Learn how barn swallows construct their hearty mud nests and why they sparked the beginning of federal bird protections and conservation efforts in the U.S.
6/1/2023
Kylie Jacott, Promotions & Outreach Coordinator
Bird Watching, Conservation, Narrows River Park, Spring
Join us as we shine a light on Pottawattamie Conservation volunteers to thank them for their time and talents and recognize the difference they make in our community. Our volunteers ROCK!
1/4/2023
Dana Kruse, Volunteer & Facilities Coordinator
Bird Watching, HawkWatch, Hitchcock Nature Center, Volunteering
Special thanks to the Mathiasen family for their generous contributions to Hitchcock Nature Center over the years, including their recently donated bird feeders!
11/4/2022
Kylie Jacott, Promotions & Outreach Coordinator
Bird Watching, News
The Hitchcock HawkWatch volunteer group has recorded the migration of hundreds of thousands of eagles, hawks, owls, vultures and falcons since 1991, and it’s time to celebrate their hard work!
10/5/2021
Kylie Jacott, Promotions & Outreach Coordinator
Autumn, Bird Watching, Events, HawkWatch, Hitchcock Nature Center, News, Volunteering
Interested in improving your birding skills, learning more about common bird species, or joining in on community science projects in your area? Check out Building Better Birders!
3/4/2021
Bird Watching, Conservation, Environmental Education, Events, Family Fun, HawkWatch, Hiking, Native Animals
Our 2020 HawkWatch season has wrapped up, find out what was flying in our season report.
1/15/2021
Earl Johnson, Hawk Counter
Autumn, Bird Watching, Conservation, HawkWatch, Hitchcock Nature Center, Loess Hills, Native Animals
Find out what was flying during our last full month of the 2020 HawkWatch season.
12/11/2020
Earl Johnson, Hawk Counter
Bird Watching, Conservation, HawkWatch, Hitchcock Nature Center, Loess Hills, News
12/9/2020
Amy Campagna, Environmental Education Coordinator
Bird Watching, Conservation, HawkWatch, News
Looking for some last minute gift ideas for the nature lover in your life?
12/7/2020
Bird Watching, Conservation, Hiking, Holidays, Native Animals, Native Plants
How much do you know about the wild turkey?
11/19/2020
Environmental Education Staff
Autumn, Bird Watching, Conservation, Loess Hills, Native Animals
Catch up with the Hitchcock HawkWatch during October & see what's flying past the tower.
11/16/2020
Earl Johnson, Hawk Counter
Bird Watching, Conservation, HawkWatch, Hitchcock Nature Center, Loess Hills, News
Autumn at Hitchcock Nature Center brings the return of our Hitchcock HawkWatch team. This year we are welcoming back Earl Johnson as our lead HawkWatch Counter.
10/13/2020
Bird Watching, Conservation, HawkWatch, Hitchcock Nature Center, Loess Hills, Native Animals, News, Our Staff
Catch up on the latest HawkWatch news with our September activity report.
10/8/2020
Earl Johnson, Hawk Counter
Autumn, Bird Watching, Conservation, HawkWatch, Hitchcock Nature Center, Loess Hills, Native Animals, News
Head outdoors on your own birding scavenger hunt, perfect for some weekend fun.
7/28/2020
Kristen Yost, 2020 Environmental Education Intern
Arrowhead Park, Bird Watching, Botna Bend Park, Conservation, Family Fun, Hiking, Hitchcock Nature Center, Homeschool, Loess Hills, Narrows River Park, Native Animals
3/27/2020
Kate Simmons, Community Relations Coordinator
Bird Watching, Conservation, Family Fun, Hiking, Land Management, Native Animals, Native Plants
In 1933, the American Goldfinch, Spinus tristis, was named Iowa’s state bird. Easy to identify with its bright yellow body and contrasting black and white wing markings, this little seed-eating bird is many a birdwatchers favorite visitor to backyard feeders. Around this time of year, however, people begin asking, “Where did all my goldfinches go?”
12/18/2019
Amy Campagna, Environmental Education Coordinator
Native Animals, Bird Watching, Winter
It is autumn again at Hitchcock Nature Center & while that may mean slowing down for other parks in our area it means a whole new flurry of activity for our staff & guests with the return of the Hitchcock HawkWatch. Each year from September 1st through the end of December our observation tower is staffed daily by a team of volunteer raptor enthusiasts, the HawkWatchers, headed by their fearless leader, the seasonal Hawk Counter. This team spends the fall scanning the skies of the Missouri River Valley spotting and cataloging migrating raptors such as hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls.
10/10/2019
HawkWatch, Bird Watching, Hitchcock Nature Center, Our Staff, Native Animals, Conservation, Autumn
Pottawattamie County Conservation is eagerly looking forward to welcoming Sharon Stiteler, aka "The Birdchick" as she kicks off our 2019 Speaker Series. This intrepid birder has made it her mission to get paid to go birding around the world & she has some amazing stories to share in her upcoming presentation "Today's Office" coming up on May 11th at 4:00 p.m. at Hitchcock Nature Center. This event is free with park admission or an annual membership & it is open to anyone age 14 & over.
4/13/2019
Bird Watching, Hitchcock Nature Center, Speaker Series, Events
Winter is a beautiful time in western Iowa! Come along with our Naturalist Michelle on a quick winter walk!
11/21/2018
Michelle Biodrowski, Naturalist
Family Fun, Winter, Hitchcock Nature Center, Bird Watching, Holidays
Every autumn the observation tower at Hitchcock Nature Center becomes a hub of activity with the return of our annual HawkWatch. This seasonal project begins September 1st & continues through the week of the Christmas Holiday and is an amazing research project that we are proud to be a part of. During the HawkWatch a team comprised of volunteers and a seasonal full time supervisor scan the skies of the Missouri River Valley spotting and cataloging migrating raptors such as hawks, eagles, falcons, and owls.
9/28/2018
HawkWatch, Bird Watching, Hitchcock Nature Center, Our Staff, Native Animals, Conservation
Pottawattamie County Conservation invites you to join in the fun in 2018 with the Iowa Junior Naturalist Program.
2/7/2018
Volunteering, Bird Watching, Hiking, Family Fun
Join us at Hitchcock Nature Center for birding in a whole new way!
1/12/2018
Bird Watching, Pheasants Forever, Hitchcock Nature Center, Native Animals, Events
Stay connected with Pottawattamie Conservation.
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