ABAS Event Calendar
Field Trips
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.
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.
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.
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
Fall Warblers – Strawtown Koteewi Park
Strawtown Koteewi Park 12308 Strawtown Avenue, Noblesville, IN, United StatesPossible Travel Detour – Click into the post for details. Join well-respected birder and field trip leader Terry Ballenger as we look for migrating fall warblers as well as local resident birds in this 800-acre park. The fall migration should be well underway and we should expect to see several species of warblers. We’ll meet at the Taylor Center of Natural History building parking lot at 8:30 am and bird on foot from there. Masks will be required for the majority of the hike. There may be times when we can spread out and get a quick break from the masks.
Fall Birding at Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
Muscatatuck NWR 12985 East US Highway 50, Seymour, IN, United StatesJoin ABAS Education Chair Jessica Helmbold for a day of celebrating the best of fall. Southern Indiana fall colors, fall waterfowl migration, and lunch after the outing. Duck migration should be well underway and many species are expected to be present in the refuge. Meet at the Muscatatuck Visitors Center. Lunch will be at a local eatery with the location to be determined. There will be no fee for the field trip and it's open to the public. Registration is not required but greatly appreciated. Masks will be required for the majority of the hike. There may be times when we can spread out and get a quick break from the masks.
Celery Bog Nature Area Field Trip (Full)
Celery Bog Nature Area 1620 Lindberg Rd, West Lafayette, IN, United StatesRegistration is full. Join ABAS Field Trip Chair Chuck Anderson for a field trip to Celery Bog Nature Area. This will be a great opportunity to view waterfowl and year-round resident birds. Target birds are waterfowl, including Northern Pintail, Redhead, and Canvasback ducks, with a possibility of spotting a Long-tailed Duck. Snow Goose and Greater White-fronted Goose also frequent the bog. There is no fee for the field trip. However, it is limited to 12 participants, and registration is required. Masks will likely be required for most of the trip. There may be times when we can spread out and take a break from the masks.
Sandhill Cranes at Jasper-Pulaski
Jasper-Pulaski FWA Headqaurters 5822 Fish & Wildlife Lane, MedaryvilleJoin ABAS Field Trip Chair, Chuck Anderson, for a trip to Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area (FWA). This will be a great opportunity to view thousands of Sandhill Cranes as they congregate in Goose Pasture before returning to the roosting marshes. There’s always a possibility of spotting a Whooping Crane among the Sandhills. We’ll meet at 4:00 pm at the Sandhill Crane Observation Platform parking lot located on County Rd 1650W, 1 mile past the park’s headquarters entrance. Follow the very visible signage. Bring binoculars and spotting scope if you have one. The trip is limited to 10 participants, and registration is required. Masks will likely be required during most of the viewing as this is a very popular location for observing the cranes.
Fall Birding at Goose Pond (Full)
Goose Pond FWA Visitor Center 13540 West County Road 400 South, Linton, IN, United StatesJoin accomplished birders Whitney and Jonathan Yoerger for a late afternoon field trip to Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area (FWA) in search of waterfowl and raptors. In addition to viewing multiple species of ducks and geese, we should see Northern Harriers hunting low over the fields. Just before dusk, Short-eared Owls will likely appear. The is a limit of 10 participants and registration is required. The majority of the field trip will be by car with multiple stops to get out to view birds. Masks will be required when birding in close proximity to others.
Winter Lakefront Field Trip
Washington Park Beach Entrance 114 Lake Shore Dr, Michigan City, IN, United StatesJoin experienced birder and field trip leader Scott Enochs as he leads you along the Indiana Lake Michigan lakeshore in search of wintering gulls, waterfowl, and any vagrants that may be in the area. We'll meet at Washington Park Beach in Michigan City (41.7281N 86.9040W) at 8:00 am local time (9:00 am EST). We will spend the morning and early afternoon visiting various sites around the Indiana lakeshore. Make sure you dress appropriately for the weather conditions. Participants can expect to return to the Indianapolis area around 6:00 pm EST. There will be a break for lunch in the Gary/Chesterton area. The field trip is free but is limited to 10 participants and registration is required. Priority registration is available to ABAS members through January 10, 2021. After that date, if any open spots remain, non-members may register. To sign up email Chuck Anderson at chucka1999@aol.com or text Chuck at (317) 767-5438. Masks will be required for the majority of the trip. There may be times when we can spread out and get a break from the masks.
Great Backyard Bird Count Caravan
Zionsville Community High School Football Stadium 1000 Mulberry St, Zionsville, IN, United StatesIf you need an incentive to get outside mid-winter, join ABAS Field Trip chair Chuck Anderson as he leads you to several local parks in conjunction with the Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) worldwide event. At each park, we will record the species and number of all birds seen and submit that list to the Cornell Lab of Ornithology via eBird. The parks that we plan to visit are Turkeyfoot Nature Park in Zionsville, Starkey Park in Zionsville, Central Park in Carmel, and Daubenspeck Community Nature Park in Indianapolis. The field trip is free but limited to 10 participants. Registration is required. Priority registration is available to local ABAS members through January 10, 2021.
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. Depending on the rules at the time, masks will likely be required for most of the hike. There may be times we can spread out and take a quick break from the masks. Check the ABAS calendar to be sure the hike isn’t 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 to start.
Smith’s Longspur Field Trip – Lye Creek Prairie Burn – FULL
Lye Creek Prairie Burn 240 East County Road 650 North, Cherry Grove, IN, United StatesJoin Indiana birder and photographer Shari McCollough 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. We may be joined by Clint Murray who owns the property and manages it specifically for the Longspurs and other birds. The field trip is limited to 12 participants and registration is required.
Spring Migrant Bird Hike at Sargent Road Nature Park – FULL
Sargent Road Nature Park 8101 Sargent Rd, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin us as Earl Simon leads us through Sargent Road Nature Park (SRNP). Earl is a member of the board of the Mud Creek Conservancy which is instrumental in the development of SRNP. This will be prime time for viewing warblers and other migrants. The terrain is flat with a mowed trail for easy accessibility. Dress appropriately for the weather conditions and don't forget your binoculars. There are no restrooms available at the park. The field trip is limited to 12 participants and registration is required.