Birding is a big tent encompassing many varied interests. Some people have come to birding through wildlife photography. Others are most interested in the science of species distribution and occurrence. Still others have fun with the listing of species seen, like baseball card collecting without the storage requirements. No matter your primary interest, it is always more fun sharing with others.

Birding is one of the fastest growing outdoor activities in the country and levels of interest and time involved vary immensely. One thing that is universal, however, is sharing your sightings and knowledge as well as learning from others adds considerably to the fun of the hobby. There are numerous ways to connect with others for both introverts and extroverts. Social media has been an incredibly rich source to bring birders from all around the world in contact with each other, but the comraderie and personal interactions with others is hard to beat. Explore by using the menu links.

Find a local birding club in your area of the state. Join a Christmas Bird Count near you. Participate in the annual Cy-Hawk showdown pitting teams representing the Cyclones or the Hawkeyes in a weekend count each fall. Get acquainted with fellow birding afficianados at semi-annual IOU conventions or special events. Connect a young birder in your life with Iowa Young Birders. Turn your passion into action through Iowa Audubon. There are so many ways to connect!