Iowa's Breeding Birds

The Iowa Ornithologists’ Union and the Iowa Department of Natural Resources are pleased to announce that the second Iowa Breeding Bird Atlas will begin in 2008. This 5-year project will collect information on the current ranges of Iowa’s breeding birds. Numerous changes to Iowa’s landscape in the 17 years since the first atlas project was completed in 1990 (e.g., widespread wetland restorations and the CRP program) suggest that a second atlas project will reveal many changes. For example, think about range expansions of species like Eurasian Collared-Dove, Henslow’s Sparrow, and Great-tailed Grackle, or as yet undiscovered breeders (Northern Saw-whet Owl in Northeast Iowa?). To be successful, this project will require many hours of volunteer help from birders statewide. Atlasing is a fun way to bird during summer and a great way to explore new areas, so we’re hoping IOU members will lend their full support to this important project!

Your help is needed!  With the technology changes since the first atlas project, this time we will be able to follow the progress over the next few years as Iowans canvas their areas and determine the status of our summer residents.  Use this site to enter your data  and watch the progress.  Start by checking the map  for blocks needing some work then get out there and have some fun.

Answers to many of the questions asked about this BBA may be found in the FAQ.  For a more detailed description of how the blocks were selected, read about the sampling methodology used to set our sample blocks.   And don't forget to check out the instructions for atlasing  as well as how to use this web site . 

 Read the latest news about the BBA in the new Spring Newsletter

 Printable charts of early and late breeding dates --   By Species     By Date

 An on-line guide of North American breeding birds with nest photos and songs

© 2010 Iowa Ornithologists' Union

Contact the BBA Coordinator