Hours of Operation:

• April - October | 6am - 9pm, daily
• November - March | 9am - 6pm, daily

Location:

Macbride Nature Recreation Area
2095 Mehaffey Bridge Rd.
Solon, Iowa 52333

Self-Guided Tours:

Open for self-guided tours during regular hours of operation.

How to Find Us:

Follow the signs through Macbride Nature Recreation Area to the Iowa Raptor Project parking area, about two miles from the park entrance. A quarter-mile gravel road connects the parking area to the Iowa Raptor Project.

Things to Remember: 

The Iowa Raptor Project is an outdoor facility. Please dress accordingly for the weather. Please note that many of the paths at the Iowa Raptor Project are gravel, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended. There are no modern restroom facilities located at the Iowa Raptor Project, though there is a portable toilet on site. Water is available from a handpump, but there are no drinking fountains. It is recommended that you bring your own water bottle. Dogs and other animals are not permitted at the Iowa Raptor Project.

Join us at the Iowa Raptor Project's Raptor Center and visit our non-releasable raptors on display!

Location:

Raptor Center at Macbride Nature Recreation Area
3673 Raptor Ridge Road NE
Solon, Iowa 52333

Available Tour Days/Times:

Weekdays, 10am through 3pm, by appointment only

Cost:

$5 per person for up to 60 participants; $150 minimum fee

Duration: 

Up to one hour, depending on group needs 

What to Expect:

We will lead your group through the area, introduce you to our raptors, provide you with an up-close program with one or more of our raptors, and tailor our discussion to your group's needs and interests.

Cancellations:

A 48-hour cancellation notice is requested. In the event of inclement weather, it may become necessary to reschedule your program.

Questions?

Please call our office at 319-467-3287 to arrange for a guided tour or email coe-irp@uiowa.edu.

Invite the Iowa Raptor Project to visit your school or organization and provide a live raptor presentation for your next special event! We will introduce you to our traveling raptors and tailor our discussion to your group’s needs and interests.

Available Program Days/Times:

By appointment only

Cost:    

$300 per program at a venue located within 25 miles (one-way) of the Iowa Raptor Project.

$400 per program at a venue located between 26-50 miles (one-way) from the Iowa Raptor Project.

$500 per program at a venue located between 51-75 miles (one way) from the Iowa Raptor Project.

$600 per program at a venue located between 76-100 miles (one-way) from the Iowa Raptor Project.

Please call to request pricing for a Traveling Raptor Program at a venue located farther than 100 miles from the Iowa Raptor Project.

A reduced cost of $100 per program will apply to additional programs booked consecutively, on the same day, at the same venue.

Duration:

Up to one hour, depending on group needs

What to Expect:

Your participants will get an up-close introduction to three or four of our raptors and learn more about each raptor species. We will discuss the history of the Iowa Raptor Project and examine a variety of topics related to raptor conservation.

Cancellations:

A 48-hour cancellation notice is requested. In the event of inclement weather, it may become necessary to reschedule your program.

Selecting a Venue:

Whenever possible, please select a location that offers good acoustics and allows for a safe distance between the raptors and your participants. There should be no other animals present during our program. For ease of set-up and tear-down, a nearby parking spot would be greatly appreciated.

Questions? 

Please call 319-467-3287 or email coe-irp@uiowa.edu.

If you find an injured raptor, please contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Please note that the Iowa Raptor Project is currently not accepting animals for rehabilitation. View the complete list of licensed Iowa wildlife rehabilitators here.

Current research initiatives with the Iowa Raptor Project include:

1. Hawk Migration Counts
Through long-term counting of migrating diurnal raptors we can learn about population trends, migration phenology changes, and other migratory needs of raptors that utilize the Iowa River valley. 

2. Saw-whet Owl Banding
During the fall we trap and band migrating Northern Saw-whet Owls, as very little is understood about their movements through Iowa, especially along the Iowa River. This study helps fill in the gaps of knowledge. 

3. Winter Raptor Surveys
Surveying of wintering raptors along the Iowa River (Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area and from the Coralville Dam to near Riverside), as well as a route through rural Johnson County help us learn about habitat needs for these birds and can also demonstrate population trends over time. 

4. American Kestrel Nest Box Monitoring 
Working with the Iowa DNR, we are establishing American Kestrel Nest boxes throughout the Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area and monitoring the nests for success and productivity. Kestrel populations are declining in regions and this will help us learn more of their needs in our area.