One of Iowa’s Best Free Family Adventures Has Raptors, Fossils, and Lake Views
If you're looking for a fun, free family adventure in Iowa, I have the perfect stop for you near Solon that deserves a spot on your "must visit" list. My family recently made another trip to the University of Iowa Raptor Project at Macbride Nature Recreation Area; it's always fun to see the birds of prey and explore the fossil deposits near the lake.
The Iowa Raptor Project gives visitors the chance to take a self-guided walk and see a variety of raptors up close. The birds live in enclosures along the trail, and each one has a sign explaining more about the bird, including what happened to it and how it came to be at the raptor project.
On our latest visit, we saw everything from a red-tailed hawk and peregrine falcon to Harris's hawks, several amazing owls, plus a bald eagle named Spirit. Some of the birds were easy to spot, while others were tucked away in shady corners and box homes. It was a hot day when we visited, so several of the birds were taking advantage of the shade.
One of the highlights was that bald eagle who has been an ambassador at the Iowa Raptor Project for decades. She was found as a first-year bird in 1985 after colliding with a power line; suffering a severe injury to her left wrist. That injury eventually required amputation. According to the information at the project, Spirit has gone on to educate thousands of people as one of its ambassador birds. Spirit's also in good company as 1985 is a great year (the year I was born).
The owls are always a favorite during our visit. There were several to see, including a barred owl and a tiny eastern screech owl. The Great Horned Owl is a favorite of mine to spot. His name is Wannago. He was originally kept as an illegal pet and while he was there, lost his left eye. By the way, he has been around since 1990 and can live up to 50 years in captivity!
The turkey vulture is always a memorable stop. It definitely got our attention, especially when it spread its wings and shows off how big it is. The information at the enclosure also explained why screens had been added because of the large number of gnats and mosquitoes bothering the birds during the summer. Not usually an issue for most feathered birds; but when you have a bald head, that's another story.
The adventure doesn't have to end when you see the last raptor. You can continue along the trails toward Lake Macbride. There's an overlook where you can take in the wild birds of prey circling above. We also found plenty of fossils in the rocks along the shore of the lake. The kids had fun looking for shells and other fossils before we headed back up the trail. We also stopped at the bird blind before leaving for the day. It's a great place to sit quietly and watch for wild birds. During our visit, we spotted a red-bellied woodpecker.
The entire experience is a pretty easy family outing, too. We walked just under a mile to explore the raptor project, and the trail isn't long or difficult. That's really what makes this such a cool Iowa adventure. You're not just driving somewhere, looking at a few birds, and heading home. You can see incredible raptors up close, learn the stories behind them, explore the trails, look for fossils, take in Lake Macbride, and spend some time watching for wild birds.
We filmed our latest visit from start to finish, so you can see what the Iowa Raptor Project and the surrounding area are like for yourself. Best of all, it's a free experience that's easy to enjoy with the whole family. I will mention that funding those birds and the program isn't free, so dropping a donation to keep the facility running and operational is also much appreciated. So, if you're looking for something different to do in Iowa without spending a bunch of money, this is one adventure that's worth checking out.
WOW: 19 Exotic-Looking Animals Surprisingly Found in America
Gallery Credit: Stephen Lenz
Photos: Omaha's Henry Doorly Zoo & Aquarium
Gallery Credit: Tom Ehlers
