ABAS Event Calendar
Featured Events
Coffee – A History and Conservation
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJessica Helmbold, ABAS Education Chair, loves coffee. Most people love coffee, though are most people as obsessed with coffee as she is? Jessica presents the history of coffee, and how to select and brew the best coffees. Clearing land for the production of staple crops such as bananas, pineapples, and coffee is one of the biggest threats to our rainforests. Coffee can grow in harmony with the rainforest. Learn how the small choices we make can make a difference. We will also sample different varieties of Rainforest Alliance coffees. Join us!
CILTI Thanksgiving Weekend Hike at Mossy Point
CILTI Mossy Point Nature Preserve 2732 Danforth Place, Bloomingdale, IN, United StatesWalk off your turkey and stuffing with CILTI as Executive Director Cliff Chapman leads us on a hike through this stunning Parke County nature preserve. Mossy Point’s dramatic high ridges offer views of beautiful Sugar Creek, where Bald Eagles often roost in winter months. This is a moderate hike with some slopes and hills. Participants should wear sturdy shoes for hiking on some slopes. Conditions may be muddy or wet. Space is limited for this hike, so please register.
CILTI Hike at Meltzer Woods
CILTI Meltzer Woods Nature Preserve 1522 South County Road 600 East, Shelbyville, IN, United StatesJoin the Central Indiana Land Trust (CILTI) for a guided hike through the always compelling Meltzer Woods. CILTI’s stewardship specialist Joanna Woodruff will lead participants through this beautiful old growth forest just outside of Shelbyville. We will work on our bark identification and have some fun while learning about the trees at this nature preserve. This is an easy hike over level ground. Space is limited for this hike, so please register.
Beers with Birders
Ash & Elm Cider Co. 1301 East Washington Street, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin the Amos Butler Audubon Society for an evening at Ash & Elm Cider Co. We will meet from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm to collectively share our birding experiences and adventures at this informal gathering. This event is open to the public.
Goose Pond Area Raptor 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. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required, but is greatly appreciated.
Bird Photography – Beyond the Snapshot
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin well known local birder and photographer, Ryan Sanderson, for an informative program on photographing birds. He will take us to the next steps, and show us how to go beyond just taking snapshots to something you might hang on your wall.
Hoosier Whooping Cranes
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Danielle Williams, Whooping Crane Outreach Program Assistant for Indiana for the International Crane Foundation (ICF), for an informative program about Whooping Cranes in Indiana. Did you know the tallest birds in North America winter right here in Indiana? Historically, this was not always the case. In this program, Danielle will discuss how the Whooping Crane made its amazing comeback from fewer than 20 individuals in the 1940s to over 800 today. Learn about the creative methods used to bring Whooping Cranes back to the eastern United States, the ongoing challenges associated with this effort, and what the ICF is doing to help these cranes right here in Indiana.
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 the time will be spent travelling to as many sites as possible to scan the lake. There will be a break for lunch in the Gary/Chesterton area.
Bird Photography Walk at Eagle Creek
Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center 6515 Delong Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Amy Hodson on a walk at Eagle Creek Park to photograph birds. All levels of photography are welcome, especially beginners! Don’t have camera gear quite yet, but still want to learn? This will be a great opportunity to learn about the basics of bird photography. The group will meet at the Ornithology Center to practice shooting at the feeders. We will then head into the park to look for the famous Barred Owls, Red Fox, and Winter Wrens! Please RSVP for this event by emailing info@amosbutleraudubon.org. Registration is required. Although there is no fee for this walk, park entrance fees apply.
Birding The Nature Conservancy Properties in Indiana
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Matt Williams for our February program. As Director of Conservation Programs for The Nature Conservancy in Indiana, Matt will take us on a virtual tour of some of the Conservancy’s best properties around the state, and show us a photography slide show of some of the bird species that can be seen at these sites. Matt will also tell us a bit about his new book, Endangered and Disappearing Birds of the Midwest.
