IBA Species Data for DeSoto National Wildlife Refuge

These two tables show the data collected on criteria species and species concentrations as defined by the IBA technical committee. The data comes from the original IBA data collection process, Iowa Seasonal Field Reports, and the recent Breeding Bird Atlas project (2008-2012).

Criteria Species

Species	Date	Number	Breeding Status	Comments
Piping Plover	4/8/2007	1		A single Piping Plover located in the wetland area on the main drive of desoto, just in from the main entance.
American Woodcock	5/15/2005	4	PR-C
Least Tern	7/29/2023	2		CHECKLIST
Black Tern	5/21/2022	4		CHECKLIST
Black Tern	5/21/2022	4		CHECKLIST
Black Tern	5/21/2022	6		CHECKLIST
Black Tern	5/15/2005	34	OB-O
Forster's Tern	9/12/2022	2		CHECKLIST
Forster's Tern	5/1/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Forster's Tern	7/21/2004	12
American Bittern	5/13/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Black-crowned Night Heron	5/8/2022	3		CHECKLIST
Black-crowned Night Heron	5/5/2007	2
Northern Harrier	4/9/2025	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	2/6/2025	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	2/6/2025	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	12/26/2024	2		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	12/26/2024	2		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	12/26/2024	2		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	12/26/2024	2		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	12/22/2024	5		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	12/22/2024	5		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	11/24/2024	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	8/30/2024	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	8/30/2024	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	4/4/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	4/1/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	3/26/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	2/4/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	2/4/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	1/30/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	1/26/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	1/17/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	1/16/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	1/14/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	1/14/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	1/14/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	1/14/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	1/14/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	1/14/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	1/14/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	12/28/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	12/28/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	12/28/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	12/28/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	11/26/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	11/20/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	10/16/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	5/1/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	4/8/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	3/13/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	3/13/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Northern Harrier	2/28/2022	1		Joel Strafelda (eBird)
Northern Harrier	2/27/2022	2		Elizabeth Winter (eBird) male and female
Northern Harrier	2/26/2022	1		Carla Delucchi (eBird)
Northern Harrier	2/21/2022	1		Joel Strafelda (eBird)
Northern Harrier	2/13/2022	1		Anonymous Anonymous (eBird)
Northern Harrier	2/13/2022	1		Jacob C. Cooper (eBird)
Northern Harrier	2/5/2022	1		Sam Manning (eBird)
Northern Harrier	1/28/2022	1		Paul Pearson (eBird)
Northern Harrier	1/11/2022	1		Gary Roberts (eBird)
Northern Harrier	1/3/2022	1		Paul Pearson (eBird)
Northern Harrier	1/2/2022	1		Thane Dinsdale (eBird)
Northern Harrier	1/2/2022	3		Joe Kipper (eBird) One beautiful male, and two female-type birds
Northern Harrier	12/7/2021	2		cindy harris (eBird)
Northern Harrier	12/1/2021	1		Donna Yates (eBird)
Northern Harrier	10/31/2012	11		USFWS. High Count.
Northern Harrier	12/19/1999	15
Bald Eagle	5/15/2025	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	5/8/2025	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	4/24/2025	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	4/19/2025	5		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	4/19/2025	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	4/19/2025	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	3/30/2025	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	3/25/2025	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	3/23/2025	3		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	3/22/2025	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	3/22/2025	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	3/11/2025	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	2/28/2025	7		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	2/28/2025	7		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	2/9/2025	3		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	2/9/2025	3		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	2/6/2025	3		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	2/6/2025	3		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	1/25/2025	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	1/25/2025	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	1/3/2025	3		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	1/3/2025	3		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	12/22/2024	22		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	12/22/2024	22		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	11/24/2024	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	11/17/2024	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	11/10/2024	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	11/10/2024	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	8/30/2024	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	8/30/2024	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	8/21/2024	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	6/18/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	5/26/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	5/26/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	5/17/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	5/16/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	5/14/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	5/12/2023	3		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	4/14/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	4/9/2023	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	4/4/2023	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	4/1/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	3/30/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	3/26/2023	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	3/14/2023	15		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	3/12/2023	3		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	3/8/2023	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	2/18/2023	10		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	2/11/2023	5		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	2/4/2023	18		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	2/3/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	1/30/2023	5		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	1/26/2023	4		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	1/21/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	1/20/2023	15		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	1/17/2023	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	1/16/2023	7		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	1/14/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	1/14/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	1/14/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	1/14/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	1/14/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	1/14/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	1/13/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	1/6/2023	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	1/6/2023	8		