Iowa Master Naturalists

06/07/2026

The RARE group (Raptor Advocacy, Rehabilitation, and Education) is searching for an active, accessible Cooper’s Hawk nest in eastern or central Iowa to re-nest this displaced baby. If you know of a nest, please leave a message on their hotline at 319-248-9770 or email [email protected].

05/27/2026

The spring basic training class finished up this past Saturday. A wonderfully cheerful and enthusiastic group!

03/05/2026

Attention writers, artists, and poets! Writer Amie Adams (IMN Spring 2022) is compiling a second volume of poetry, prose, and artwork celebrating nature in Iowa. The first volume, focusing on Iowa prairies, was published in 2025. The theme for the new volume is Iowa waterways, its marshes, fens, lakes, and rivers. Interested in contributing? See details at https://www.amieadams.space/iowa-field-guides
Just an additional note on Amie: When Amie took the IMN course, her capstone project was to write and publish The Observer, the Life and Writings of Bernt Olaf Wolden. (2023). Wolden wrote a Nature Notes column for the Estherville Daily News from 1930-1968. By sharing his writings, Amie paints a picture both of nature in Iowa during this period of great ecological change, and of Wolden’s own development as a naturalist. To purchase any of Amie’s books go to: https://www.amieadams.space/store

03/03/2026

If you like bluebirds, or are possibly thinking about monitoring a bluebird trail this year, you will definitely want to attend the talk by Ben Rowold at the Iowa City Public Library's Second Sunday Forum. At this event, coming up this Sunday, Mar 8, beginning at 2:00 PM, Ben will discuss the ups and downs of his decade+ experience monitoring bluebird nest boxes at FW Kent Park in Johnson County.

02/12/2026

The Songbird Project is looking for volunteers to monitor Purple Martin colonies and Eastern Bluebird trails in Johnson County area during the 2026 nesting season. This involves checking nest boxes on a weekly basis from mid-April to early August and recording nesting activity. Full training and backup for vacations or illness will be provided. For information, contact Jim Walters at [email protected]

Photo by Rhododendrites, CC BY-SA 4.0

02/11/2026

The Spring 2026 IMN Class is full. To receive an email notification when registration opens for the next class, contact us at [email protected]

01/14/2026

Want to learn how to effectively use fire as a landscape management tool? Plan to attend the Landowners Prescribed Fire Workshop sponsored by the Great River Alliance of Southeast Iowa. This workshop, scheduled for Sun, Feb 11, will run 8AM-4PM at the Conservation Education Center at FW Kent Park in Johnson Co. For more info, on how to register, go to: https://www.tri-rivers.org/new-events/2026/2/11/landowners-prescribed-fire-workshop

01/12/2026

Looking for a nature themed bookclub? Read the nature book of your choice, then head on over to the Coralville Public Library for a meeting at 5:30 pm on Wed Jan 21 for a lively discussion. Questions? Contact Jody (IMN Fall 2021), at [email protected]

12/15/2025

Grace Nielson, a student in the IMN fall 2026 basic training program was inspired by the presentation given by Paul Frese of the Iowa DNR to publish this eye-opening story in the CR gazette. Wonderful work, Grace!

Iowa researchers are looking to identify "hot spots" of vehicle-wildlife collisions and examining what steps could be taken to reduce them.