Mark Haindfield was employed with Woodbury County Conservation Board for 41 years while stationed at Snyder Bend Park. Commonly known as a Park Officer or Park Ranger, his official title then was District Resource Manager.

Mark completed training at the Iowa Law Enforcement Academy in 1975 and served in the U.S. Army Reserves for 24 years. Earlier, ornithology courses at Iowa State University added to his long-time appreciation for birds while his job kept him close to nature.

In the 1970’s, when Bald Eagle populations were beginning to improve, Mark assisted the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service in locating and recording eagle loafing and roosting sites. Weekly location maps of recorded sightings of these important sites in the Snyder Bend and Winnebago Bend areas were forwarded on to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Wildlife photography became his hobby. Carolyn Benne, a towering figure in local conservation and education, encouraged and assisted Mark in producing a slideshow program of his images in cooperation with our local Iowa Area Education Agency. His slideshow program was personally shown to many local clubs and organizations including the Loess Hills Audubon Society.

Later, for a 12 year stretch, a different hobby became his passion. Racing homing pigeons consumed his spare time where he learned bird nutrition; molting concepts; bird behavior; breeding strategies; and amazing feats of bird endurance and navigation.

After retiring and joining the Loess Hills Audubon Society, Mark again picked up his camera and wishes to share his more recent birding adventures with you. Be ready to enjoy video clips of bird behaviors; raptors battling for a meal; and rare species for our area, as well as images of very cooperative local bird species.

LHAS Board Meeting begins at 6:00 PM with Mark’s program beginning at 7:00 PM.

The Loess Hills Audubon Society exists to educate individuals and the public to enjoy and promote birding, to support ornithology and to be an advocate for wild areas and environmental issues. The Loess Hills Audubon Society is a chapter of the National Audubon Society.