Meetings
The Loess Hills Audubon Society meets at the Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center, 4500 Sioux River Road on the first Thursday of the month during the months of September through May at 7:00 PM.
April 2026 - the meeting will be held on the 2nd Thursday of the month.
Each meeting features a quality program on a variety of natural history subjects.
The public is invited and welcome to attend these meetings.
Conserving an endangered dragonfly: Lessons learned for insect conservation and beyond
with Daniel Soluk
Thursday, Sept. 4, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
4500 Sioux River Rd, Sioux City
Image courtesy of Dan Soluk, used with permission
Dan Soluk and his students have been studying the Hine’ emerald dragonfly since shortly after it was listed as an endangered species in 1995. It remains the only dragonfly to be federally listed as an endangered species, although many other dragonflies are in trouble due to habitat loss, roadway development, and the changing climate. Understanding why the Hine’s emerald dragonfly is endangered and working out how to save it from extinction, have provided important lessons applicable to a wide range of other species. It highlights the need to understand behavior and unexpectedly complex interactions that occur among species. Conserving the Hine’s emerald dragonfly also highlights the many ways that groundwater extraction and roadway development can impact aquatic ecosystems.
Dan Soluk has been a professor at the University of South Dakota since 2004 where he teaches classes in Entomology, Conservation Biology, and Freshwater Ecology. His research has focused on the conservation of aquatic ecosystems ranging from the smallest temporary streams to larger rivers.
Join us for the Board Meeting at 6:00 pm before the program. Both the meeting and program are open to the public.
Birding in Newfoundland with Thane Dinsdale
Thursday, october 2, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
4500 Sioux River Rd, Sioux City
Thane Dinsdale will share his birding and cultural adventures in Newfoundland, the easternmost maritime province of Canada and the easternmost point in North America. He had the opportunity to explore a variety of habitats including the boreal forest, the tundra, and various sea shores. He will share his photos and experiences seeing over 89 species of birds. Some of his highlights include viewing seabird colonies including puffins, gannets, and razorbills, and seeing the famous Steller’s Sea-Eagle. Thane will discuss his experiences, assessing the wide variety of habitats in this area. He will incorporate Newfoundland's rich history and distinctive local culture, both of which have been influenced by its low population density and geographical isolation.
Join us for the Board Meeting at 6:00 pm before the program. Both the meeting and program are open to the public.
Image copyright by Thane Dinsdale, used with permission.
Program with Brian Buckmeier
Thursday, november 6, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
4500 Sioux River Rd, Sioux City
Member & Friends Holiday Slide Show
Thursday, december 4, 2025 at 7:00 pm
Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
4500 Sioux River Rd, Sioux City
Bill Huser & Jerry Probst Bird Program
Thursday, january 8, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
4500 Sioux River Rd, Sioux City
Pre-settlement Birds & the History of Birds in the Siouxland Area
with Tucker Lutter from the Nature Conservancy
Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
4500 Sioux River Rd, Sioux City
Program with John Buntsma
from the Iowa State University Extension Service
Thursday, march 5, 2026at 7:00 pm
Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
4500 Sioux River Rd, Sioux City
Program with Jillian Murphy, USD Research Student
Thursday, april 9, 2026 at 7:00 pm
(2nd thursday in april)
Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
4500 Sioux River Rd, Sioux City
May Program - TBA
Thursday, may 7, 2026 at 7:00 pm
Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
4500 Sioux River Rd, Sioux City
This will be the last program until September 2026 when our next season begins!
Summer Break!
Back in September 2026 - at Dorothy Pecaut Nature Center
During Summers, be sure to check our Upcoming Outings page or our Calendar page to join us at some of the best birding locations in Siouxland!
A Look at our past programs during the 2024-2025 season.
THANK YOU for attending our 2024-2025 programs and an additional THANK YOU to our program presenters this past season. This would not have been possible without you:
Steve Backus — Antartica, 5 September 2024 Zoom presentation
Victoria DeVos — Rediscover Plymouth County Conservation, 3 October 2024
Rod Tondreau — Western Prairie Plants in Iowa, 7 November 2024
Loess Hills Audubon Members and Friends Holiday Photo and Video Show with Traveler’s Tales, 5 December 2024
Matt Anderson — Cartoonist and Conservationist Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling, 9 January 2025
Brian Hazlett and Ryan Allen — Campfire Tales at the Midpoint of Winter, 6 February 2025
Vicki Baker — Wastewater Treatment Past, Present, and Future, 6 March 2025
Mark Dixon — Floodplain Forests along the Missouri River: Past, Present, and Future, 3 April 2025
Ty Smedes — Eagle Hunters of Mongolia, 1 May 2025