Photo courtesy of Birding Hotspots website

A free activity is happening on Saturday in Greene County to get people enjoying the outdoors.

The Raccoon River Watershed Association is hosting a birding event at Dunbar Slough, with participants meeting at the Casey’s General Store in Scranton at 8am and then carpooling to Dunbar for bird watching. Jefferson Bird Expert Matt Wetrich is part of the event and encourages anyone who has an interest in birds to join them on Saturday.

“Dunbar Slough is one of our favorite areas. It is probably a top ten birding destination within the state of Iowa right here in Greene County. (You’ve got some) Prairie potholes, you’ve got some upland and some prairie in there. I think over 200 species of birds have been documented in this area. And this time of year is fantastic to get people out bird watching at Dunbar Slough and just in general there’s birds moving through on the regular.”   

Wetrich notes that participants can bring their own binoculars, or they will have some to share, as well as spotting scopes to see birds up close. Interested individuals need to dress for the weather and Wetrich adds there is very little walking.