Birding and Bird Watching

Over 160 species of birds have been identified and recorded at The Brenton Arboretum in Dallas Center, Iowa. Bird watchers are welcome to enjoy the opportunities to watch our feathered friends on their own, throughout the year or may take part in one of the four to six bird walks held spring through fall. New birders may enjoy these walks that provide hands-on learning on how to identify and observe birds. Bird lovers of all ages are welcome.

The birding checklist, available at The Brenton Arboretum, includes the 160 species of birds presently known to have occurred inside the boundaries of The Brenton Arboretum. Printable PDF version of the birding checklist is available. The list of species is arranged in accordance to the I.O.U. Checklist of Iowa Birds, 1999.

Terry Shepherd, practicing ornithologist, from Dallas Center, Iowa compiled this list of birds during his weekly visits to the arboretum from April 2001 to July 2002. The Birding Checklist has been updated since then, and you are welcome to report any new birds.

Habitats

The Brenton Arboretum offers a variety of birding and bird watching opportunities, from the open grasslands which cover a large area, to the savanna zones filled with small trees, to wetlands and streams which are wet or dry depending on the season, to ponds that attract water fowl and shore birds.