Effigy Mounds National Monument kicked off the Golden Eagles Club, its new weekly gathering for mature adults, last week.

Biotech Lexie Ogdahl spoke about winter birding in northeast Iowa, helping attendees identify birds by sight and sound, and offering tips on how to make their backyards more bird friendly.

Golden Eagles Club programs will continue every Thursday, at 10 a.m., until April. 

Upcoming topics include:

Jan. 15 – Book Club: Join park rangers in a discussion of “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer.

Jan. 22 – Learn about Ho Chunk beadwork and try your hand at beading.

Jan. 29 – Join a park ranger for a mindfulness walk on the Yellow River Boardwalk.

Feb. 5 – TBD

Feb. 12 – Book Club: Join Dr. Mark Grey for a discussion of “1491: New Revelations of the Americas Before Columbus” by Charles C. Mann.

Feb. 19 – TBD

Feb. 26 – Join a park ranger for a mindfulness walk on the Yellow River Boardwalk.

March 5 – TBD

March 12 – Book Club: Join Dr. Mark Grey for a discussion of “1493: Uncovering the New World Columbus Created.”

March 19 – TBD

March 26 – Join a park ranger for a mindfulness walk on the Yellow River Boardwalk.

Effigy Mounds National Monument preserves prehistoric American Indian burial and ceremonial mounds, including some in the shape of animals. The monument is located three miles north of Marquette, on Highway 76, and is one of 430-plus national park sites. For more information about this and other programs, call (563) 873-3491 ext. 123, visit www.nps.gov/effigymounds or check out the park’s Facebook page at www.facebook/EffigyMounds.