Conservation

Pella Wildlife Company Conservation
Helping to reintroduce wildlife for generations to come

Help Bald Eagles and other Predators by using Copper and Steel hunting

and fishing equipment. You consideration wil help stop lead poisoning in all wildlife.

More Photos from the top of the hack tower

1st time photos taken from the top of the hack tower.

These photos were taken with a photo trap

stationed on the top of the hack tower. Whenever the motion detector was triggered the camera took 4 quick photos.

Pella Wildlife Company to go interternational and work with Fauna Andina in the country of Chile. We have been asked to participate in the recovery and reintroduction of the Darwin Fox. There are only 500 in the wild. Plans are being put together to begin a captive breeding program. Check back for program details and how you can help.

Iowa Osprey Project begins 4th Year

Osprey start to settle in to their new home

The osprey were banded, weighed, and vet checked before being placed in the hack tower

Young Iowans meeting the new birds

Osprey enthusiast came out to welcome the new arrivals

3 Osprey chicks arrived July 17th to begin their transition to making Lake Red Rock their home.

Osprey Spotted at Lake Red Rock in 2008. Young Birds confirmed for reintroduction for July.

"FREEDOM" returned to the Wild!

It was a picture perfect day for this eagle to be retuned to the wild.
Nicknamed "FREEDOM", students from Pella Christian Grade School K - 3, as well as representatives from the DNR, Marion County Conservation Board, Central College, and Pella Wildlife Company took part in the release of this young bird back to where he was originally found. Kay Neumann from S.O.A.R. was responsible for the rehab of this bird and was able to share with those attending the details of his recovery. She also shared concerns about lead poisoning in raptors as deer season begins and how copper amunition is an alternative we all can live with.

The event was covered by local media as well as KDSM Fox 17 from Des Moines. The official announcement was made that the 20th Anniversary of Bald Eagle Days will be moved to Central College which will open up two buildlings for the event Feb 29th and March 1st.

Children From Pella Christian Grade School observe Bald Eagles in the best classroom nature provides.

Kay Neumann from S.O.A.R. and Ron DeArmond from Pella Wildlife Company prepare to set "FREEDOM" free.

Ron DeArmond with Children Frances and Alexandrea have last moments before he is set free.

Pella Wildlife Company is working with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Iowa DNR, and Marion County Conservation Board on Bald Eagle Days Feb 29th and March 1st 2008. A major anouncement will be made at the release of the Eagle.

On October 8th we received a call that an injured young Bald Eagle had been sent to a rehab facility where it was recovering from injuries including a fish hook in the throat. Concerns were mounting as the cost of rehab was going beyond budget. Pella Wildlife Company was asked to get involved and help generate funds for the continued care and eventual release back to the wild. We have guaranteed money to help and ask if anyone else would like to contribute to the care of this bird and our other conservation efforts to contact us through our contact us page. Look for additional info and photos as they become available.

Pella Wildlife Company is working with the Iowa DNR and Marion County

Conservation Board to help reintroduce Osprey to the Lake Red Rock area.

First Osprey of the season begin return to Lake Red Rock area!

Osprey have been seen fishing in the area and thus signals the long awaited return of the Osprey. It is important that if you see Osprey look for the Purple leg bands that identify Iowa birds. If you can take a photo with a digital camera we may be able to get the numbers off the bands. Contact Marla Mertz 641-627-5935 or Larry Zirkelbach 641-842-6008 when you see a bird or have images they can look at.

At this time 5 birds are scheduled to arrive in mid July 2007. Pella Wildlife Company is sponsoring one of the birds and is taking an active roll in their care and release. Video link is planned at the hack tower. This way you can see the birds online 24/7.

The 2007 Osprey arrived July 12th and 13th. Pictured are Ron and Dev DeArmond owners of Pella Wildlife Company along with their children Jordan, Frances, Alexandrea, and Charlize.

Named "Hope", it is our expectancey that this Osprey will return to the Lake Red Rock area and play a key role in establishing a new nesting site in North America.

