The Plymouth County Conservation Board maintains several parks and river access points along the Big Sioux River north of Westfield and Akron, IA. These parks include riverine, riparian woodland and some managed grassland habitats. During our July outing we will introduce you to these sites as we search for the woodland and grassland birds that inhabit them. Our target birds will include both Black-billed and Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Willow Flycatchers, Bell’s Vireos and Northern Parulas. Birding at these sites is expected to be along the roadsides by car or foot.

Following stops at Doorenbos-Ford Wetlands, Boyd’s Bend, Big Sioux Park, River Bend Park and the Ron Wilmot River Access, we will proceed through the Broken Kettle Grasslands to search for Black-billed Cuckoos, Bobolinks, Grasshopper Sparrows and Loggerhead Shrikes. ‘The Grasslands’ are also home to Bison, butterflies and reptiles. Our visit here will, likewise, be roadside birding. Join us as we tour the Big Sioux River valley and ‘the Grasslands’ and study the landform, its botany and bird life.

Dotty and Bill Zales have graciously invited us to join them for lunch at their homestead, ‘Prairie Hills,’ around 11:00 AM.

We will meet at the public boat ramp at Chris Larsen Park on the Sioux City waterfront at 7:00 AM on Saturday, July 15 for the 20-minute drive to Akron, IA. Others wishing to meet us on site later in the morning, may go directly to Prairie Hills any time after 9:00 AM. Please R.S.V.P. to Dotty Zales or Bill Huser (see below) if you plan to join us for lunch.

Bill Huser, LHAS Vice-President & Outings Coordinator at 712-574-3107 or billfhuser@gmail.com

All LHAS outings are open to the public and offer an inviting way to begin birding and meet others with similar interests.