Pony Creek Nature Center

[Abby Brown] The unique scales on the outside of this building offer a clue about what's inside. Another hint is that we're located in this beautiful spot in nature. Do you have any guesses what's in there?

(Map marking Mills County in southwestern Iowa.)

This is Pony Creek Nature Center in Pacific Junction. The scales on the outside of the building shed water just like a fish or a reptile.

Inside, the displays and exhibits teach about fish and reptiles that inhabit this area. You can also learn about different elements of nature and wildlife like prairies, insects and birds.

Iowa has over 400 species of birds. It's kind of fun to try to spot one and even identify it when you're out in the prairies and wetlands and forests. But if you've ever tried to get a close up look or try to take a photo, you already know that they don't always stay still when you want them to.

So to learn about birds of the area, this nature center has taxidermy mounts. Taxidermy is the art of preserving an animal's body for study or display.

This nature center has owls, hawks, game birds and songbirds. Some of these birds you might see in your own backyard.

All the birds on display here are real. They were once living. But don't worry, they all died of natural causes.

The naturalists here at Pony Creek have tools they can use to educate visitors about bird adaptations, like the type of wings they have or the size and shape of a bird's beak, even the color of their plumage or feathers.

The chance to spot and identify Iowa's beautiful birds can be tricky sometimes, but here at this nature center, birds and other wildlife in the area are preserved and showcased so we can all discover more about them.

Every county in Iowa is populated with interesting, fine feathered friends. There's a really easy way to get a close up look here in Mills County.

Funding for FIND Iowa has been provided by The Coons Foundation, Pella and the Gilchrist Foundation.