DUBUQUE AUDUBON
Eagle Point Park
8/27/25
© Marty Corfman
Eagle Point Park
8/27/25
© Marty Corfman
Peosta, IA
9/8/25
© Mary Leigh
Mines of Spain SRA
9/3/25
© Mary Leigh
Deere Dike Park
8/14/25
© Marty Corfman
Deere Dike Park
9/9/25
© Mary Leigh
Eagle Point Park
8/27/25
© Marty Corfman
Eagle Point Park
8/27/25
© Marty Corfman
Mines of Spain SRA
9/3/25
© Mary Leigh
Mines of Spain SRA
9/4/25
© Mary Leigh
Mines of Spain SRA
9/3/25
© Marty Corfman
Mines of Spain SRA
9/3/25
© Marty Corfman
Welcome!
Anyone interested in birding, nature, or the quality of the environment is welcome to become a member of the Dubuque Audubon Society.
Our tri-state region is a great place for birds, and one of the great things about birds is that you can enjoy them at all levels of involvement. You may be surprised how many different species we have in the area at different times of year and how quickly you can begin to identify many of them once you start looking. (Binoculars help!) Any time of year is a great time to be a birder, and we hope you’ll join us!
Our Mission
The mission of the Dubuque Audubon Society is to provide educational opportunities to the people of the tri-state area and to preserve the natural habitat of birds and other wildlife.
Upcoming Events
We are on the lookout for migrating warblers, flycatchers, sparrows, finches, and woodpeckers. Keep your eyes on the sky, too, as raptors continue their journey south!
When: Saturday, September 26 at 7:30 AM (Rain date: Saturday, October 3)
Where: Meet at the Julien Dubuque Monument at the Mines of Spain.
The Plan: At 8:30 AM, we will transition to other trails within the Mines of Spain, adapting to bird activity and the group’s preferences.
Accessibility Note: The first portion of the outing at the Monument is highly accessible for most mobility needs.
Dubuque Audubon October Program
Audubon Conservation – Grazing for Grassland Birds
Thursday, 10/8/26
6:45 PM Social Time
7 – 8 PM Program
EB Lyons Interpretive Center
8991 Bellevue Heights Road
Dubuque, IA 52003
View Map
Tucker Lutter, the new Iowa Conservation Manager for Audubon Upper Mississippi River, will discuss the introduction of the Audubon Conservation Ranching Program to Iowa. The program promotes regenerative grazing practices that help support grassland bird populations, which have declined by 43% across North America over the past 50 years.
Launched in Missouri in 2017, the Audubon Conservation Ranching Program has expanded to more than 4.5 million acres on 150+ ranches across the western United States. The program partners directly with farmers and ranchers to implement conservation-focused grazing practices while providing technical and financial assistance, as well as unique marketing opportunities that recognize their stewardship efforts.
During his presentation, Tucker will share how well-managed grazing can serve as an effective tool for improving grassland habitat and increasing grassland bird populations. He will also discuss the opportunities the Audubon Conservation Ranching Program offers producers who are interested in enhancing wildlife habitat while maintaining productive working lands.
Tucker grew up in the Loess Hills near Sioux City, Iowa, and has a B.S. in Anthropology from Franciscan University and a Masters of Natural Resources Management from North Dakota State University. After a few years of working in archaeology, Tucker decided to return to school for natural resources management after spending time on his in-laws’ farm in North Dakota and realizing how grazing and grassland bird conservation can go hand in hand. Previous to this position, Tucker was the Western Iowa Assistant Land Steward for The Nature Conservancy, helping to manage a bison herd and remnant prairies at Broken Kettle Grasslands and other preserves in western Iowa.
Calendar of Events
We hold monthly programs from September through May on a variety of topics related to nature and the environment.
We also hold an annual Christmas bird count, an annual Duck Waddle at Green Island (traditionally the 2nd Saturday in March), and an annual spring species count (traditionally the Saturday before Mother’s Day), and we offer additional field trips throughout the year.
You can tailor your birding to your interest and activity level, and all levels of experience are welcome.
Latest Newsletter
Click on image below to view.
Most Recent Posts
Supporting Birds
[from fall 2026 newsletter]
Something like 25 years ago, my husband and I didn't get around to trimming back our flowers in the fall, which was generally considered the thing to do at the time. This occurrence led to 3 surprises.
Supporting Birds
[from fall 2026 newsletter]
The long winter months are quickly approaching. Take advantage of this time to plan for how you can make your yard more attractive to a variety of birds. Choosing native plants will best support your local birds by providing food, shelter, and nesting sites appropriate to your area.
Supporting Birds
[from fall 2026 newsletter]
Something like 25 years ago, my husband and I didn't get around to trimming back our flowers in the fall, which was generally considered the thing to do at the time. This occurrence led to 3 surprises.
Supporting Birds
[from fall 2026 newsletter]
The long winter months are quickly approaching. Take advantage of this time to plan for how you can make your yard more attractive to a variety of birds. Choosing native plants will best support your local birds by providing food, shelter, and nesting sites appropriate to your area.
Surveys
[from fall 2026 newsletter]
2026 marked the 60th anniversary of the USGS (U.S. Geological Survey) North American Breeding Bird Survey (BBS)... The late George Crossley, a Dubuque Audubon member, began the survey route ... in 1967.
...
I have truly enjoyed the past 23 years of doing this route...
Events, Species Spotlight
[from fall 2026 newsletter]
On Monday, August 24th, I had the pleasure of leading a Chimney Swift Watch at Wartburg Theological Seminary.
...
I did my best to answer questions about the fascinating roosting behavior of these wonderful birds.
...
These incredible aerialists spend virtually their entire lives in flight, landing only to incubate eggs or roost at night.
Bluebird Monitoring
[from fall 2026 newsletter]
This year we started monitoring Eastern Bluebirds at the Mines of Spain on April 19th and ended with one final check in late August. We try to monitor weekly during the breeding season but slow down our inspections in August when the nesting activity slows.
News
Surveys
[repeated in fall 2026 newsletter]
On June 6th, Dubuque Audubon members conducted a breeding bird survey on the Sisters of Saint Francis property in Dubuque.
Spring Species Count
[from summer 2026 newsletter]
On Saturday, May 9, Dubuque Audubon conducted its annual spring species count. The count covered various areas in Dubuque and Jackson counties.
As an experiment in 2025, we are going to try creating a separate email list for those who would like more group birding opportunities.
Read more on our “More Birding” Email Sign-up page.
[Summer 2026 Update: We are starting discussions on how to proceed for the remainder of 2026 and into 2027.]
Articles of Interest
- Video: Poison Ivy and Parsnip Identification (5:12) (Iowa DNR, Summer 2025)
- How do Birds Keep Themselves Clean? (National Audubon Society, Spring 2025)
- Leave wildlife babies where they belong — In the wild (Iowa DNR, 5/7/25)
eBird
eBird isn’t just a way for you to keep track of the birds you see; it’s a great resource for finding birds you’ve never seen.
Try out the links below to explore Dubuque County in eBird.
Learn about eBird on our Resources page.
Protecting Birds from Window Strikes Day & Night
National Audubon Society articles on efforts to reduce bird collisions:
Dubuque, IA