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Iowa Forests Are Teeming with Bird Life

August 26, 2020 5:39 PM

New extension publication highlights the importance of forests for birds

August 26, 2020, 11:58 am | Adam Janke

AMES, Iowa – Forests provide critical habitat for Iowa’s wildlife, and that is especially true for birds.

Even though forests cover only 7% of the state, more than 150 species of birds use Iowa’s forests at some point during the year. In a new publication called “Iowa’s Forest Birds,” Adam Janke, assistant professor and extension wildlife specialist at Iowa State University, and two co-authors examine the variety of ways birds use forests.

Some species spend most of their time in the overstory of trees, some in the midstory and some in the understory. Additionally, some live most of their lives in the forest, while others only rely on the forest for occasional use or when migrating.

Read the full news release here.