Field Trips

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Check out this great brochure on getting started in this wonderful activity.

Sat, Sept 20th: Mitigation Property Field Trip

8:00 AM: Meet at the Mitigation Property (private property) if you know where it is. If you haven't joined us for a field trip at this wonderful property, meet us at 7:45 AM the BP gas station in Washburn, IA. We will probably be out till about 12 noon.

Long pants and waterproof boots and bug spray is highly recommended. 

This property is a treasure trove of species--otter have been observed as well as great birds, wildflowers, fungi and slime mold, plus turtles, snakes, etc.

We ask that everyone is respectful of the landowners as we visit this property.

Wednesday Morning Birding Returns!

It’s definitely felt like summer since we were together for our last Wednesday Morning Birding outing.  However, our avian friends will be responding to the diminishing daylight and gradually cooling temperatures and making their way to their winter homes. It’s a good time to brush up on your fall warbler plumage.  And just when you thought you were doing well with bird ID the juveniles can also be tricky.  

Remember you don’t need to be an expert.  There are plenty of coaches to help you out and we all learn from each other!  Binoculars will be provided if you need them.  Restrooms are located at all locations with the exception of Lower Hartman.  Check the website, gopras.org in case of weather cancellations. A list of sightings for each field trip will be sent out via email and on our Facebook page.

See you soon. - Kris and Craig Rash We’ll start our field trips at 8:30 a.m. and they typically last 2 hours or so.

Sept 3: Big Woods Lake. Cedar Falls. Meet in the parking lot at the Big Woods Lake South Entrance. Pit toilets available. GPS point: https://goo.gl/maps/cAmP4Ex55jABkjKy9

Sept 10: Hartman Reserve Lower Level. Cedar Falls. Drive to Lookout Park and access Park Drive. Continue to the lower level parking area. No restroom facilities at this location; go to Hartman's Nature Center. Here is the GPS point for the parking area: https://goo.gl/maps/ngamVSpBWuSTgvuh9

Sept 17: *New Location* Irvine Prairie. 1174 55th St. Dysart (south of Hickory Hills). Seasonal pit toilet available in summer. GPS point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DoQSqHPyPr1jW83b6

Sept 24: Greenbelt Lake (aka Martin Lake). Waterloo. Meet in the parking lot off Martin Rd, which is off Highway 63. Some paved trails. No restroom facilities. GPS point: https://goo.gl/maps/fmJddNHJy7RAgjnC6

Oct 1: Cedar Valley Nature Trail. Gilbertville. Meet at the depot west of Gilbertville off Washburn Road. Paved trails; restroom facilities at Gilbertville Depot, LaPorte City baseball park, & McFarlane Park. GPS point: https://goo.gl/maps/q9pSn2UEVw4zVAwP7

Oct 8: Riverview Recreation Area - Harold Getty Lake. Waterloo. At the stoplight follow Mitchell Street about 0.25 miles east of Highway 218 to the parking lot. Some paved trails. GPS point: https://goo.gl/maps/wcFiqZj8LbpHYbCeA This field trip will be led by Tom Schilke.

Oct 15: Prairie Lakes. Cedar Falls Visitors Center. Cedar Falls. Meet at parking lot off Hudson Road. Paved trails; restrooms in visitor center; pit toilets also available. GPS point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/enkjhdCJNna7DQmn8 

Oct 22: George Wyth State Park. Waterloo. Meet at the kiosk right inside the park entrance. Restroom facilities located within the park. GPS point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/EFQAQMsQ5DV1TiD49 Tom Moon will lead this field trip.

PRAS Field Trip Locations

If we don't have a specific field trip scheduled, feel free to go and explore on your own at these locations that we typically visit during our group field trips. If you want to lead a field trip, email Craig and Kris Rash and we will help get the word out. We are always looking for people to share their favorite spots.

Beaver Valley Wetlands Refuge. West of Cedar Falls. Meet in parking lot off N. Union Road and Beaver Valley Road. No restroom facilities. GPS point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/b4dAQxd6LuD82xtV9

Big Woods Lake. Cedar Falls. Meet in the parking lot at the Big Woods Lake South Entrance. Pit toilets available. GPS point: https://goo.gl/maps/cAmP4Ex55jABkjKy9

Cedar Hills Sand Prairie. West of Cedar Falls. No restroom facilities .GPS point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/nZyoYCtG6s9UGwU26

Cedar Valley Nature Trail. Gilbertville. Meet at the depot west of Gilbertville off Washburn Road. Paved trails; restroom facilities at Gilbertville Depot, LaPorte City baseball park, & McFarlane Park. GPS point: https://goo.gl/maps/q9pSn2UEVw4zVAwP7

George Wyth State Park. Waterloo. Meet at the kiosk right inside the park entrance. Restroom facilities located within the park. GPS point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/EFQAQMsQ5DV1TiD49

Greenbelt Lake (aka Martin Lake). Waterloo. Meet in the parking lot off Martin Rd, which is off Highway 63. Some paved trails. No restroom facilities. GPS point: https://goo.gl/maps/fmJddNHJy7RAgjnC6

Hartman Reserve Lower Level. Cedar Falls. Drive to Lookout Park and access Park Drive. Continue to the lower level parking area. No restroom facilities at this location; go to Hartman's Nature Center. Here is the GPS point for the parking area: https://goo.gl/maps/ngamVSpBWuSTgvuh9

Hickory Hills. South of Waterloo on County Rd. V37 aka Dysart Road. Meet at the archery parking lot on the west side of Hickory Hills. Pit toilets by archery shelter. GPS point: https://goo.gl/maps/qTVUyG8sYhkkYJja6

Irvine Prairie. 1174 55th St. Dysart. Seasonal pit toilet available in summer. GPS point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DoQSqHPyPr1jW83b6

McFarlane Park. East of LaPorte City. Park near the picnic shelter. Pit toilets by shelter; modern facilities at campground. GPS point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/npTWSe2cM7nq3sny6 Prairie Lakes. Cedar Falls Visitors Center. Cedar Falls. Meet at parking lot off Hudson Road. Paved trails; restrooms in visitor center; pit toilets also available. GPS point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/enkjhdCJNna7DQmn8

Riverview Recreation Area - Harold Getty Lake. Waterloo. At the stoplight follow Mitchell Street about 0.25 miles east of Highway 218 to the parking lot. Some paved trails. GPS point: https://goo.gl/maps/wcFiqZj8LbpHYbCeA

Robertson Bird Sanctuary. Waterloo. Pull into the parking lot on the left, it is located on south side of the road. No restroom facilities. GPS point: https://maps.app.goo.gl/zkvN5oaYzsTUVPg69

Sweet Marsh. Bremer County. No restroom facilities. GPS Point: Sweet Marsh South Entrance Parking Lot From Tripoli, IA go east for 2.1 miles on 7th Ave SE (Co Rd 93) which will turn into 165th St. Turn north onto the gravel Sweet Marsh access road that is immediately after the road for the trailhead for the Sweetwater Creek bike trail.

Washington Union Access. North of Cedar Falls at Cedar-Wapsi Road (C-57). Parking lot is located on the south side of the road just before crossing the Cedar River Bridge. No restroom facilities. GPS point: https://goo.gl/maps/m1bfb7SbtSbvWEZT7