Register now to become bald eagle nest monitor

The Iowa DNR will be holding one training opportunity for people interested in becoming volunteer bald eagle nest monitors.

The workshop will be held via Zoom Sunday, Feb. 9 from 1-4 p.m. seats are very limited. Participants are welcomed statewide, but most known nests in Polk, Johnson, Linn and Story counties are covered, so volunteers in these counties may need to travel some distance to monitor a nest.

Visit iowadnr.gov to register for the workshop.

Community science volunteers have been helping monitor Iowa’s eagle population since 2006. In 2024, they monitored almost 400 nests.

Prospective monitors who attend a workshop will learn about the program and how to monitor a nest.

To be a bald eagle nest monitor, you must have a good pair of binoculars and, preferably, a spotting scope. We will try to match you up with a nest near your home base.

The time commitment for conducting the survey and submitting data is roughly eight hours total between March and July each year, depending on travel time, and will require multiple visits to a nest.

The workshop has limited seats available and there is a registration fee of $5, which covers the cost of materials and postage. Registration for this workshop will close Thursday, Feb. 6, or whenever the attendance limit is reached.

To be placed on a waiting list for this workshop or a notification list for future workshops email Stephanie Shepherd at vwmp@dnr.iowa.gov.