BIRDS
Area Birding
Dubuque county and the tri-state area provide a multitude of habitats for birders to explore.
- Mature hardwood forests that can be found in places like Mines of Spain State Recreation Area and White Pine Hollow State Forest (New Vienna, IA) host Pileated Woodpecker, Red-Shouldered Hawk, Veery, Scarlet Tanager, and 11 species of breeding warblers.
- Wetland areas such as Deere Dike Park and Mud Lake County Park offer access to the Upper Mississippi National Wildlife Area, where Sandhill Cranes, Bald Eagles, and waterfowl are easily found.
- Prairies and grasslands can be found at a number of locations including Ringneck Ridge Wildlife Area (Worthington, IA) and Whitewater Canyon (Bernard, IA). Here you may find Sedge Wren, Yellow-Breasted Chat, and Northern Harrier.
- A leisurely country drive on gravel roads south of the Dubuque Regional Airport or in western Dubuque county can provide opportunities to view open country species such as Horned Lark, Lapland Longspur, and Snow Bunting.
- In summer 2023, we were happy to discover Bobolink, Dickcissel, and other grassland birds nesting in the Technology Park development area.
We have created a map to show the locations mentioned above, along with more favorites in the tri-state area. The map is most useful on a large screen.
Whatever your target species may be, Dubuque and the tri-state area have place to find it!
For information on birding locations, look at hotspots in eBird, and find additional supporting details on those same hotspots at birdinghotspots.org.
birdinghotspots.org
Hotspot Details
You can help build this hotspot repository by submitting suggested edits! The idea is to provide details on eBird hotspots, including descriptions, location photos, tips on parking, restroom availability, whether there is roadside viewing, etc.
Annual Christmas Bird Count
The National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count is the longest running organized citizen science project in the United States, with 2024 marking the 125th anniversary!
Every year, we split into groups to identify and count birds within a 15-mile-diameter circle centered at Center Grove Cemetery, Dubuque, IA. Sectors include Swiss Valley, Mines of Spain, City of Dubuque, Western Dubuque, Deere Dike/north of Dubuque, Dubuque Airport, and western Grant County.
All data is submitted to the National Audubon Society and used to track trends in bird diversity.
Christmas Bird Count Blog Posts
Bird Counts, Christmas Bird Count, Events
Bird Counts, Christmas Bird Count, Events