. In “A Visit from Will Dilg,” Steven Marking as Dilg recounts how he rallied the nation in two short years to stop what he called the “drainage crime of the century” and create the Upper Mississippi Refuge, protected 100 years ago, in 1924.
Steven Marking holds a Master’s Degree in Vocal Performance from the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore, Maryland, and a Bachelor’s Degree from Viterbo University in his hometown of La Crosse, Wisconsin. He brings more than three decades of professional production and performance experience to his latest creation, A Visit From Will Dilg, and his ongoing masterpiece, Our Mighty Mississippi.
Sponsored By
Sponsored By
Great Backyard Bird Count
This year’s Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) is February 14-17. Each February, the world joins to report bird observations to help scientists better understand global bird populations before one of their annual migrations. You can join the world in reporting what you see, and there is no need to sign up. If you already report birds using eBird or Merlin, just keep doing what you’re doing; any birds reported over these 4 days count toward GBBC.
The GBBC website has full details on the event and how to participate.
We are pleased to share that Jackson County Conservation is hosting a GBBC event on Saturday, February 15, from 10-12 at the Hurstville Interpretive Center. Registration is required (call 563-652-3783 up to 48 hours in advance). All ages and experience are welcome (kids must be accompanied by an adult). You’ll learn basic winter bird ID, practice using binoculars and identifying birds, and then go on a short hike to record data to be uploaded. You will take home all the knowledge to count, record, and report birds you see in your own neighborhood! They recommend that you dress for the weather and then add a layer. See Jackson County Conservation’s GBBC event page for their complete event description.
The GBBC was launched in 1998 by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National Audubon Society, with Birds Canada joining in 2009.
Dubuque Audubon February Gathering
Birds of a Feather Get-Together
Thursday, 2/13/25
7 – 8:30 PM
EB Lyons Interpretive Center
8991 Bellevue Heights Road
Dubuque, IA 52003
View Map
Join us for a “Birds of a Feather Get-Together” social event. We’ll provide snacks and decaffeinated coffee. Water fountains are available. You are welcome to bring other beverages.
This will also be a great opportunity to share ideas for activities and programs, ask birding questions, and learn more about the Dubuque Audubon Society. You never know… there might even be door prizes! Hope to see you there!
Dubuque Audubon January Program
Improving the River Environment
Thursday, 1/9/25
6:45 PM Social/Sharing Time
7 – 8 PM Program
EB Lyons Interpretive Center
8991 Bellevue Heights Road
Dubuque, IA 52003
View Map
Jeremiah Haas, fisheries biologist at Quad Cities Clean Energy Center, will speak to us about their Mississippi River monitoring, hatchery operation, and outreach.
The Quad Cities Clean Energy Center in Cordova, IL, has been in operation since 1973 and has been conducting environmental work since 1971. The current programs can be broken down into three categories:
- Monitoring: Fish and other biota monitoring has occurred since 1971 and is one of the longest continuous databases on the Mississippi River.
- Hatchery Operation: The hatchery currently produces walleye, hybrid striped bass, and endangered and threatened freshwater mussels. The hatchery has stocked over 10 million fish since its operations started in 1984.
- Outreach: Finally, the outreach programs consist of talks to environmental, civic, and other groups that have an interest in the Station’s operations and environmental monitoring. Hundreds of students and adults tour the hatchery each year.
Read Jeremiah's bio
Jeremiah Haas has been a fisheries biologist at Quad Cities Station since 2000, with a diverse set of experiences prior to taking that position. He has worked with nearly every conservation-oriented entity on the Mississippi River the past few decades, focusing on improving the Mississippi River and educating the public about the resource. Outside of his day job, he writes for multiple outdoor publications and coaches basketball for Unity Christian School. In his few moments of free time, you can find him in the woods or on the water enjoying those resources. In April, he will be officially inducted into the Illinois Outdoor Hall of Fame for his conservation work.