This month, we turn our STEM spotlight on the Iowa Raptor Project (IRP), a program in the UI WILD (Wildlife Instruction and Leadership Development) Department in the University of Iowa College of Education.

For four decades, the IRP has provided educational experiences both on site and off with live raptor ambassadors (hawks, owls, vultures, falcons, eagles), as well as scientific phenomena provided for classroom use featuring various collaborative research projects. These projects have included fall hawk migration counts on the Iowa River; hawk and northern saw-whet owl banding data; winter raptor survey data; and more.

"Raptors have long had a unique role in conservation education," says David Conrads, director of the Iowa Raptor Project. "There is just something about them that captures the imagination and awakens an awareness of the wildness still around us. We hope in our education and research to nurture an appreciation for not only birds of prey, but also the natural habitats that they represent. We believe that awareness and appreciation can lead to inspiring action, making day-to-day decisions that help us all live more thoughtfully with the wild."

IRP has two events coming up in October: Hawk Watch, on October 11 (see registration link below) and Owl-O-Ween, on October 24. You can stay up to date on information about these events though the Iowa Raptor Project Facebook and Instagram accounts.