Wildlife Watchers

Wildlife watchers are special people who find great joy in simply seeing a wild animal. Thanks to the habitat restoration work of Polk County Conservation, Central Iowa is a wilder place than it was a decade ago. Students of nature will be delighted to learn that large tracts of restored wetlands, woodlands, and prairies at Chichaqua Bottoms Greenbelt supports many habitat-sensitive species, including neo-tropical migrant birds and bobcats. Various other parks in Polk County offer refuge for various species, in some cases the only remaining high-quality habitat for miles around.

Birdwatchers flock to Jester Park every September to see as many as 10,000 American white pelicans stopping over on their annual southward migration. It’s quite an event, and conservation staff provides high-powered spotting scopes to ensure people see the pelicans without approaching so close as to disturb their feeding.

Polk County Conservation also helps you enjoy wildlife wherever you are through learning resources made available at the headquarters at Jester Park, and online by clicking here.