According to eNature.com:

"The annual Christmas Bird Count is here.  It dates back to 1900, when ornithologist Frank Chapman proposed an alternative to the recreational hunting of birds that usually occurred on Christmas Day. He enlisted the help of twenty-seven conservationists in twenty-five different areas. Rather than kill birds, the group simply counted them.

Now sponsored by the National Audubon Society, the Christmas Bird Count is still going strong and welcomes everyone-from novice to expert. Click here to learn more and get involved:

http://wild.enature.com/blog/tis-the-season-2?utm_source=eNature+Master+List&utm_campaign=9b58885950-On_The_Wild_Side_December_201412_13_2014&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fdc5c25bf0-9b58885950-59245889 "

To learn about bird count activities in your area, check with:

• Your local County Conservation Board.
• Iowa Audubon Society and its 12 local chapters in Iowa: http://iowaaudubon.org/ 
• Organizations like the Raccoon River Watershed Association: http://www.northraccoon.org/North_Raccoon/RRWA.html 

Even if you're still a novice birder, they may need someone to make hot chocolate.

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The Partnership for River Restoration and Science in the Upper Midwest will host its 6th annual Upper Midwest Stream Restoration Symposium (UMSRS) on February 8-11, 2015 in Dubuque. With stream restoration gaining traction in the Iowa legislature, this will be a unique and convenient opportunity to network with practitioners in our "neighborhood." 

The UMSRS will bring together regional stream restoration practitioners to share experiences and expertise with colleagues working within similar environmental and land-use areas.  Attendees from multi-disciplinary backgrounds will hear about innovative restoration designs and approaches as well as have the opportunity to network with the region's leading stream restoration practitioners. The symposium will include both oral and poster presentations related to stream restoration, including design and related analyses, alternatives analysis, implementation, and monitoring, as well as the planning, regulation, and funding. 

Presentations and presenters for the single-track symposium are being finalized, and all event details will be available shortly at http://www.prrsum.org/  

Learn more about PRRSUM at  http://www.prrsum.org/content/home 

While Mother Nature has delivered freezing temps much earlier than normal, and many lakes and rivers have a covering of ice, be advised that most of that ice is still not ready to support anglers, hunters, snowmobilers or their equipment. The DNR recommends a minimum of four inches of ice for fishing and a minimum of five inches of ice for ATVs or snowmobiles.  That thickness should be verified with caution and plenty of test holes.

The DNR suggests that ice fishermen include ice picks, a PFD, and at least 50' of rope with their fishing gear.  Even without a lid, a 5 gallon bucket can be inverted to serve as a float until help arrives. A plastic jug with a lid and some nylon rope makes an inexpensive throw line to provide floatation and pull someone to shore; the rope can be stored inside the jug until needed.

From a recent DNR news release: "An angler alone, who falls through the ice, must try to get herself out. Two minutes in cold water is long enough to make hands too stiff to use. On average, a person can survive in cold water only twenty to thirty minutes before hypothermia overcomes him. Grasp the edge of the ice in the direction of shore or safe ice and, if it breaks, keep going until you find solid ice. Use your legs to get your torso out on the ice. Roll to safety."

Paddlers have at least one PFD, and many have a throw bag.  Why not store those in your car trunk for the winter, next to your ice-scraper, shovel, sleeping bag, and jug of sand?  

You might get the chance to save someone's life.

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As part of converting the Iowa DNR to the 725 prefix, the last 4 digits may also have been changed. To clarify:

• Main DNR phone number is now 515-725-8200; Main fax is now 515-725-8201.
• DNR 24-hour spill hotline will remain (515-281-8694) thru June 30, 2015, changing to 725-8694 on July 1, 2015.
• The Turn In Poachers (TIP) hotline will remain 800-532-2020.

A complete pdf listing of new phone numbers can be found on the DNR website at www.iowadnr.gov/contacts .

This could be an article about:

• Your upcoming WT recreation, education, or cleanup event.
• Your upcoming WT organizing or stakeholder event. 
• The valuable contributions of your WT volunteers.
• The oldest or youngest users of your WT.
• Your most unique WT programming of 2014.
• Your most successful WT program ideas.
• What you learned from a less-than-successful WT event.
• What you believe to be the most valuable contributions of WTs to Iowa.
• Your request for assistance on how to address a WT challenge, create a WT opportunity, or solve a WT problem.

Whatever you are proud of, concerned for, or wondering about, your WT community is here to provide support. Just tap in to your resources. Contact us at iowawta@gmail.com