Going Birdie

Time to lace up your hiking shoes and check out the Central Iowa birding scene! Polk County alone has 353 bird species!

Day 1
Terra Lake is located in the suburban community of Johnston. The lake is a great birding spot year-round, producing the Greater White-fronted Goose, Ross’s Goose, Greater Scaup and Oldsquaw in the winter season, as well as virtually all of Iowa’s regular waterfowl species.

Enjoy lunch near Terra Lake at Sam and Louie’s Pizzeria, Texas Roadhouse or Plaza Mexico.

Next, visit Saylorville Lake. The lake is known for attracting rare birds to Iowa. Up to 8,000 pelicans stop through, with numbers peaking on Labor Day. In late October the lake also draws significant numbers of waterfowl and gulls to the area. Sandpiper Beach, located near the marina is also one of the best locations to find fall Buff-Breasted Sandpipers. Contact the US Army Corps of Engineers at Saylorville Lake at (515) 276-4656 for more information.

Next, head to Big Creek State Park, just two miles to the north of Saylorville Lake. The 3,550-acre complex includes a 26-mile paved trail and lake.

Jester Park, located west of Saylorville Lake, offers shallow water areas and other great areas for birding.

For dinner, head to the Historic East Village. Check out unique restaurants such as Zombie Burger + Drink Lab or Quinton’s.


Day 2
Start your morning off by visiting the Iowa State Capitol. Take a complimentary guided tour of one of the most beautiful capitol buildings in the nation, home to a 23-carot gold-leafed dome. Keep your eyes open for Western Kingbirds near the State Capitol Complex. Contact (515) 281-5591 for more information.

Ride B-cycle throughout downtown. Explore the city without worrying about parking while also doing something good for the environment. With over 100 miles of trails in Des Moines, you can bike around the Principal Riverwalk, Gray’s Lake and the Meredith Trail. Contact (515) 333-5590 for more information.

Waterworks Park consists of the Arie den Boer Aboreteum, manicured grassy areas, riparian woodlands and ponds that lend themselves well to bird watching in the spring and summer time. Look for Yellow-throated/Red-eyed Vireo, Ovenbird, Thrushes, and other woodland species. Contact (515) 283-8700 for more information.

If you didn’t see the birds on your bike ride, head across the street from Waterworks Park to Gray’s Lake Park. The Park was named one of America's "Great Public Spaces" by the American Planning Association.

Stop for lunch at any restaurant around the Metro. Leaning Tower of Pizza, Yanni’s Grill and Vineyard or Chips Restaurant are delicious options.

Denman Woods travels through riparian woodland which, in wet years, features Prothonotary Warblers. During rainy periods, it can offer shorebirds and ducks. Spot Passerines, Diurnal Raptors and owls, as well as shorebirds, Herons and Rails.

Lace up your bowling shoes for a round at the Bass Pro Shops bowling alley featuring 12-lanes. While there, you'll find a huge selection of outdoor gear. The store has more than 3,500 artifacts, photographs and memorabilia showing off Iowa’s hunting, fishing, camping and other outdoor legacies.

Day 3
Take a birding walk at Blank Park Zoo. You’ll see more than 800 furry, finned, feathered and exotic creatures. Explore the Discovery Center which houses over 15 species of birds. Contact (515) 285-4722 for more information.

Walnut Woods State Park is more than 300-acres and is a great spot for migrant passerines and woodland species such as the Eastern Wood Pewee, Carolina Wren or Yellow-throated and Red-eyed Vireo.

A few miles into Walnut Woods is Brown Woods Forest Preserve. This is a premier location for several uncommon and rare species, including Acadian Flycatcher, Wood Thrush, Hooded Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Ovenbird, Summer Tanager and Scarlet Tanager. Contact (515)-285-4502 for more information.

For lunch stop at Maddy’s Again Neighborhood Pub and Grill or Carlos O’ Kelly’s.

Constructed more than 50 years ago as a water source for the city of Des Moines, Dale Maffit Reservoir and the 1,358 acre park offers a spacious and serene setting to check several birding habitats. The 200-acre lake is one of the best spots in Greater Des Moines for Common Loon in spring and fall. The habitat is also home to Migrant Warblers, Woodpeckers, Eastern Bluebirds and Sparrows. Conifer groves are home to Wwls and Finches in winter.

Click here to download a PDF of this itinerary.

For more information, contact:
Katie Stien
Sales Manager
Greater Des Moines Convention and Visitors Bureau
(515) 699-3432
kstien@desmoinescvb.com