Click here to subscribe to PRAS emails to stay up to date on field trips, etc.
Of special interest will be the Milky Way arching high overhead, visible from a dark site, and the Perseid meteor shower, although many meteors will be lost in the Moon's light.
The Sky
The sky
So clear and blue
But if we pollute
Say good-bye to the blue.
- Valerie Goliff, my [David Voigts] granddaughter, while in elementary school
The sky
So clear and blue
But if we pollute
Say good-bye to the blue.
- Valerie Goliff, my [David Voigts] granddaughter, while in elementary school
PRAS Programs begin in September!
We meet the 2nd Tuesdays Sept-May (except Dec) at the First Presbyterian Church (9th & Main-Cedar Falls) at 7 p.m.
Wendy VanDeWalle will be our featured speaker talking about her big year! This will be a great way to start the year. Stay tuned for announcements for field trips for fall migration.
We meet the 2nd Tuesdays Sept-May (except Dec) at the First Presbyterian Church (9th & Main-Cedar Falls) at 7 p.m.
Wendy VanDeWalle will be our featured speaker talking about her big year! This will be a great way to start the year. Stay tuned for announcements for field trips for fall migration.
9th Annual Swift Night Out - Denver, IA
Wed, Aug 20th, 7:30 p.m.
Rain date will be August 21
 |
| Jim McCulloch, CC BY 2.0 |
In the late summer and early fall of the year they will begin to gather in large flocks to begin their migration to their wintering ground in South America where food will be plentiful until their return next spring.
Swifts are not capable of perching on branches as their feet have lost that ability, but they prefer to hang from a rough surface. This was usually a hollow tree but in more recent times chimneys have served that purpose. During the migration large chimneys can host hundreds if not over a thousand birds for their overnight stay.
 |
| Image part of public domain, OR Dept of Fish & Wildlife |
Come join us on August 20 at 7:30 pm,
just before sunset as dusk settles in and the swifts begins to gather around the chimney at the State Street Coffee building across from Dollar General. The swifts will drop into the chimney one
by one for their night's rest.
On August 7th, 78 Swifts were sighted entering the chimney. Thank you to Herman's and State Street Coffee for the use of their parking lot. Help us in celebrating the importance of birds in our communities and Denver's status as a Bird Friendly City in Iowa.
Written by: Craig and Kris Rash
On August 7th, 78 Swifts were sighted entering the chimney. Thank you to Herman's and State Street Coffee for the use of their parking lot. Help us in celebrating the importance of birds in our communities and Denver's status as a Bird Friendly City in Iowa.
Written by: Craig and Kris Rash
 |
| 2024 Overall Winner - Butterfly on Blazing Star by Tom Moon |
Buchanan County Natural Areas
Photo Contest
September 15 deadline
This contest is sponsored by Friends of Fontana Park and is open to all amateur photographers who have taken photos in Buchanan County Natural Areas. Buchanan County Conservation manages 41 public properties in the county, but there are so many other natural areas from backyards to riverways to ditches.
Any images not previously entered in our contest are acceptable. Each photographer may enter up to 8 total images amongst any or all of our 4 categories: Wildlife, People Enjoying Nature, Plants & Wildflowers, and Landscapes.
Cash prizes include $50 awards for each category and a $100 award for the overall winner. Winning images will be on display for the year on the main floor of Fontana Interpretive Nature Center and will continue to be displayed for about 10 years in the nature center classroom.
Any images not previously entered in our contest are acceptable. Each photographer may enter up to 8 total images amongst any or all of our 4 categories: Wildlife, People Enjoying Nature, Plants & Wildflowers, and Landscapes.
Cash prizes include $50 awards for each category and a $100 award for the overall winner. Winning images will be on display for the year on the main floor of Fontana Interpretive Nature Center and will continue to be displayed for about 10 years in the nature center classroom.
2025 Buchanan County Natural Areas Photo Contest Rules
1. All photos must be taken in Buchanan County, depict Natural Areas, and be taken by
amateur photographers. Photographers do not have to be from Buchanan County.
2. Images will be judged on depicting natural areas with originality, technical excellence,
composition, overall impact and artistic merit. Judging will be at a public program in the Fontana Interpretive Nature Center Classroom by a professional photographer.
3. Black & white or color images will be accepted. Images may be enlarged and cropped and edited for standard color/exposure/contrast.
4. Images must be labeled as below and submitted either electronically (via separate email attachment for each photo entered to scabell@co,buchanan.ia.us) OR by mail to Fontana Nature Center (1883 125th St Hazleton, IA 50641), OR in person at Fontana Park Nature Center.
PHOTO ID LABEL MUST INCLUDE:
photographer’s name
address
phone
contest category
the location where the photo was taken.
Place label on back of printed images or in text accompanying email entries.
5. No more than eight photos per individual may be entered, photos may be entered in any of the categories.
6. Photos entered in previous years’ contests are not eligible.
7. One $100 prize will be awarded to the overall winner, and a $50 prize will be awarded to the winners in each of the four categories.
8. Entries must be received by 11:59 pm September 15, 2025.
9. The Conservation Board reserves the right to keep copies of any photo entries and utilize them in promotional materials (credit will be given).
