EVENTS

Dubuque Audubon Annual Spring Species Count

Saturday, 5/11/24

View Map for Initial Location
View Map for Potluck Picnic

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.  (For those who might want to plan ahead for other years, we traditionally hold this event on the Saturday before Mother’s 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.

Arrive as early as 6 AM for birding around the Julien Dubuque 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.  Some may opt to go out to lunch and continue birding into the afternoon, where the destination will be determined as we go.

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, either by filling out a Contact Us form or by sending an email to AudubonDubuqueWeb@gmail.com.  If you birded with us for part of the day, we’d be glad to have you return for the picnic!  Optionally bring a dish to pass and/or table service, but neither are required!  Bottled water will be provided.

* If you cannot arrive by 8 AM, you may make other arrangements by filling out a Contact Us form or by emailing AudubonDubuqueWeb@gmail.com no later than noon on the day before.