• Hercules
• Wannago
• Walter
• Superior
• Fenn
• Juniper
• Little Horn
• Omaha
• Aldo
• Tigerhawk
• Shiloh
• Vlad
• Spirit

All are welcome to visit our raptors! We are open for self-guided tours during regular hours of operation. 

Hours of Operation:

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

Location:

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

Things to Remember: 

Dogs and other animals are not permitted at the Iowa Raptor Project.

The Raptor Center is a place of serenity, so we ask that our voices be kept low in respect for other guests. 

The Raptor Center is an outdoor facility. Please dress accordingly for the weather. 

Please note that many of our paths are gravel, so comfortable walking shoes are recommended. 

There is a portable restroom located at the Raptor Center. 

We recommended that you bring your own water bottle. Water is available from a hand pump during warmer months.

Join us for a guided tour, including an up-close experience with one of our raptors! 

Location:

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

Available Tour Days/Times:

Weekdays, 10am through 3pm, by appointment only. Other days/times may be considered, depending on staffing availability. 

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 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 319-335-5976 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 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.

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 319-335-5976 or email coe-irp@uiowa.edu

Current research initiatives with the Iowa Raptor Project include:

1. Fall 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. 

Click here to see the data set for the Macbride Nature Recreation Area count provided by the Hawk Migration Association’s HawkCount.

2. Fall Hawk and Owl Migration Banding
During the fall we trap and band migrating diurnal raptors (primarily hawks) and nocturnal raptors (primarily Northern Saw-whet Owls). Data from band returns help us better understand raptor movement along the Iowa River valley, as well as about their longevity and regional movements. 

The IRP is part of the continent-wide Project Owlnet to learn more about Northern Saw-whet Owl migration and populations. Click here for more information on Project Owlnet.

3. Winter Raptor Surveys
Surveying of wintering raptors along the Iowa River, as well as a route through rural western Johnson County help us learn about habitat needs for wintering birds of prey and can also demonstrate population trends over time. 

Click here to see the data for our three routes (Hawkeye Wildlife Management Area, Coralville Dam to near Riverside, and West Johnson County) from the Winter Raptor Survey.

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. 

Click here to view data reported by Cornell University’s Laboratory of Ornithology NestWatch. 

1. Support research and education efforts 

2. Support habitat preservation and conservation

3. Keep cats inside, they are the number one killer of wild birds

4. Reduce, Reuse, Recycle

If you find an injured raptor or other wildlife, you can contact a licensed wildlife rehabilitator. Click here to see the Iowa DNR’s current list and find a licensed rehabilitator near you.