But please keep an eye on our calendar for the latest updates. In the meantime, here’s a brief look back at two recent events.

Field Day at Cuming City Cemetery

Several volunteers spent the morning of March 7 building brush piles during our Field Day at Cuming City Cemetery. The crew helped remove woody plant material from a degraded hillside, where restoration biologists are working to maintain the remnant prairie surrounding the historical cemetery. In 2018, ASO purchased the 10-acre tract from The Nature Conservancy with the public in mind — so we encourage others to visit and appreciate the preserve for its diverse flora and fauna.

Winter Field Trip to Camp Wakonda

The sun bestowed a welcome reprieve upon birders joining ASO’s Winter Birding Field Trip at Camp Wakonda in mid-February. Matt Miller, a restoration biologist for Fontenelle Forest, shared his expertise with about 12 visitors who accompanied him for a hike through the property. Along the way, the hikers spotted Red-headed, Red-bellied and Downy Woodpeckers, Bald Eagles, Northern Flickers, Black-capped Chickadees, Eastern Towhees, Dark-eyed Juncos, White-throated Sparrows and more.