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	12/28/2022	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	12/28/2022	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	12/28/2022	7		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	12/28/2022	7		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	12/16/2022	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	11/20/2022	5		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	11/6/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	10/30/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	10/16/2022	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	9/29/2022	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	8/20/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	8/20/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	7/17/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	6/27/2022	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	6/27/2022	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	6/18/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	6/8/2022	3		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	5/17/2022	3		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	5/8/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	5/7/2022	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	4/24/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	4/16/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	4/15/2022	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	4/10/2022	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	4/8/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	4/4/2022	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	3/25/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	3/18/2022	3		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	3/17/2022	2		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	3/15/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	3/7/2022	6		CHECKLIST
Bald Eagle	2/28/2022	2		Joel Strafelda (eBird)
Bald Eagle	2/27/2022	2		Elizabeth Winter (eBird)
Bald Eagle	2/26/2022	2		Thane Dinsdale (eBird)
Bald Eagle	2/21/2022	12		Joel Strafelda (eBird)
Bald Eagle	2/18/2022	7		Michael J. Morris (eBird)
Bald Eagle	2/12/2022	8		Thane Dinsdale (eBird)
Bald Eagle	2/7/2022	2		Mark Haindfield (eBird)
Bald Eagle	2/7/2022	6		Carla Delucchi (eBird)
Bald Eagle	2/5/2022	3		Sam Manning (eBird)
Bald Eagle	1/28/2022	1		Paul Pearson (eBird)
Bald Eagle	1/28/2022	12		Thane Dinsdale (eBird) all on the river
Bald Eagle	1/22/2022	2		Michael J. Morris (eBird)
Bald Eagle	1/22/2022	3		Michael J. Morris (eBird)
Bald Eagle	1/20/2022	1		Joel Strafelda (eBird)
Bald Eagle	1/17/2022	1		Carla Delucchi (eBird)
Bald Eagle	1/16/2022	8		Thane Dinsdale (eBird)
Bald Eagle	1/11/2022	1		Joel Strafelda (eBird)
Bald Eagle	1/4/2022	1		Carla Delucchi (eBird)
Bald Eagle	1/3/2022	1		Paul Pearson (eBird)
Bald Eagle	1/2/2022	10		Thane Dinsdale (eBird)
Bald Eagle	12/27/2021	1		Joel Strafelda (eBird)
Bald Eagle	12/26/2021	1		Whitney Pennington (eBird)
Bald Eagle	12/23/2021	24		Thane Dinsdale (eBird) largest numbers on the south side of the Missouri pullout
Bald Eagle	12/18/2021	6		Gregory Estep (eBird)
Bald Eagle	12/18/2021	6		Susan Estep (eBird)
Bald Eagle	12/14/2021	6		Katie Gooby (eBird)
Bald Eagle	12/13/2021	3		Joel Strafelda (eBird)
Bald Eagle	12/11/2021	3		Carla Delucchi (eBird)
Bald Eagle	12/7/2021	6		cindy harris (eBird)
Bald Eagle	12/1/2021	2		Donna Yates (eBird)
Bald Eagle	3/22/2010		CO-UN
Bald Eagle	5/15/2005	2	CO-AY
Bald Eagle	12/19/1999	59
Broad-winged Hawk	4/15/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Long-eared Owl	5/15/2005	6	OB-O
Short-eared Owl	1/28/2022	1		Paul Pearson (eBird) Perched just off south side of main road, approx 1/4 mi west over Missouri River overlook. I initially missed it on the way out and Thane spotted it eating a vole and got pics. State/County bird.
Short-eared Owl	1/28/2022	1		Thane Dinsdale (eBird) saw it swallow a vole whole
Short-eared Owl	11/8/2006	8		8 were observed on the refuge during the week.
Pileated Woodpecker	5/8/2025	1		CHECKLIST
Pileated Woodpecker	2/9/2025	1		CHECKLIST
Pileated Woodpecker	2/9/2025	1		CHECKLIST
Pileated Woodpecker	11/10/2024	1		CHECKLIST
Pileated Woodpecker	11/10/2024	1		CHECKLIST
Pileated Woodpecker	6/18/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Pileated Woodpecker	4/14/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Pileated Woodpecker	4/4/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Pileated Woodpecker	1/30/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Pileated Woodpecker	11/4/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Pileated Woodpecker	4/10/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Pileated Woodpecker	2/27/2022	1		Elizabeth Winter (eBird) Saw two on the Nebraska side (see picture on associated NE checklist). One then flew to a tree that overlooked the lake, sat for about 2 minutes, then flew to the Iowa side.
Pileated Woodpecker	2/21/2022	1		Joel Strafelda (eBird) Flew across road at Missouri River overlook. Large woodpecker observed flying across the road and river then sitting on a tree across the river. In flight it showed white underwings and a white stripe in the upper wings. Red crest, heavy bill, white stripes on face
Pileated Woodpecker	2/7/2022	1		Mark Haindfield (eBird) Crow-sized dark bird with deep wingbeats. Undulating flight with white wing lining showing distinctly. Flighty, moving a good distance away as vehicle approached. Familiar with species with other very infrequent observations.
Peregrine Falcon	5/7/2021	1
Peregrine Falcon	5/6/2012	1
Peregrine Falcon	5/5/2007	1
Peregrine Falcon	5/15/2005	2	OB-O
Bell's Vireo	5/31/2025	1		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	5/31/2025	2		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	5/11/2025	1		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	5/9/2025	1		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	8/30/2024	2		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	8/30/2024	2		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	7/23/2024	1		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	5/30/2023	2		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	5/27/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	5/26/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	5/25/2023	3		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	5/25/2023	3		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	5/23/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	5/23/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	5/17/2023	2		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	5/16/2023	2		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	5/14/2023	2		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	5/12/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	7/7/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	6/17/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	6/11/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	6/8/2022	2		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	5/23/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	5/17/2022	2		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	5/17/2022	3		CHECKLIST
Bell's Vireo	8/2/2013	1
Bell's Vireo	6/3/2010		PO-X
Bell's Vireo	5/15/2005	8	PR-M
Bell's Vireo	5/22/1999	1
Bell's Vireo	5/22/1999	1	PO-H
Loggerhead Shrike	5/15/2005	4	OB-O
Wood Thrush	6/18/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Wood Thrush	6/24/2012		PO-X
Wood Thrush	6/24/2012	1
Wood Thrush	5/5/2007	5
Wood Thrush	5/15/2005	30	PR-M
Wood Thrush	5/22/1999	1	PO-H
Grasshopper Sparrow	5/20/2025	1		CHECKLIST
Grasshopper Sparrow	7/10/2023	2		CHECKLIST
Grasshopper Sparrow	6/1/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Grasshopper Sparrow	5/26/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Grasshopper Sparrow	7/7/2022	2		CHECKLIST
Grasshopper Sparrow	5/17/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Grasshopper Sparrow	5/15/2005	250	CO-NY
Grasshopper Sparrow	5/22/1999	1
Grasshopper Sparrow	5/22/1999	1	PO-H
Henslow's Sparrow	6/14/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Henslow's Sparrow	6/11/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Henslow's Sparrow	6/8/2022	1		CHECKLIST
Bobolink	5/17/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bobolink	5/16/2023	1		CHECKLIST
Bobolink	5/23/2022	2		CHECKLIST
Bobolink	5/5/2007	2
Bobolink	5/15/2005	4	CO-NY

