Julie Englander

As Iowa lawmakers prepare for the first so-called "funnel deadline," of the 2015 session IPR Statehouse correspondent Joyce Russell talks with IPR's Julie Englander about sifting through the items on the slate in the coming weeks. 

Drastic climate change and disease is threatening the lives of camels in East Africa and the herders who rely on them.  

If you’re looking for a healthy way to start the New Year, take a hike. IPRs Julie Englander spoke with Todd Coffelt, the bureau chief for state parks with the Department of Natural Resources. He says on January first, Iowa State Parks are participating in America’s State Park’s First Day Hikes…

For more information on Iowa State Parks First Day Hike go to the Iowa Department Natural Resources events calendar at www.iowadnr.gov.

Local animal shelters and rescues are filled with unwanted pets, and for a long time vets and shelters discouraged people from giving animals as gifts. 

Effigy Mounds-Yellow River Forest in northeast Iowa’s Allamakee County is designated as the first globally important bird area for Iowa, and it’s all because of a very small blue and white bird with a lovely song called the Cerulean Warbler.  Bird Biologist with Iowa DNR Bruce Ehresman says it’s the largest important bird

conservation area in the state with about 135 thousand acres….

A dedication of the state’s first globally important bird area takes place May 31st at the Yellow River State Forest headquarters.

Iowans can join others across North America to view an astronomical phenomenon very early Tuesday morning.  Professor of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Iowa Steven Spangler says a total lunar eclipse will begin at one am and last for about an hour and half…

Although the current weather may not feel like spring is near, many birds are already beginning to migrate. And that includes the Rusty Blackbird. But the species is declining. And that is where the Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz comes in. It’s a bird count of sorts.  The event’s Iowa coordinator Chelsea Underwood says there are several ways to identify the bird….     For more information go to www.rustyblackbird.org. Or, contact your local bird-watching group.

Winterset is known as the birthplace of John Wayne, but the town also claims real life hero and art conservator George Stout who rescued hundreds of pieces of art work from being destroyed by the Nazi’s during World War Two.  Stout is profiled in the book, Monuments Men, and a film of the same name starring George Clooney, opened this weekend across the country. Winterset Public Library director Nancy Trask says when he was younger George Stout was quite an actor…

She’s known as D1. She hatched about three years ago, one of the offspring of the now famous Decorah eagles that have been followed over the internet by thousands of viewers. But D1 is special, and it’s in the way she travels. Executive director of the Raptor Resource Project Bob Anderson spoke with IPR’s Julie Englander. He says after she fledged, they outfitted D1 with a solar powered transmitter.

Executive director of the Raptor Resource Project Bob Anderson says you can follow D1 and the other Eagles at raptorresource.org. 

The splendor of watching our national symbol soar over Iowa skies is more noticeable than in the past. The Bald Eagle is making a comeback from years of being on the endangered species list. But, although the threat of the poisonous insecticide DDT, which thinned the bird’s eggshells, is banned there are other perils. Karen Disbrow is president of the Iowa City Bird Club. The Club is taking part in Saturday, February 9th Eagle Expo in Coralville, which features speakers and exhibitors at the Brown Deer Golf Club and eagle viewing at the Coralville Dam spillway.

An Iowa State University historian and expert on the 1930s dust bowl consulted on filmmaker Ken Burns’ newest documentary, which airs tonight and tomorrow night on PBS.

Professor and chair of history at ISU Pamela Riney-Kehrberg is featured in the film, she says she assisted to ensure the film’s historical accuracy…

Ken Burns' The Dust Bowl, airs tonight and tomorrow night on PBS

Iowa Young Birders is a new program to get kids outside and develop their interest in birds.  Executive director Carl Bendorf says the nonprofit is a first of its kind in the state.

www.iowayoungbirders.org