The Fall meeting of the Iowa Ornithologists’ Union (IOU) was held at the Musco Technology Center on the William Penn University campus in Oskaloosa, Iowa. The weekend event drew 78 birders and included unique field trips, engaging presentations, and plenty of opportunities to connect with fellow bird enthusiasts from across the state.
The meeting began with a delightful social gathering at the Book Vault in downtown Oskaloosa. Attendees enjoyed a presentation by authors Jim and Steve Dinsmore about their book Iowa Changing Wildlife: Three Decades of Gain and Loss, which examines changes in the state's wildlife populations and the conservation efforts of the last three decades. Jim and Steve held a book signing after their presentation, and participants were able to peruse the wonderful collection of literary works in the store.
A highlight of the weekend was the Saturday evening banquet, where members gathered to enjoy a meal and conversation. The keynote speaker, Trish O'Kane, author of Birding to Change the World, delivered a very moving presentation about her experiences using birding as a tool for education, community building, and environmental activism and how birds helped her through many challenging times in her life. She also encouraged the audience to think about how birding can make a difference in their own communities. O'Kane's talk offered a powerful message on the impact of birding beyond the field. Thanks very much to Trish for joining us and, again, to the Book Vault for being at the banquet with copies of Trish’s book on hand for signing.
Throughout the weekend, participants enjoyed a great variety of field trips in Mahaska County and around Lake Red Rock, including a unique boat trip on upper Lake Red Rock to view shorebirds and other waterbirds. A total of 96 bird species were observed, with highlights including 18 species of shorebirds and a Little Blue Heron. Many thanks to our field trip leaders for organizing these fun outings!
Saturday afternoon featured informative presentations on unique topics related to birds and birding, including one about the Dark Sky Initiative from Adam De Jong from Musco Lighting and another about tracking shorebird migration from Victoria Fasbender, a graduate student at Iowa State University. I think I speak for all participants in saying that I learned a ton and am grateful to our presenters for their time and effort.
The Fall meeting was a great success, combining informative talks, enriching birding experiences, and opportunities to build lasting connections within the birding community. Thank you to the Book Vault in Oskaloosa for sponsoring our event, to our presenters and field trip leaders, and to our Board of Directors (especially Board Member and local host Diane Crookham-Johnson) for helping plan an amazing weekend.
Tyler Harms