Agriculture and the environment are tangled together. Each one shapes the other in more ways than most folks realize.
Farming affects soil, water, air quality, and, of course, wildlife. On the flip side, shifts in the environment can hit crop yields and livestock health pretty hard.
Technology and science keep moving forward. These advances open up new chances to make farming more efficient and less damaging to nature.
It’s crucial to understand how these pieces fit together. That’s the only way we’ll find solutions that actually support both food production and the environment.
Iowa’s Role in Bird Migration and Ways Residents Can Help
Iowa sits smack in the middle of a major bird highway. Each year, as birds travel between breeding and winter homes, up to a billion of them sweep through during peak fall months.
That’s a staggering number. It makes Iowa a hotspot for both birds and folks who care about wildlife.
The Iowa Department of Natural Resources (DNR) works with the Motus Wildlife Tracking Network, which uses tiny tags and antennas to track birds, bats, and even insects. Right now, Iowa’s got 32 Motus tracking stations, stretching from east to west, helping researchers map out bird routes.
They’re hoping to build even more, connecting the Missouri River to the Mississippi. These stations are just a slice of a global network with over 2,200 locations.
Some recent projects have focused on tagging birds like the wood thrush, which breeds in Iowa. The wood thrush is on a watch list because its numbers have plummeted by more than half in the last 50 years.
In one project, researchers tagged 27 wood thrushes at nine Iowa sites. More than half of those birds made it back to Iowa after their long winter trips.
What’s wild is that some Iowa-tagged wood thrushes, and others from different states, turned up at the same tracking station in Belize. These birds rely on lots of places to survive, not just one or two.
Key Motus Tracking Facts in Iowa
| Year Started | Iowa Motus Stations | Birds Detected | Species Detected |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 32 | 607 | 39 |
But technology and research alone aren’t enough. Iowa birds face plenty of risks in cities and neighborhoods.
The top two threats? Collisions with windows and attacks from cats. Birds just can’t figure out glass—they’ll see a reflection or a lit window and think it’s a safe way through.
The Bird Collision Prevention Alliance estimates that over a billion birds die from window strikes each year. Nearly half of those crashes happen on houses and low buildings.
There are some pretty simple ways to help. To cut down on window collisions, try these:
- Window decals: Stick them about two inches apart on the outside of windows. Birds see them and steer clear.
- Parachute cord curtains: Hang cords vertically, spaced evenly, to make the window obvious.
- Screens: Put them on the outside of windows.
- Tempera paint: Paint visible patterns right on the glass.
- Curtains and blinds: Not perfect, but closing them inside can help a little.
Stuff that goes outside the glass works best. If you put something inside, like closing curtains, it might help, but birds don’t always notice.
Popular Window Solutions for Bird Safety
| Solution Type | Placement | How It Helps |
|---|---|---|
| Decals | Outside | Breaks up reflections |
| Cord Curtains | Outside | Creates visual barrier |
| Screens | Outside | Softens glass surface |
| Tempera Paint | Outside | Makes glass visible |
| Curtains/Blinds | Inside | Reduces inside lights |
Most migration happens at night. Birds use the stars and faint light to guide them.
Bright lights from homes and buildings can throw them off and lead to more crashes. Experts suggest turning off as many lights as possible between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m. during migration peaks—April and May in spring, August through October in fall.
Easy Steps Iowans Can Take:
- Keep outdoor lights off or dim during spring and fall migration.
- Add decals, paint, or cords to windows that birds might hit.
- Put screens on the outside of big windows.
- Keep cats indoors, especially when birds are migrating.
- Support Motus projects—host a station or donate for antenna upkeep if you can.
If you want to know when birds are passing through your area, check out the BirdCast website. It gives local migration forecasts and night alerts so you’ll know when the sky’s busy.
Every home, building, and yard in Iowa can make a difference for birds on the move. Small changes really do help them survive the journey. Iowa’s fields, woods, and wetlands matter to millions of birds, and the people living here have a real shot at making sure they arrive safely at their next stop.