Species Concentrations

Species Name/Group	Date	Number
American White Pelican	9/26/2013	1,094
American White Pelican	10/19/2011	5,000
Raptors	5/15/2005	100
Shorebirds	5/15/2005	1,000
Waterfowl	2/26/2016	1,123
Waterfowl	11/20/2013	8,063
Waterfowl	11/14/2013	8,825
Waterfowl	10/29/2013	6,141
Waterfowl	10/18/2013	3,565
Waterfowl	11/14/2012	14,779
Waterfowl	10/31/2012	1,200
Waterfowl	10/24/2012	2,579
Waterfowl	9/20/2012	1,105
Waterfowl	11/29/2011	3,500
Waterfowl	11/16/2011	1,920
Waterfowl	11/9/2011	26,787
Waterfowl	11/2/2011	4,559
Waterfowl	10/19/2011	2,253
Waterfowl	11/23/2010	10,340
Waterfowl	11/17/2010	12,102
Waterfowl	11/10/2010	9,075
Waterfowl	10/28/2010	5,900
Waterfowl	11/19/2009	6,000
Waterfowl	11/5/2009	1,867
Waterfowl	10/29/2009	2,829
Waterfowl	10/21/2009	1,704
Waterfowl	10/15/2009	1,064
Waterfowl	11/5/2008	1,867
Waterfowl	11/27/2007	2,144
Waterfowl	11/8/2007	1,105
Waterfowl	11/29/2006	13,300
Waterfowl	11/16/2006	1,000
Waterfowl	5/15/2005	300,000
Waterfowl	11/14/1999	50,000