JONES COUNTY, Iowa — The Iowa Department of Natural Resources is calling all wildlife watchers!
Every year, the state's DNR hosts certification classes for volunteers interested in becoming bald eagle nest monitors.
In 2024, wildlife biologists will hold a workshop via Zoom on Saturday, Feb. 10 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. There will also be an in-person opportunity at the Central Park Nature Center in Jones County on Saturday, March 23 from 12:30 p.m. to 4 p.m.
This year, both classes are already filled. In fact, the Zoom option booked up within 24 hours! But if you missed your opportunity this year, the DNR says you don't have to wait for 2025 to sign up. Simply send an email to Stephanie Shepherd at vwmp@dnr.iowa.gov to get added to the waitlist.
Community science volunteers have been helping the state monitor local eagle nests and populations since 2006. Last year, monitors kept tabs on more than 300 nests. The DNR says there are more than 600 active eagle nests in Iowa, with many concentrated in the northeastern part of the state.
These volunteer monitors are crucial to helping the DNR gather data on the birds.
Each monitor must have a pair of binoculars and preferably a spotting scope. The DNR tries to match one volunteer up to one nest. It's about a 6-hour time commitment between March and July of each year, with volunteers making multiple trips to their assigned nest.
Stephanie Shepherd, a Wildlife Diversity Biologist with the Iowa DNR, joined The Current on News 8 to discuss the importance of these volunteers to the continued success of the state's eagle population. You can watch her full interview in the above video.
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