ABAS Event Calendar
Field Trips
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.
Kankakee Sands Field Trip
Meet at Dick's Sporting Goods 6030 West 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Scott Enochs as he leads you on a trip to Kankakee Sands in search of breeding sparrows. Targets for the trip will include Song, Field, Vesper, Henslow’s, Grasshopper and Lark Sparrows. We will seek out other species as well like Orchard Oriole and Blue Grosbeak. We will meet at the Dick’s Sporting Goods in Indianapolis and carpool to Kankakee Sands. Walking will be minimal, and we will likely stay close to the roads. Please contact Scott at 317-850-4801 or msenochs@comcast.net if you have any questions. Registration is not required, but is appreciated. This event is free and open to the public.
Lebanon Business Park Sparrow Field Trips
Lebanon Business Park - Meet at Dick's Sporting Goods 6030 West 86th St, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Scott Enochs as he leads you on a field trip to a local hot spot in search of resident sparrows. Our target sparrows will be Song, Field, Swamp, Lincoln's, Vesper, White-throated, White-crowned, Nelson's, and LeConte's. Participants will have their choice on which day to attend, but space will be limited to 10 people each date, and each participant may only attend one of the dates. There are two dates - Saturday and Sunday. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
Lebanon Business Park Sparrow Field Trips
Lebanon Business Park - Meet at Dick's Sporting Goods 6030 West 86th St, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Scott Enochs as he leads you on a field trip to a local hot spot in search of resident sparrows. Our target sparrows will be Song, Field, Swamp, Lincoln's, Vesper, White-throated, White-crowned, Nelson's, and LeConte's. Participants will have their choice on which day to attend, but space will be limited to 10 people each date, and each participant may only attend one of the dates. There are two dates - Saturday and Sunday. REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED.
Wetland Birding Workshop at Muscatatuck NWR
Muscatatuck NWR 12985 East US Highway 50, Seymour, IN, United StatesJoin ABAS Education Chair, Jessica Helmbold, for a workshop on wetland birds at Muscatatuck NWR. It will be a half day workshop ending with lunch at the visitor center around 1:00 pm. If you'd like to stay for lunch, please bring a brown bag or cooler lunch.
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.
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.
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.
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 – 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.
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.
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.
Kankakee Sands Sparrow Field Trip
Meet at Dick's Sporting Goods 6030 West 86th Street, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Mark Welter as he leads you on a trip to Kankakee Sands in search of breeding sparrows. Kankakee Sands is a birder’s paradise for nesting prairie species. The 7,000+ acres are actively being restored to a natural prairie habitat under the protection of The Nature Conservancy. Targets for the trip will include Song, Field, Vesper, Henslow’s, Grasshopper, and Lark Sparrows. We will seek out additional species known to nest at Kankakee Sands such as Orchard Oriole and Blue Grosbeak. Meet at 6:00 am at the Dick’s Sporting Goods located at 6030 West 86th Street and carpool to Kankakee Sands. The majority of this trip will be done birding by car and walking will be minimal. Participants can expect to return to Indy around 3:00 pm. Contact Mark at shooter2_indy@yahoo.com if you have any questions.
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.
Fall Sparrow Field Trip at Lebanon Business Park
Lebanon Business Park - Meet at Dick's Sporting Goods 6030 West 86th St, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Scott Enochs as he leads you on a field trip to a local hotspot in search of resident and migratory sparrows. Our target sparrows will be Song, Field, Swamp, Lincoln’s, Vesper, White-throated, White-crowned, Nelson’s and LeConte’s. Due to parking limitations, group size will be limited to 12 participants.
CILTI Hike at the Fred and Dorothy Meyer Nature Preserve
CILTI Fred and Dorothy Nature Preserve 2600 N Old State Rd 67, Martinsville, IN, United StatesJoin the Central Indiana Land Trust (CILTI) for a fall hike at the Fred and Dorothy Meyer Preserve. This is a moderately difficult hike with some slopes and steep areas. The hike should present a beautiful sneak peek of fall colors in this Morgan County forest. This hike will be led by CILTI’s Stewardship Manager, Jamison Hutchins. The trail is considered moderate and appropriate for hikers who can handle some steep hills. Space is limited for this hike, so please register.
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. Enjoy southern Indiana fall colors, fall waterfowl migration, and delicious hot fall beverages along with snacks and lunch at the picturesque Stream Cliff Farm Farm Winery in Commiskey, Indiana. Registration is requested by emailing Jessica at jh_beagle@hotmail.com. Please indicate if you plan to join us for lunch so we can make reservations at the restaurant. For those interested in carpooling, we will be meeting at 7:30 am at the Wal-Mart at County Line and Emerson. It's exit 101 off I-65. If you'd like to meet us at the refuge we'll be there between 8:30 am and 9:00 am.
CILTI Hike at Portland Arch
Portland Arch Nature Preserve 1332-1598 W Scout Camp Rd, Covington, IN, United StatesWalk off your turkey and stuffing with Central Indiana Land Trust (CILTI) as Executive Director Cliff Chapman leads us on a Black Friday hike through this stunning Fountain County nature preserve. Owned and managed by the Indiana Division of Nature Preserves, Portland Arch features a dramatic sandstone gorge, a lovely creek, and several different habitats: forest, open prairie, spring-seep wetlands, and savannas. This is a rugged hike with some challenging terrain. Participants should wear sturdy shoes for hiking. Conditions may be muddy or wet. Space is limited for this hike, so please register. Register at CILTI’s event page. Contact CILTI at info@conservingindiana.org for any questions, or to be put on the waiting list if spaces are full.