ABAS Event Calendar
Featured Events
Newfields Bird Hike
Virginia B Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres at Newfields 1550 W 38th St, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesABAS is excited to partner with The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park at Newfields for bird hikes on this beautiful property along the White River and Central Canal. The first hike will be led by ABAS President Rob Ripma. Meet at Lake Terrace in the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres. The hike is free and open to the public. Registration is requested by emailing us at info@amosbutleraudubon.org. Join us as we explore the nesting species of this wonderful property.
Antarctica Field Research
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Dan Boritt, Holliday Park Manager, for an informative discussion of the time he spent doing field research in Antarctica. Weddell Seals inhabit one of the most inhospitable places on earth. How can they reproduce in such a place? How do people live there? Come and learn how these seals survive, how the researchers survive, and some chance encounters with the few birds that call this land home!
Beers with Birders
Metazoa Brewing Company 140 South College Avenue, Indianapolis, INJoin ABAS for an evening a Metazoa Brewing Company. We will meet from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm to collectively share our birding experiences and adventures at this informal gathering.
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 Executive Director, Cliff Chapman, will lead us in exploring winter ecology in this beautiful old-growth forest. Meltzer Woods is located near Shelbyville and is a short 45-minute drive from Indianapolis. Space is limited for this hike, so please register. Register at CILTI’s event page.
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 see what lingering spring migrants and resident nesting birds we can find!Registration is required. Please RSVP for this event by emailing info@amosbutleraudubon.org. Although there is no fee for this walk, park entrance fees apply.
Celery Bog Nature Area Field Trip
Celery Bog Nature Area 1620 Lindberg Rd, West Lafayette, IN, United StatesJoin new ABAS Field Trip Chair Chuck Anderson for a field trip to Celery Bog Nature Area near West Lafayette. This will be a great opportunity to view waterfowl and year-round resident birds. Target birds are Redhead and Canvasback ducks with a possibility of spotting a Long-tailed Duck. Snow Goose and Greater White-fronted Goose also frequent the bog. We'll meet at 8:00 am at the Marathon gas station located at the I65 exit #175 Lafayette/Delphi and caravan from there. The trip is limited to 12 participants and registration is required.
The Best of Birding in Central America – Which Country is Right for You?
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin ABAS President and Sabrewing Nature Tours owner Rob Ripma as he explains what factors you should consider when deciding which country in Central America you want to visit. From birding and experiencing the culture of Guatemala to discovering the remote and exciting Darién province in Panama, Rob will help you explore all the best birding options in this incredible region!
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 see what lingering spring migrants and resident nesting birds we can find!Registration is required. Please RSVP for this event by emailing info@amosbutleraudubon.org. Although there is no fee for this walk, park entrance fees apply.
Winter Lakefront Field Trip
Meet at Menards in Lebanon 402 Sam Ralston Rd, Lebanon, IN, United StatesJoin birders extraordinaire Lisa and Randy Vanderbilt as they lead you in search of wintering gulls, waterfowl and any vagrants that may be in the area at the Indiana Lake Michigan lakeshore. We will meet at the Menards off I65 exit #140 in Lebanon at 6:30 am and caravan/carpool to the lakefront. 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. Make sure you dress appropriately for the weather conditions, Most of the time will be spent traveling to as many sites as possible to scan the lake. There will be a break for lunch in the Gary/Chesterton area. The event is free and open to the public. Registration is not required but appreciated.
The Secret Love Life of Birds
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin John and Will Schaust as they share research on the pair-bonding strategy of birds through some fascinating facts and humorous analogies to our own crazy courtship behaviors.
A Season on the Wind – Spring Migration through the Midwest
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesEvery spring, billions of birds go sweeping northward across North America. This vast parade of small migrants was the subject of Kenn Kaufman's book A Season on the Wind, published in April 2019. Although the book focused on the concentrations of migratory birds in the Magee Marsh area of northern Ohio, in this program Kenn will talk about larger patterns of spring bird movements throughout the Midwest, including central Indiana.
A Season on the Wind – Spring Migration through the Midwest
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesEvery spring, billions of birds go sweeping northward across North America. This vast parade of small migrants was the subject of Kenn Kaufman's book A Season on the Wind, published in April 2019. Although the book focused on the concentrations of migratory birds in the Magee Marsh area of northern Ohio, in this program Kenn will talk about larger patterns of spring bird movements throughout the Midwest, including central Indiana.
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 – Carmel West Park
West Park 2700 W 116th St, Carmel, IN, United StatesJoin Chuck Anderson, ABAS Field Trip Chair, for a trip to West Park in Carmel. Listen for the “peenting” sounds of a male woodcock as it attempts to court a female during the mating season. Watch the male perform an aerial display and listen to the sound of its twittering wings as it tries to attract a female.
Newfields Bird Hike
Virginia B Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres at Newfields 1550 W 38th St, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesABAS is excited to partner with The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park at Newfields for bird hikes on this beautiful property along the White River and Central Canal. The first hike will be led by ABAS President Rob Ripma. Meet at Lake Terrace in the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres. The hike is free and open to the public. Registration is requested by emailing us at info@amosbutleraudubon.org. Join us as we explore the nesting species of this wonderful property.
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.
Canceled – 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.
Canceled – Smith’s Longspur Field Trip – Lye Creek Prairie Burn
Lye Creek Prairie Burn – Meet at Denny's in Lebanon 1524 West South Street, Lebanon, IN, United StatesJoin Shari McCollough, Indiana Audubon Society Membership Chair, and host Clint Murray on a field 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. While in the area, we will also seek out any raptors, waterfowl, and shorebirds that may be present. Registration is required.
Canceled – Bird Rehabilitation
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Liz Hatton for an informative discussion of bird rehabilitation. Located in Westfield, Liz has been a DNR permitted wildlife rehabilitator since 1995. Her husband, Chris, joined her in 1991. Last year they registered over 800 birds for rehabilitation. She will have a few live birds that aren't candidates to be released and will demonstrate feeding techniques with some young birds if possible.
Spring – Migrant Field Trip – Morgan and Monroe Counties
Meet at Walmart in Camby 8191 Upland Bend, Camby, IN, United StatesJoin Scott Enochs on a trip to various spots in Morgan and Monroe Counties. The hike will target migrating warblers, vireos, tanagers, and flycatchers. More specifically, this trip will target Kentucky, Hooded, and Worm-eating Warblers. The trip will consist of various terrains which could include steep hillsides, so appropriate footwear should be considered. We will meet at 6:30 am at the Walmart in Camby. Registration is requested