Banner image copyright 2025 by Kevin J Kerr, used with permission
Great Backyard Bird Count
friday, february 13 - monday, february 16, 2026
The Great Backyard Bird Count is one of the National Audubon Society’s partnerships with the Cornell (University) Lab of Ornithology to assess bird populations and distributions. This international effort seeks to estimate populations when breeding and migration activities are low and population levels are most unchanging. By harnessing a huge number of citizen volunteers, population data from many areas can be gathered simultaneously by these citizen scientists, yielding a snapshot of bird population trends.
Participation in this citizen science is one of our Chapter’s top priorities. Participants can submit multiple lists over multiple days to eBird. Loess Hills Audubon Society members are encouraged to create their own teams in the field, hiking and car birding, and record the birds at their home feeders.
All these observations are submitted to the Cornell Lab’s huge database by entering eBird checklists.
Loess Hills Audubon Society Backyard Bird Count Results - 2026
As of today, all your fine efforts during the 2026 Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) have been shared with the Loess Hills Audubon eBird account. Seventeen chapter members and guests submitted a total of 23 checklists to this global citizen science project to document occurrence and numbers of all species of birds. This project of The Cornel Lab, National Audubon Society and Birds Canada has been collecting occurrence and count data each February since 1998. This data helps researchers identify trends in populations and changes in species’ ranges worldwide.
Our local efforts included surveying sites in Dakota, Thurston and Dixon Counties in Nebraska, Union County, SD and Woodbury, Monona, Plymouth and Polk Counties in Iowa. Member Randy Williams, now hailing from Johnston, IA, and birding the Saylorville Dam area in Polk County, added some species not usually seen in Siouxland during February. Those species are marked below with an asterisk*. Also adding to the count was the early arrival of many waterfowl species, especially at Snyder Bend.
Highlight species: Greater White-fronted Goose (large numbers), Cackling Goose, Trumpeter Swan, Blue-winged Teal (early), American Coot (early), Great Blue Heron*, American White Pelican*, Eastern Screech Owl, Tufted Titmouse*, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Carolina Wren*, Purple Finch, Pine Siskin, Spotted Towhee and Brown-headed Cowbird.
For a complete list of the species recorded and the 23 contributing checklists, see
https://ebird.org/tripreport/480958
Participants: Sharon & John Polifka, Marla & Kevin Kerr, Dotty & Bill Zales, Tim & Vikki Jacobs, Kayla Sheehan, Robert Sophere, Jerry Probst, Randy Williams, Rex Rundquist, Rich Huser, Ed Brogie, Jeanne Bockholt, Jan Null, Jerry Von Ehwegen and Bill Huser.
Participants observed over 66 species!
Compiled and Reported by Bill Huser, V.P. and Outings Coordinator
GBBC Adventures with Jan and Jerry
Jan Null and Jerry Von Ehwegen birded all 4 days of the GBBC and recorded 38 species! The highlight was 2 Short-eared Owls at Owego.
Below images copyright 2026 by Jan Null, used with permission.
Jerry Mennenga’s GBBC Images
saturday/sunday - snyder bend, woodbury county
Below images copyright 2026 by Jerry L Mennenga, used with permission
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ OR https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/
monday, desoto national wildlife refuge, ia and ne
A nice variety of birds (waterfowl) back toward the larger viewing blind. Actually it was best on that trail that takes one to the small wooden bird blind past that shelter and porta potties. No birds, well, 10-15 near the visitor's center. A fair number of Trumpeter Swans, Mergansers, Greater White-fronted Geese, Canadian geese, mallards and such. Didn't hear much in the way of song birds, except an occasional Robin. Saw two eagles at a distance perched in trees along the river just past the visitor's center and at that turn out. Jerry Mennenga
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ OR https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/
Below images copyright 2026 by Jerry L Mennenga, used with permission
monday, owego wetland area, woodbury county, ia
Afew photos from Owego. Got there later than I wanted and the light failed pretty fast. Not any Harriers this time around and only 2-3 Rough-legged hawks. Jerry
https://lostinsiouxland.wordpress.com/ OR https://www.jerrylmennengaphotographer.com/
Below images copyright 2026 by Jerry L Mennenga, used with permission
Kevin’s GBBC Images
Stone State Park Trail Sign; 2. At Home - Robins with a Cedar Waxwing enjoying a drink; 3-5 Red-winged Blackbirds at Adams Nature Center & Preserve, SD; 6. Robin at Adams; 7-10. Golden-Crowned Kinglet at Adams; 11. Mallard pair at Bacon Creek Park, Sioux City; 12-14. Brown Creeper at Bacon Creek Park; 15. WITCC Loess Arboretum Trail Sign
Images below copyright 2026 by Kevin J Kerr, used with permission
GBBC Bike and Bird Adventures in central Iowa with Randy Williams
GBBC Day 1 - february 13
Saylorville Reservoir, Cottonwood Recreation Area, Polk County, IA
20 species
Images below copyright 2026 by Randall D Williams, used with permission
gbbc day 2 - February 14
Terra Park, Polk IA
14 species
Images below copyright 2026 by Randall D Williams, used with permission
gbbc day 3 - february 15 - walking
Walnut Woods SP, Polk County, IA
20 species
Bicycles are not allowed on the dirt trails at Walnut Woods. This was all walking. Really hoped for a Pileated and a Barred. But I did find Tufted Titmouse and Carolina Wren.
Images below copyright 2026 by Randall D Williams, used with permission
gbbc day 4 -february 16
Sycamore Access, Sycamore North Trail, Polk, Iowa, US
19 species
Really hoped for the Barred Owl I’ve documented here on two previous times. First time I’ve found Tufted Titmouse here. Glad to also pick up Carolina Wren and Pileated Woodpecker.
Quite a change from hundreds of geese a few days ago as well as other waterfowl and Bald Eagles. It looks like they’ve moved to other areas. I probably will not be back here until the trail dries a bit more. Several tire-sucking mud spots along the route.
Oh, and how did I forget! This happened Sunday evening. I had a 4:00 PM to 6:00 PM meeting in Ankeny on Sunday. On my way home on NW 26th ST (see map) — in between the “t” in “NW 26th ST” and the “Signature Self [Storage]” — I spotted a Short-eard Owl perched on a road sign right next to the street. The street is 4-lane with speeds between 35 and 50 mph along the stretch between NW 66th AV and NW 70th AV. I could slow down but not pull over. The owl and sign looked out over fallow cropland to the west with other fallow cropland to the east of the 4-lane NW 26th ST. There is private marsh / pond at the grey tear drop in the “Heartland Roofing, Siding, Solar” label. The bird was close to appropriate habitat.
Randy
Images below copyright 2026 by Randall D Williams, used with permission