After being placed in the hack tower at Elk Rock Park on Lake Red Rock, these birds will be monitored daily until they are old enough to fly. The gate will be raised and these birds will begin to explore their new home and hopefully imprint to this area. In 2009 these birds will return to nest and raise chicks of their own.

After successful reintroduction to Elk Rock and the Lake Red Rock area, this years group of birds were a joy to watch. From the first day they arrived unable to fly and totally dependant on human care, to the day of their release, first flights and successful hunting, these birds have now started to migrate to Central America and are due to return in 2009.

The Return of the Iowa Osprey

July, 2005 marked the first release of five Wisconsin Osprey at Lake Red Rock with the hopes of beginning a nesting population in Marion County. Five more birds were released in 2006. According to the Omaha Nation, these fishing raptors have not nested in Iowa since settlement. With the large bodies of water and reservoirs that now exist within the state, it is an opportunity to collaborate with seven other release sites in Iowa facilitating regional and national recovery. Eleven states have released Ospreys and Iowa’s effort complements a coast-to-coast linkage of these birds. The great care that is exercised to ensure these young adapt well to the area comes from, not only professionals, but volunteers and outdoor enthusiasts. Combined activities by volunteers provide tremendous opportunities for whole, outdoor-loving, families to connect with a most dynamic raptor. The specific duties held by volunteers become great opportunities to establish touchstones with our environment and trigger our need to be good stewards of the land.

Efforts by volunteers are moving the Iowa Osprey Project
forward.

We can think of Ospreys as “sentinels of clean water”. Ospreys rely upon fish for food and fish need clean water. Ospreys also need to be able to see fish in our water, so turbidity and siltation become critical issues. Fish need clean water, ospreys need clean water; WE ALL NEED CLEAN WATER. But clean water doesn’t just happen. It requires standards of decency that can benefit everyone and everything. Joining bald eagles, trumpeter swans, sand-hill cranes, wetland mammals and our myriad of waterfowl, ospreys can be appreciated in all water quality endeavors and provide a rewarding environmental connection for Iowans.
The original five Ospreys of 2005 will hopefully be returning to the Lake Red Rock area or suitable site, in April of 2007 from their 18 month long migratory journey to South America. If you observe any Osprey with purple leg bands, please contact Marla at 641-627-5935 or Larry at 641-842-6008.

Volunteers and Donations Needed
If you would like to Sponsor an Osprey or have specific interests in the education of these magnificent birds, please contact: Marla Mertz, MCCB Naturalist at 641-627-5935 or Larry Zirkelbach, IDNR Park Ranger at 641-842-6008. Fundraising activities are always welcomed by community civic organizations and youth groups. Preparations for 2008 are currently underway.

SPONSORS
Jack Leachman, Leachman Lumber, Des Moines
Audra Faber & the Pella Christian High School Sophomore Biology Classes of 2005 & 07
Curt and Karen Schwanebeck, Knoxville
Ron DeArmond, Pella Wildlife Company
Marion County Conservation Board
Iowa Department of Natural Resources

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Den Adel Lumber, Pella
Dick Krayenbrink, Pella
Dwight Robuck, Knoxville
Farm & Home, Knoxville
Godfather’s Pizza, Knoxville
Iowa Bow Fisherman’s Association
Kirk Irwin, Chariton
Mid American Energy
Mike Kalkwarf, Otley
Newton Correctional Facility
Pat Schlarbaum, IDNR
Paula Purdy, Americorps
Pella Cooperative Electric
Spahn & Rose Lumber, Knoxville
Wal-Mart, Pella
Local Fishermen, Commercial Fisherman
Dr. Burk, Knoxville Veterinary Clinic
Kay Harsin, Knoxville
Denise Zirkelbach, Elk Rock
IDNR Law Enforcement, Parks & Fisheries
Widowed People of Central Iowa
Dorothy Templeton, Knoxville
Ron Huelse, Knoxville