10. BCCB will display the winning photos as 8X10’s in the Nature Center Exhibit floor for one year and then in the classroom area for approximately 10 years.
amateur photographers. Photographers do not have to be from Buchanan County.
2. Images will be judged on depicting natural areas with originality, technical excellence,
composition, overall impact and artistic merit. Judging will be at a public program in the Fontana Interpretive Nature Center Classroom by a professional photographer.
3. Black & white or color images will be accepted. Images may be enlarged and cropped and edited for standard color/exposure/contrast.
4. Images must be labeled as below and submitted either electronically (via separate email attachment for each photo entered to scabell@co,buchanan.ia.us) OR by mail to Fontana Nature Center (1883 125th St Hazleton, IA 50641), OR in person at Fontana Park Nature Center.
PHOTO ID LABEL MUST INCLUDE:
photographer’s name
address
phone
contest category
the location where the photo was taken.
Place label on back of printed images or in text accompanying email entries.
5. No more than eight photos per individual may be entered, photos may be entered in any of the categories.
6. Photos entered in previous years’ contests are not eligible.
7. One $100 prize will be awarded to the overall winner, and a $50 prize will be awarded to the winners in each of the four categories.
8. Entries must be received by 11:59 pm September 15, 2025.
9. The Conservation Board reserves the right to keep copies of any photo entries and utilize them in promotional materials (credit will be given).
10. BCCB will display the winning photos as 8X10’s in the Nature Center Exhibit floor for one year and then in the classroom area for approximately 10 years.
Questions, call Sondra Cabell, Naturalist, Buchanan County Conservation at 319-636-2617 www.buchanancountyparks.com
Pelican Festival
August 24th 11AM-4PM
2564 Amana Road NW, Swisher
Hawkeye Wildlife Area
Iowa Audubon partners with US Army Corps of Engineers and Iowa City Bird Club to bring this large pelican festival to our area. It is held at an observation area of Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area in late August. Hundreds of local and migrating American White Pelicans can be seen in large flocks in the sky and on the water. Their majestic flight is a sight to behold! Learn about their breeding, foraging, and conservation at programs throughout the day. See more details.
2564 Amana Road NW, Swisher
Hawkeye Wildlife Area
Iowa Audubon partners with US Army Corps of Engineers and Iowa City Bird Club to bring this large pelican festival to our area. It is held at an observation area of Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area in late August. Hundreds of local and migrating American White Pelicans can be seen in large flocks in the sky and on the water. Their majestic flight is a sight to behold! Learn about their breeding, foraging, and conservation at programs throughout the day. See more details.
Prairie Walk at Irvine Prairie
August 28th, at 6-8 p.m.
 |
| Photo by C. Havely - Silo is on private farm site across from the prairie. |
The walk will begin near the parking area located by the Irvine Prairie rock. Please bring your own water and sun protection. Closed-toe shoes and long pants are encouraged.
This prairie is a wonderful place; more land has been planted, so you can experience a prairie that is 1-2 and 3+ years old.
PRAS member Candace Havely featured her special experiences at Irvine Prairie in her April program, "Wonder As You Wander". This program and others may be viewed on the PRAS YouTube Channel.
NEW! See Dan Cohen's Nature Communications Substack on our "Links" page. Dan shares stories and photos about nature, conservation and the environment.
Find an injured bird or animal? Call Black Hawk Wildlife Rehabilitation Project 319-939-4635
Note: As of Dec 2024 BHWRP is not accepting sick or injured waterfowl due to the avian influenza outbreak found in Iowa.
Find other wildlife rehabilitators.
New to Birding?
Check out this great new brochure from Iowa Audubon that gives you all the information about enjoying the activity of watching birds!
Subscribe to our Online RedTail Newsletter
Bird Flight Patterns and Music Concert Program
You are now able to access the online concert video and curriculum (see link and password below-posted with permission by the copyright holder).
The link provides the full concert video and online curriculum with activities, lessons, extra musical performances, composer interviews and educational games. This resource will remain active through June 2022 (for one year), so utilize it for your programs, personal edification working with your children or grandchildren to teach them about music and birds!
You are now able to access the online concert video and curriculum (see link and password below-posted with permission by the copyright holder).
The link provides the full concert video and online curriculum with activities, lessons, extra musical performances, composer interviews and educational games. This resource will remain active through June 2022 (for one year), so utilize it for your programs, personal edification working with your children or grandchildren to teach them about music and birds!
Bird Flight Patterns and Music Link: https://nbsymphony.org/bird-
Password: BFPMC (case sensitive)
Subscribe to the PRAS YouTube Channel if you are interested in watching recordings of our past Zoom meetings for which we have permission to post for viewing.
Contribute to our Flickr Photo Stream
Go to this URL: https://www.flickr.com/
Click "Login"
Click "Login"
The email address associated with PRAS's account is: praudubon@gmail.com
Email praudubon@gmail.com to request password for email; we won't post it here online.
Save the UN and PWD so it is quick and easy the next time you upload photos.
Click the Upload icon (looks like cloud with an arrow) and follow prompts.
Here is Flick's help page for uploads.
Click the Photos link on the above navigation bar to see photos.
Find us on Facebook
We share information about field trips, local sightings, fun and interesting photos and stories about birds, nature, the environment, etc. on our Facebook page. Check it out and like us and "share" our posts.