ABAS Event Calendar
Featured Events
Banding Saw-whet Owls in the Indiana Dunes!
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin speaker Brad Bumgardner, the Executive Director for the Indiana Adubon Society and previously an interpretive naturalist for the Indiana State Parks, for our November program. The Indiana Dunes is a gateway for migrating owls traveling along the shores of Lake Michigan and into the rest of Indiana. Volunteers and staff have banded hundreds of migrating Saw-whet Owls. Learn about the secretive migration and opportunities to view Saw-whet Owls in the Indiana Dunes.
Beers with Birders
Metazoa Brewing Company 140 South College Avenue, Indianapolis, INJoin ABAS for an evening at Metazoa Brewing Company. We will meet to collectively share our birding experiences and adventures at this informal gathering.
30 Years of Birding for Bucks
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Donna McCarty, ABAS Birdathon Chair, for a look back at where the Birdathon started in 1987 and where we are today. Learn how our chapter’s mission has been promoted, the projects we have supported over the years, and what it takes to make a Birdathon team.
Johnson County CBC
Johnson County Parks 2949 E. North Street, Nineveh, IN, United StatesThis Christmas Bird Count will meet for lunch at 12:30 at Johnson County Parks to tally results. 2949 E. North Street Nineveh, IN 46164 Contact Mike Clay at (317) 682-8884 or mpclay@comcast.net.
Goose Pond Area Raptor Field Trip
Goose Pond Area - Meet at Kroger 1930 East Main Street, Plainfield, IN, United StatesJoin Scott Enochs as he leads you to Greene County in search of migrating and wintering raptors. Goose Pond, and surrounding areas, in Greene County has become a prime wintering area, and migratory stop-over, for raptors such as Northern Harrier, Rough-legged Hawk, Merlin, Golden Eagle, and Short-eared Owl. We will spend the afternoon and evening trying to find as many birds of prey as possible. We will remain in the area through sunset in hopes of seeing Short-eared Owls emerge from their daytime roost.
Exploring the Incredible Country of Ecuador
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Rob Ripma, ABAS President and owner of Sabrewing Nature Tours, for our January program at Holliday Park Nature Center. The program shows us the birds and wildlife that you can expect to find while exploring the northern part of Ecuador. As we travel from the high Andes to the tropical rainforest, you’re sure to learn about some exciting birds!
Winter Lakefront Field Trip
Meet at Dick's Sporting Goods 6030 West 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Scott Enochs as he leads you to the Indiana Lake Michigan lakeshore in search of wintering gulls, waterfowl, and any vagrants that may be in the area. We will spend the morning and early afternoon visiting various sites around the Indiana lakeshore. Little time will be spent hiking, though some hiking terrain would be considered moderate to rugged. Most of time will be spent travelling to as many sites as possible to scan the lake. Some stops may require travelling on toll roads. Depending on weather conditions, an evening stop to Kankakee Sands could be added to the trip. In that event, we will break for lunch in the Gary/Chesterton area.
Trivia for the Birds!
Ash & Elm Cider Co. 1301 East Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesCome to Ash & Elm Cider Co. to test out your birding knowledge with our resident birder, Wesley Homoya! He's back from his world travels and we are celebrating with a night of birder trivia! Prizes available with purchase and play. A portion of the sales will be donated to the Amos Butler Audubon Society.
The Road to 1000!
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesBy today’s birding standards, a goal of seeing 1000 species of birds seems somewhat trivial. But to some people, it’s a big goal! With a family of 5 children, a full-time salaried job, and all of the full-time tasks that go along with it, getting to the goal has been no easy task. Join speaker Chad Williams as he takes you on a brief journey through some of his travels in the U.S., Mexico, Central and South America.
Great Backyard Bird Count
Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center 6515 Delong Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesThe Great Backyard Bird Count is a free, fun, and easy event that allows bird watchers of all ages and skill levels to count birds. This citizen science event creates a real-time snapshot of bird populations over four days. Click on the event to see the details of exactly when the counts will be done at the Ornithology Center. Come join us!
