Q&A: Gravel Roads in Wintertime

February 10, 2025

Articles, Birds

By Tony Moline
[from spring 2025 newsletter]

Question: Why do birds flock to gravel roads in the wintertime?

Answer: Because they have no teeth! Instead, birds have a gizzard, a muscular part of their stomach that helps them grind up food. Small rocks and sand (or grit) are ingested by birds to create “teeth” in the gizzard. Although birds practice this year-round, winter snow depth makes plowed gravel an oasis of grit, especially for open county birds such as Lapland Longspurs, Snow Buntings and Horned Larks.

Snow Bunting
© Marty Corfman
Dubuque, IA
1/27/25

Horned Lark
© Mary Leigh
Dubuque County
3/14/23

Jan 31, 2025

Articles, Bird Counts, Christmas Bird Count

2024 Christmas Bird Count Follow-up Interview

With 2024 being the 125th anniversary of the Christmas Bird Count, Science Friday did an interview in early January titled "What Scientists Have Learned from 125 Years of Bird Counts."

Jan 10, 2025

Articles, News

Q&A: Birdfeeders & Avian Influenza

Question: Should I be taking down my birdfeeders to avoid spreading avian influenza?
Answer: No. At this point, the increase is in waterfowl. Since early December, Iowa has seen a sharp jump in affected waterfowl, mostly north of Interstate 80.

Dec 30, 2024

Articles, Birds

Starling Murmuration

By Marty Corfman
Dubuque Audubon Society President

I will never stop being awed by this phenomenon, called a murmuration, when birds fly in synchronized patterns. This time of year, these formations can be seen most often toward dusk, when birds are looking for a roosting site, but they can be seen throughout the day as well.

Dec 12, 2024

Articles, Birds

Q&A: American Robins

By Mary Leigh
[from winter 2024 newsletter]

Question: Do American Robins remain in the Midwest all winter?
Answer: Yes! Although American Robins are regarded as a sign of spring in the Midwest, they are here year-round.

Dec 12, 2024

Articles

2024 eBird Taxonomy Update

By Mary Leigh
[from winter 2024 newsletter]

I noticed recently that my eBird life list bird count increased by 1 when I hadn’t added any new species. The explanation was the annual taxonomy update! Every year, based on new insights by ornithologists, species are split, lumped, and renamed.

Oct 12, 2024

Articles, Birds

Magic – Chimney Swifts

By Marty Corfman
[from fall 2024 newsletter]

My husband and I were driving past Wartburg Theological Seminary in Dubuque at dusk, and I heard and saw many swifts hunting insects in the sky. I said, “Pull over, honey! This is gonna be cool!”

Oct 12, 2024

Articles

Birding Ethics

By Bob Walton
[from fall 2024 newsletter]

All sports have rules to follow, and birding should be no different. It is important that the welfare of all our birds be respected, resulting in little or no disturbance to the birds. The American Birding Association (ABA) has developed a Code of Birding Ethics that promotes respectful, enjoyable, and thoughtful birding.

Aug 29, 2024

Birds, Projects

Whitewater Canyon Survey Results

Dubuque Audubon's 3-year survey of grassland birds at Whitewater Canyon Wildlife Management Area is complete!

Aug 29, 2024

Birds, Projects

Bluebird Monitoring Results

Our volunteers monitoring bird houses at Mines of Spain counted 99 Eastern Bluebird eggs, 72 nestlings, and 52 fledglings this year!

Jul 28, 2024

Birds

Merlins Nesting in Dubuque!

On Sunday, July 28th, Dubuque Audubon members were able to confirm Merlin nesting in Dubuque for the first time in over a century!

Apr 17, 2024

Birds, Projects

Installation of Signs at Technology Park

With permission from the city of Dubuque, the Dubuque Audubon Society has created and installed educational signage at Technology Park to share information on birds that nest in those fields.

Mar 1, 2024

Articles

Iowa Audubon History

[from March 2024 newsletter]

Doug Harr, president of the Iowa Audubon Society, recently received copies of some pages from Bird Lore magazine (an early publication started in 1899 by the original Audubon Society). The pages dated from 1899 to 1917. He shared these historical notes:

Q&A: Gravel Roads in Wintertime

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