Field Trips

New to Birding?
Check out this great brochure on getting started in this fun activity.

Wednesday Morning Birding

We will begin at 8:30 a.m. and bird for approximately two hours.  If we need to cancel for inclement weather we will send an email by 6:30 a.m. the morning of the field trip.

Oct 7: Sweetwater Creek Trail* Tripoli. 1st Ave SW & 2nd St. SW GPS Point or if you are to meet at the trailhead at 2651 170th St, Tripoli here is the Trailhead GPS Point

Oct 14: 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  We will bird for approximately an hour.  Then we will proceed to the Rotary Reserve, 5932 N. Union Rd. Cedar Falls.  Dan Cohen will be giving a presentation on IWILL, Iowa's Water and Land Legacy at 10:00.  Both governor candidates are in favor of this amendment that was voted on and passed by Iowa voters in 2010 but has yet to be passed by the Iowa legislature.  This will be a good time to learn what is involved in this important piece of legislation. We may do a little more birding at the Reserve if time allows.

Oct 21: 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

* Indicates availability of restroom facilities.

Bird Watching at the Koutny Pond

Saturday, October 17th at 9 AM Address: 1544-2 330th St., Brandon, IA 52210 Join Buchanan County Conservation and the Prairie Rapids Audubon on a birding field trip to Koutny Pond. Koutny is a 106 acre property managed by Buchanan County. The property has excellent habitat for prairie, wetland, and woodland species of birds. The area has historically been a refuge to sandhill cranes, pheasants, unique waterfowl, and more! Will start at Koutny Pond at 9 AM, do introductions, go searching for our local birds, and conclude back at the parking lot. Afterward we may head to a different property to do some more bird watching. You are welcome to join! ** County will bring loaner binoculars if needed** Directions: The address is 1544-2 330th St., Brandon, IA 52210 . Property location is Southeast of Brandon and just south of Hwy 283. Parking: Koutny has a parking lot North of the pond, with pit toilets. Please be prepared for a hike and for the weather. All ages are welcomed! More info on Koutny Pond check out mycountyparks.com: https://www.mycountyparks.com/County/Buchanan/Park/Koutny-Pond-Hoffman-Woods

Buchanan Co. Conservation Birding Hikes

Buchanan County Conservation Office, located at Fontana Park Interpretive Nature Center, is sponsoring birding opportunities around the county this fall. A naturalist will go over birding basics and describe the birds being seen.

All birding hikes will be on the first Tuesday of October, November and December and start at 8:30 a.m.  Loaner binoculars and field guides will be provided if needed. The locations are as follows:

Tue, October 6th - Ham Marsh Wildlife Area, Independence, Iowa. Meet at main parking lot. GPS Point

Tue, November 3rd - Three Elms County Park, Independence, Iowa. Meet at main parking lot. GPS Point

Tue, December 1st - Fontana County Park, Hazelton, Iowa. Meet at Nature Center Classroom. GPS Point

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. *Indicates restroom facilities are available.

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 

Big Woods Lake. Cedar Falls. Meet in the parking lot at the Big Woods Lake South Entrance. Pit toilets available. GPS point

Cedar Hills Sand Prairie. West of Cedar Falls. No restroom facilities. GPS point
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

George Wyth State Park. Waterloo. Meet at the kiosk right inside the park entrance. Restroom facilities located within the park. GPS point

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

Guy Grover Timber and Tree Plantings*. Buchanan County. 2720 Nolen Ave, Rowley. Led by Dan Cohen, former conservation director in Buchanan County. GPS point

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.

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

Irvine Prairie. 1174 55th St. Dysart. Seasonal pit toilet available in summer. GPS point

Mayor's Park* Elk Run Heights. 141-636 McCoy Rd. GPS point

McFarlane Park. East of LaPorte City. Park near the picnic shelter. Pit toilets by shelter; modern facilities at campground. GPS point 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

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

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 

Sweet Marsh. Bremer County. No restroom facilities. GPS point for Sweet Marsh South Entrance parking lot. Directions: 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.

Sweetwater Creek Trail* Tripoli. 1st Ave SW & 2nd St. SW GPS point or if you are to meet at the trailhead at 2651 170th St, Tripoli here is the Trailhead GPS Point

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