The public is invited to a guided birding expedition Saturday, April 29, from 8 am to noon at Dunbar Slough.
Activities will include stopping at different sites to watch and enjoy birds, as well as hearing some bird identification tips and information about some of the birds passing through during their migration.
Dunbar Slough is a 2,134-acre State Wildlife Management area located in western Greene County southwest of Scranton and east of the border between Greene and Carroll counties.
Dunbar Slough is considered an Important Bird Area by the National Audubon Society. Eighty percent of the 285 bird species recorded in Greene County have been detected at Dunbar Slough.
Participants are encouraged to carpool from the park south of Casey’s General Store in Scranton, or meet 15-20 minutes later at the bridge on 270th St. (100 yards east of A Ave).
This free event is sponsored by Jefferson Matters, Raccoon River Watershed Association (RRWA), and lowa Ornithological Union (IOU) in partnership with Carroll and Greene County conservation boards. Matt Wetrich, Jefferson Matters director, will lead the outdoor event. Colleen Radebaugh, Tanner Scheuermann, and Kristen Bieret will assist.
Wetrich’s experience as nature photographer and naturalist has him head over heels into birding for more than 25 years. Dunbar Slough Wildlife Area has been his adopted birding ‘patch’ since moving to Jefferson over a decade ago.
Colleen Radebaugh is an amateur bird watcher and all-around nature lover from the rural Rippey area and has been an active member of RRWA for years.
Tanner Scheuermann, Greene County Conservation Board Director, oversees and manages all of Greene County’s wildlife management areas, prairie areas, and wetland areas where birds and other species congregate and thrive.
Kristen Bieret is the Carroll County Conservation Board environmental education coordinator, where she teaches people of all ages about nature and wildlife.
Persons who want more information can visit the Raccoon River Watershed website at RaccoonRiver.org, or call Bob Rye, RRWA citizen science committee chairman, 515-370-5753.
