Ida Grove Christmas Bird Count

sunday, december 21, 2025

Ida County area residents had the chance to participate in an international citizen science project to help our feathered friends on Sunday, December 21st. Eleven participants helped with the annual Christmas Bird Count, which covered a 15 mile circle around Ida Grove. Participants split up on foot and by car to record their bird observations. The total number of birds observed was 1,380 with 47 individual species. Some notable species were a Bobwhite Quail, Long-eared Owls, and Belted Kingfishers.

The National Audubon Society will use this information to track long and short term population trends, the impacts of Avian Influenza, the spread of invasive species, and the effects of weather and climate changes. This will help conservationists know where the most effort is needed for projects like habitat restoration.

The Audubon Society has been conducting this survey since 1900 and Ida County has been participating since the 1990s. 

Report by Danielle Bennett, Ida County Naturalist (received by Jerry Von Ehwegen)

Sioux City Christmas Bird Count

saturday, december 20, 2025

Seventeen people participated in this year’s Sioux City CBC as Car birders, Bird Hiking and Feeder Watchers. Fifty eight species were recorded, and 39,987 individual birds. There were 8 field parties, 46 field hours, 301 car miles, 15.3 foot miles and one feeder party consisting on 2 hours. The high temperature was 44 with a low of 20, NW winds 5-15 mph on Saturday. There was one inch of snow from a previous snowfall on the ground.

Total Species: 58

Individuals: 39,987

From the IOU Website, reported by Jerry Probst

Westfield (IA) Christmas Bird Count

Tuesday, December 16, 2025

Westfield CBC: 7:30 am - 5:00 pm

The Westfield Christmas Bird Count was held on Tuesday, December 16, 2025. The weather was beautiful with a mix of sun and clouds and a high in the 40s. Twenty participants drove over 280 miles, hiked 8 miles, and spent over 47 hours birding.We ended the day with a respectable total of 62 species of birds. Highlights included 12 species of waterfowl, Northern Bobwhite, both Long-eared and Short-eared Owls, two Pileated Woodpeckers, Snow Buntings, and 7 species of sparrows. An incredible 173 Bald Eagles (165 at the gravel pits in Akron alone!) and 325 meadowlark sp. were impressive counts.

This year we met for a potluck lunch at the Westfield Community Center and some birders headed over to the Loess Hills Interpretive Center in Westfield to enjoy the exhibits about the Loess Hills ecosystem. We were particularly excited to see the beautifully prepared plant exhibit by Loess Hills Audubon Society's own Bill Zales. The interpretive center is open by request and is worth the visit if you are in town.

Total Species: 62

Total Individual Birds: 6933