A second Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas project began in 2008. This is a 5 year project and we hope to use some of our outings during the bird breeding season to contribute to this project. Read a summary of the project below. You are also invited to contribute to this project on your own or with a fellow birder! For more information go to the related links page and click on Join Iowa's Breeding Bird Atlas Project. 

 

Iowa's Breeding Birds

The Iowa Ornithologists’ Union and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources are pleased to announce that the second Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas will begin in 2008. This 5-year project will collect information on the current ranges of Iowa’s breeding birds. Numerous changes to Iowa’s landscape in the 17 years since the first atlas project was completed in 1990 (e.g., widespread wetland restorations and the CRP program) suggest that a second atlas project will reveal many changes. For example, think about range expansions of species like Eurasian Collared-Dove, Henslow’s Sparrow, and Great-tailed Grackle, or as yet undiscovered breeders (Northern Saw-whet Owl in Northeast Iowa?). To be successful, this project will require many hours of volunteer help from birders statewide. Atlasing is a fun way to bird during summer and a great way to explore new areas, so we’re hoping many birders will lend their full support to this important project!