CILTI Hike at Meltzer Woods
CILTI Meltzer Woods Nature Preserve 1522 South County Road 600 East, Shelbyville, IN, United StatesJoin the Central Indiana Land Trust (CILTI) for a Presidents' Day hike through Meltzer Woods. CILTI’s stewardship specialist Joanna Woodruff will lead participants through this beautiful old growth forest just outside of Shelbyville. We will work on our bark identification and have some fun while learning about the trees at this nature preserve. This is an easy hike over level ground. Joanna is a current board member of ABAS and serves as our Recording Secretary. Space is limited for this hike, so please register.
Woodcock Walk – Carmel 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. We will meet at the northwest corner of the West Park parking lot.
Birding in South Africa
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin ABAS member, shutterbug, and local birder Doug Vine as he presents photo highlights from his recent visit to South Africa. African creatures are majestic and awe-inspiring, and so are the birds! Doug's trip included a Capetown-based pelagic trip, and safaris into Kruger National Park, the Karoo, and KwaZulu-Natal regions.
Beers with Birders
Field Brewing 303 East Main Street, Westfield, IN, United StatesJoin the ABAS for an evening at Field Brewing in Westfield. We will meet from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm to collectively share our birding experiences and adventures at this informal gathering. This event is open to the public. Please email info@amosbutleraudubon.org if you plan to join us so we can be aware of how many will be attending.
Woodcock Walk – Daubenspeck Community Nature Park
Daubenspeck Nature Park 8900 Ditch Rd, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin ABAS Board member Brian Cunningham for an evening walk at Daubenspeck Community Nature Park (DCNP), a great spot to view displaying American Woodcocks. Woodcocks have a very acrobatic mating display that they perform at dusk known as the sky dance. While waiting for woodcocks, we will check the prairie and nearby woods for birds that may be going to roost in the park for the evening.
Woodcock Walk – Strawtown Koteewi Park
Strawtown Koteewi Park 12308 Strawtown Avenue, Noblesville, IN, United StatesUnusual, weird, romantic, and unique are all words used to describe the American Woodcock. Come experience this rite of spring for yourself as male woodcocks perform their aerial courtship displays for the females in the prairie at dusk! An indoor presentation will take place inside the Taylor Center at 7:30 pm for those interested in knowing more about the life history of this bird. Those interested in seeing the aerial display should meet the group inside the Taylor Center and will be led by a Naturalist from Hamilton County Park starting at about 8:00 pm.
Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab Night Hike
Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab 3200 Cold Spring Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesCome out to the Nina Mason Pulliam EcoLab to enjoy an evening hike looking for frogs, owls, and to see the handiwork of the resident beaver colony. We’ll start with a hike at dusk, looking and listening for the elaborate aerial displays and calls of the woodcock that reside in the EcoLab, do some owl calling, and look for other signs of early spring wildlife activity. We’ll learn about beaver adaptations and the role of beavers in wetlands, and will learn some really cool facts about owls too. All ages welcome and encouraged!
Why Bird Feeding Makes a Difference
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin ABAS Board Director Brian Cunningham for an informative program about feeding the birds. Anyone who has ever fed wild birds knows that it can bring joy to their lives. But, does bird feeding just benefit people? Do the birds become dependent on the food we provide? We’ll take a look at what we have learned from various scientific studies and citizen science data on why feeding wild birds makes a difference for the health and well-being of people and for our backyard feathered visitors.
Warbler ID Workshop
Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center 6515 Delong Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Scott Enochs, warbler identification enthusiast and Field Trip Chair for ABAS, for a crash course in warbler identification. We will start in the Ornithology Center classroom and then head outside, weather permitting, to look for migrating warblers in Eagle Creek Park. This event is free with park admission. Drop-ins are welcome. If you have binoculars, please bring them. If you would like to look for warblers after the presentation, please dress for the weather and wear comfortable walking shoes.
Smith’s Longspur Field Trip – Lye Creek Prairie Burn
Lye Creek Prairie Burn – Meet Old Marsh Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin ABAS 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.