Introduction to Birding Course March 31 – May 2nd 2026 Environmental Education Center 2401 Scott Blvd. SE, Iowa City
- Five weekly evening classes
- Five weekend field trips for beginning birders
- Meet and learn with other new birders
- Free for ICBC members, or $5 per class for non-members (membership is only $10.00/year so join up!)
- Attend all evening classes or select desired topics
- Check spring calendar for more details.
Iowa City Bird Club is pleased to provide instruction and field trips for beginning birders. Our course consists of five evening classes and five weekend field trips to local birding hot spots. Classes are on Tuesdays 7:00-8:00 PM, in Iowa City at the Environmental Education Center on 2401 Scott Blvd. SE. Field trip locations are to nearby birding hotspots on Saturday mornings. They are Beginning Birder Trips- for current or past participants in ICBC’s Intro Course.
No registration required, just come!
Classes and Field Trips are FREE to members of Iowa City Bird Club members, or $5 per class session. Join ICBC on your first day of class at a cost of $10, or $15 for annual membership with printed and mailed newsletters. Participants may attend all sessions or pick one or more to attend.
Binoculars are the only equipment needed, and advice on what to buy is included in the first class. Loaner binoculars available for field trips upon request.
Contact iowacitybirdclub@gmail.com for more information.
Discover Iowa’s Birds: Intro to Birding
Watch a one-hour zoom presentation by Linda Rudolph, hosted by the University of Iowa Sciences Library.
Classes and Field Trips
Tuesday, March 31, 7–8 p.m. BASICS OF BIRDING I CLASS. This will include field identification of birds, field guides, and equipment every birder needs.
Saturday, April 4, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Field Trip to KENT PARK. Beginning birder trip for current or past participants in the Introduction to Birding Course. We will explore the trails in this park looking for migrating songbirds and resident woodland birds. Meet at the Conservation Education Center in Kent Park, 2048 Hwy. 6 NW, Oxford.
Tuesday, April 7, 7–8 p.m. BASICS OF BIRDING II CLASS, including e-Bird, apps, and birdsong ID.
Saturday, April 11, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Field Trip to TERRY TRUEBLOOD RECREATION AREA. Beginning birder trip for current or past participants in the Introduction to Birding Course. Visit this popular Iowa City park and nearby Sycamore Greenway. The lake at Terry Trueblood hosts migrating ducks with a surrounding accessible trail where we’ll see a variety of returning breeding birds. A short drive away is Sycamore Greenway trail with shrub and prairie habitat that attracts grassland birds such as sparrows, Sandhill Cranes, and Brown Thrasher. Meet outside the lodge at Terry Trueblood, 579 McCollister Blvd, Iowa City.
Tuesday, April 14, 7–8 p.m. BIRDING IN JOHNSON COUNTY CLASS. Covering eBird alerts, hotspots, recent photos and sightings, and Iowa City Bird Club field trips.
Saturday, April 18, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Field Trip to LAKE MACBRIDE. Beginning birder trip for current or past participants in the Introduction to Birding Course. Targets are water birds and other early spring migrants. We’ll stop at various points around the lake. Meet at the North Liberty Community Center, 520 W Cherry St., on the north side of the building, and carpool from there. Or meet us at Sailboat Shelter 1 parking lot in Lake Macbride State Park around 8:20 a.m.
Tuesday, April 21, 7–8 p.m. BACKYARD AND FEEDER BIRDS CLASS. This session will cover the common birds found in our backyards during the year, and what types of feeders and food to use to attract them.
Saturday, April 25, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Field Trip to HAWKEYE WILDLIFE AREA. Beginning birder trip for current or past participants in the Introduction to Birding Course. We expect to see ducks, geese, American White Pelicans, and other early spring migrants. Wear boots for walking in wet areas, and bring a spotting scope if you have one. We’ll carpool from North Liberty Community Center, 520 W Cherry St., on the north side of the building.
Tuesday, April 28, 7–8 p.m. BIRDS OF IOWA CLASS. Summer residents that nest here and birds that migrate through Iowa in spring and fall.
Saturday, May 2, 8 a.m.–12 p.m. Field Trip to WATERWORKS PRAIRIE PARK. Beginning birder trip for current or past participants in the Introduction to Birding Course. Visit this Iowa City park with accessible paved trails for woodland, prairie, and wetland species. Meet in the parking lot of Waterworks Prairie Park, 2875 Dubuque St. NE, Iowa City.