Goose Pond Field Trip with IWF
Goose Pond FWA Visitor Center 13540 West County Road 400 South, Linton, IN, United StatesIndiana Wildlife Federation is partnering with ABAS for a day of birding at one of Indiana's hottest migratory waterfowl viewing locations. Spend the day with expert birders. Hear about the work of the International Crane Foundation in Indiana. Learn how IWF helped in the creation of Goose Pond. Registration required and full details about the trip will be emailed to you closer to the date.
Woodcock Walk – West Park
West Park 2700 W 116th St, Carmel, IN, United StatesJoin Scott Enochs in a walk through West Park in search of American Woodcock. Woodcocks have a very acrobatic mating display that they perform at dusk, and West Park offers an up-close view of this display.
Bubbly Birder Big Year
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin ABAS Board member Amy Hodson as she shares stories from a whirlwind of a year that got her to 302 species as well as the highlights, the misses, and the stories in between. This program will be conversational, so bring your questions and we will see you there!
Waterfowl ID Workshop
Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center 6515 Delong Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin ABAS Education Chair and waterfowl enthusiast Jessica Helmbold for a crash course on Indiana's Waterfowl. After the course, we will have lunch in the park and explore Eagle Creek Reservoir for waterfowl. Then in following weekends, weather dependent, we will make excursions to Muscatatuck NWR and Goose Pond for further study. Details about the two additional field trip opportunities will be emailed to workshop participants, posted on our Facebook page, and posted on the ABAS web site. You may join us just for the lecture, any of the field trips, or all events. For details, contact jessica.helmbold@indy.gov. RSVPs are appreciated, though not required.
ABAS Goose Pond FWA Field Trip
Goose Pond Area - Meet at Target 10209 E. US 36, Avon, IN, United StatesJoin Mark Welter for a trip to Goose Pond FWA in search of waterfowl. Located in Greene County just south of the town of Linton, Goose Pond’s 8000+ acres represent Indiana’s largest and most successful habitat restoration project. Since its completion in 2008, Goose Pond has been a magnet for migrating waterfowl, waders, shorebirds, and songbirds. Mid-March can be expected to produce an interesting mix of lingering winter birds and early Spring arrivals.
Beers with Birders
Blind Owl Brewery 5014 E 62nd St, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin the Amos Butler Audubon Society for an evening at Blind Owl Brewing. We will meet from 6-8 p.m. to collectively share our birding experiences and adventures at this informal gathering.
Smith’s Longspur Field Trip – Lye Creek Prairie Burn
Lye Creek Prairie Burn – Meet Old Marsh Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Amy Hodson on a trip to the Lye Creek Prairie Burn (aka “The Burn”) in search of migrating Smith’s Longspurs. The Burn is located in Montgomery County and is the most reliable place for viewing Smith’s Longspurs in Indiana, as the property is managed specifically for them.
A Journey to the Bottom of the World
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Lynea Hinchman, of La Porte County, Indiana, for A Journey to the Bottom of the World. Antarctica, the White Continent, is a wealth of wildlife and wonder. Imagine walking among penguins or being within feet of nesting Albatross or on a beach covered with Elephant Seals or having your dinner interrupted by a pod of Orcas on a feeding frenzy. Join ABAS and Lynea as we take a brief journey to this vast world of breathtaking beauty and amazing wildlife spectacles.
Sodalis Nature Park Warbler Hike
Sodalis Nature Park 7700 S. Co. Rd. 975E, Plainfield, IN, United StatesJoin Mark Welter at Sodalis Nature Park in Hendricks County in search of migrating warblers and other Spring arrivals. Sodalis is known as one of the most productive birding hotspots in Hendricks County. 158 species have been recorded there, including 34 warbler species. Trails through the park are a mix of gravel and dirt and are normally an easy walk, but interior trails can become very muddy after even moderate rain. Appropriate footwear is recommended.
Eagle Creek Birding Festival
Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center 6515 Delong Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Eagle Creek Ornithology Center for the Eagle Creek Birding Festival! This is an all-day event where registrants can choose between expert-led birding tours of Eagle Creek Park, conservation seminars, family activities such as nature hikes and owl pellets, and live bird programs. Call or follow us on Facebook (@Ornithology.Center) closer to the event for the schedule of hikes and class choices. For full-day access: $25 per person, $20 per person with Family Rate (3+ individuals, call for discount). Park admission is included in the cost and lunch is provided for full-day attendees.