Author: Mary Leigh

Skip the Fall Cleanup! (Follow-up: Not Just for the Birds)

By Mary Leigh
[from fall 2026 newsletter]

Something like 25 years ago, my husband and I didn’t get around to trimming back our flowers in the fall, which was generally considered the thing to do at the time. This occurrence led to 3 surprises.

Gardening for Birds

By Kari Zelinskas
[from fall 2026 newsletter]

The long winter months are quickly approaching. Take advantage of this time to plan for how you can make your yard more attractive to a variety of birds. Choosing native plants will best support your local birds by providing food, shelter, and nesting sites appropriate to your area.

The USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey

By Bob Walton
[from fall 2026 newsletter]

2026 marked the 60th anniversary of the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS)… dedicated birders have collected data each summer since the survey began in 1966. The late George Crossley, a Dubuque Audubon member, began the survey route known officially as the Maquoketa BBS 36-017 Route in 1967.
…
I have truly enjoyed the past 23 years of doing this route…

Chimney Swift Watch

By Marty Corfman
[from fall 2026 newsletter]

On Monday, August 24th, I had the pleasure of leading a Chimney Swift Watch at Wartburg Theological Seminary.
…
I did my best to answer questions about the fascinating roosting behavior of these wonderful birds.
…
These incredible aerialists spend virtually their entire lives in flight, landing only to incubate eggs or roost at night.

2026 Bluebird Monitoring

By Ken Kiss
[from fall 2026 newsletter]

This year we started monitoring Eastern Bluebirds at the Mines of Spain on April 19th and ended with one final check in late August. We try to monitor weekly during the breeding season but slow down our inspections in August when the nesting activity slows.

Motus Wildlife Tracking Network – 2025 Annual Report

We are happy to share the 2025 annual Iowa Motus report. The Motus Wildlife Tracking System is a collaborative global network of automated radio telemetry receivers for tracking small migratory wildlife that have been tagged.

Bird Survey at Saint Francis Property

By Tony Moline
[repeated in fall 2026 newsletter]

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…