The Bird Walk Ames, Iowa

The Wild Birds Unlimited community is the anchor of the bird-watching and nature-loving community in the Ames, Iowa, area. It’s where people with similar interests in nature and conservation can connect and talk about their recent observations and new developments within the community.

The programs offered by Wild Birds Unlimited bring the community together. There are regular talks with nature experts, bird walks, and chats with the store staff about birding. The place is a sanctuary for bird lovers to talk about whatever they want and always be listened to. The bond is held together by a shared love for birding and nature.

When people visit Wild Birds Unlimited for the first time, they might not think about the community that the store anchors. But people may be surprised by how much the store has to offer by just asking for a couple programs. Getting involved and notified helps people hear about events and programs, and gets them in the know about store happenings.

One type of program the bird store hosts is bird walks. A knowledgeable employee leads the walks, and points out birds that they observe along the trail. They also give out interesting facts about birds, such as where they nest, when you can see certain birds, and other trivia. There are multiple walks a month at different local parks, in areas ranging from forests to trails along rivers and lakes. The staff are extremely enthusiastic about leading the bird walks, and are always happy to answer any of the attendee’s questions during the walk. Bird walks are truly a great event for all nature lovers to attend, and are a great foundation for the birding community.

Wild Birds Unlimited provides a welcoming community for all bird lovers and nature lovers, whether they are new to the community or have been longtime members.

All of the attendees set off from the parking lot into a dirt trail snaking through a forest. They are mostly either customers or employees of the store, or related to a customer or employee.
The main guide, Issac Caron, attempts to spot birds in the tree canopies from the parking lot, as other attendees gather around to see what their guide is looking at.
Patrick Schmidt, 26, looks up at a tree during the bird walk. A student studying forestry at Iowa State University with a job at the Iowa Arboretum, his interests expand past birds to trees and other natural resources.
“Sometimes, in mid-spring, you can see wading birds around these areas in the river with the mud flats and sandbars”, says Caron, as he leads the group to the banks of a small river.
As the sun sets and the bird walk concludes, the attendees saw a very rare Great-Horned Owl resting on a tree branch in the distance.