Bird Survey at Saint Francis Property
By Tony Moline
On June 6th, Dubuque Audubon members conducted a breeding bird survey on the Sisters of Saint Francis property in Dubuque.
2026 Spring Species Count
By Tony Moline
[from summer 2026 newsletter]
On Saturday, May 9, Dubuque Audubon conducted its annual spring species count. The count covered various areas in Dubuque and Jackson counties.
Tree Planting at Mines of Spain
By Mary Leigh
[from summer 2026 newsletter]
Dubuque Audubon purchased four 3-4′ eastern white pine and two 2-3′ white spruce for approved planting at Mines of Spain SRA.
2026 Duck Waddle
By Bob Walton
[from summer 2026 newsletter]
March 7th found Sandy and me at the Green Island Channel 4 parking lot around 5:20 a.m. to participate in the Dubuque Audubon’s 47th annual spring waterfowl watch. I have always enjoyed the pre-dawn sounds of the marsh and try to be there as much as an hour before the main group arrives at sunrise.
Bird-Brained: Insult or Compliment?
By Kari Zelinskas
[from spring 2026 newsletter]
Derogatory expressions such as bird-brain, crazy as a loon, and dumb as a dodo imply birds lack intelligence or common sense. But modern research has debunked that idea…
Screech, Trill, Whinny – Oh My… Spotlight on Eastern Screech Owl
By Kari Zelinskas
[from winter 2025 newsletter]
Meet the elusive Eastern Screech-Owl. Nocturnal, they roost during the day and hunt at dusk and night. Despite the name, Screech-Owls don’t just screech…
Did You Know? Flock Names
By Kari Zelinskas
[from winter 2025 newsletter]
Did you know there are different names for the flocks of birds? You might see a blush of Robins, a charm of Finches, or a confusion of Warblers.
2025 Christmas Bird Count Results
On Saturday, December 20, 2025, our chapter participated in the National Audubon Society’s 126th annual Christmas Bird Count (CBC), where we counted birds in our 15-mile diameter circle.
2025 Fall Raptor Watch
By Tony Moline
[from winter 2025 newsletter]
On September 21st, Audubon members participated in the annual fall raptor watch at Mines of Spain in Dubuque.
Feeding Bread to Birds (Or Not)
By Kevin Koch
[from fall 2025 newsletter]
The next time you’re tempted to feed the birds from that bag of bread, think again! You might just be depriving your feathered friends of a broader range of nutrition they’ll need throughout the year.
While bread does contain carbohydrates, bird specialist Dr. David Shealer, Professor of Biology at Loras College in Dubuque, IA, points out that birds also need proteins and fats in their diet…
Spotlight on American Goldfinch
By Mary Leigh
[from fall 2025 newsletter]
This summer, I went on a guided bird walk at Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Sapsucker Woods, in Ithaca, NY… During the walk, our guide shared some fun facts about American Goldfinch that make them unusual.
2025 Bluebird Monitoring
By Ken Kiss
[from fall 2025 newsletter]
It was another successful season for the bluebirds nesting at the Mines of Spain. This year Tom Davis and Galen Mathis joined me in monitoring 30 bird houses on a weekly basis.