Eagle Creek Bird Hikes
2026-04-05 09:00 - 11:00, 2026-04-12 09:00 - 11:00, 2026-04-19 09:00 - 11:00, 2026-04-26 09:00 - 11:00, 2026-05-03 09:00 - 11:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center, 6515 Delong Road, Indianapolis, IN, 46278, United States
Each Sunday year-round at Eagle Creek Park. Meet us at 9:00 am at the Ornithology Center.
This event is free, though a gate fee to Eagle Creek Park applies.

Cool Creek Beginning Bird Hike
2026-04-08 08:30 - 09:30, 2026-04-12 08:30 - 09:30, 2026-04-15 08:30 - 09:30, 2026-04-22 08:30 - 09:30, 2026-04-26 08:30 - 09:30, 2026-04-29 08:30 - 09:30 | Cool Creek Nature Center, 2000-1 East 151st St, Carmel, IN, 46033, United States
Birds are fascinating and watching them can be an awe-inspiring experience. Catching a glimpse of these gorgeous creatures can be frustrating. Learning how to identify all of them can be overwhelming Join a Hamilton Co Parks Naturalist and other guest leaders Sunday and Wednesday mornings and we will learn together. This will be a great opportunity for birdwatchers of all levels. You may begin anytime during the season and come as often as you like. Pre-registration is not required. Don’t forget your binoculars!
These hikes meet in the north parking lot of Cool Creek Park past the Nature Center.

Beckenholdt Park Bird Hike
2026-04-11 08:00 - 10:00 | Beckenholdt Family Park, 2770 North Franklin St, Greenfield, IN, 46140, United States
Join the Greenfield Birders for a bird hike. Beginners are welcome.
These walks are opportunities to meet other birders, hopefully see new birds, have new experiences, and learn from each other. All walks are weather pending. You can keep up to date with any changes, rescheduling, or local bird happenings by searching “Greenfield Birders” on Facebook. Feel free to join! For questions about these events, contact Adam by emailing nikonbirdhunter@gmail.com.

Cool Creek Bird Hike
2026-04-11 08:30 - 10:00, 2026-04-18 08:00 - 10:00, 2026-04-25 08:00 - 10:00, 2026-05-02 08:00 - 10:00, 2026-05-09 08:00 - 10:00 | Cool Creek Nature Center, 2000-1 East 151st St, Carmel, IN, 46033, United States
Join expert birder Keith Starling each Saturday for a hike through Cool Creek.
No registration is required.
Meet in the north parking lot past the Nature Center.

Lye Creek Prairie Burn for Smith’s Longspur and other Spring Migrants
2026-04-11 08:30 - 11:00 | Lye Creek Prairie Burn, 240 East County Road 650 North, Cherry Grove, IN, 47933, United States
Join outstanding birder and hike leader, Nick Kiehl, for a morning at Lye Creek Prairie Burn in search of spring migrants and Smith’s Longspur. “The Burn” is located in Montgomery County and is a reliable place for viewing Smith’s Longspurs in Indiana.

This field trip is limited to 12 participants and registration is required. Priority registration is available to ABAS members until March 15, but non-members should sign up early, as once registration is open, it is first come first serve. When you sign up, please indicate if you are a member or not and include your phone number. The phone number is in case of needing to cancel due to weather. The trails at The Burn can be muddy and wet so appropriate boots and gear are recommended. To register, email Laurie Voss at laurievoss25@gmail.com.

The Burn is on County Road 650 N in Montgomery County near Crawfordsville. To get there from I74 take the US 231 exit and go north just under 3 miles to County Road 550 N. Take a right on County Road 550 N for just over a mile to County Road 150 E. Take a left on County Road 150 E and continue to County Road 650 N. Take a right on County Road 650 N for less than a mile to The Burn which will be on your right. Look for the tree line that runs north and south. The GPS coordinates are: 40.135048, -86.863575

What: Lye Creek Prairie Burn Spring Field Trip
When: Saturday, April 11, 2026 from 8:30-11:00 am
Where: Lye Creek Prairie Burn, Montgomery County
Register: laurievoss25@gmail.com

Plant Patrol
2026-04-11 10:00 - 12:00 | Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center, 6515 Delong Road, Indianapolis, IN, 46278, United States
Let’s come together this wildflower weekend to make a beloved park a cleaner, greener place for us and our avian friends by removing invasive species.
Participants 18 and under must be supervised. RSVP is required.
Register for this event by emailing pat.stutz@indy.gov

Fort Harrison State Park Spring Migration Walks
2026-04-12 08:00 - 10:00, 2026-04-19 08:00 - 10:00, 2026-04-26 08:00 - 10:00, 2026-05-03 08:00 - 10:00 | Fort Harrison State Park, 6000 North Post Rd, Indianapolis, IN, 46216, United States
Join Don Gorney for his spring migration bird walks at Ft. Harrison. During the walk, Don will point out birds seen and heard and provide details on how to identify spring warblers. Walks are ninety minutes to two hours on relatively even terrain. There is no fee for the walk but standard gate admission applies. Meet in the northeast corner of the Delaware Lake parking lot. Waterproof footwear is recommended for walking through dewy grass. For more information, contact Don at dongorney@yahoo.com.

April program: Birds of Austrailia
2026-04-14 07:30 - 20:30 | Holliday Park Nature Center, 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, 46260, United States
It truly was a trip of a lifetime. Join Barb Jablonski and Laurie Voss as they share their unforgettable adventure “down under,” exploring the stunning country and continent of Australia.
Australia is home to birds and mammals found nowhere else on Earth. We had hoped—but never truly expected—to see some of its most remarkable wildlife up close: the Southern Cassowary, the duck-billed Platypus, the critically endangered Orange-bellied Parrot, Koalas, Echidnas, a Tree Kangaroo, and more.
From the beautiful beaches of Cairns to the Great Barrier Reef, with memorable stops along the way to Tasmania, Barb and Laurie will share photographs and stories they hope will inspire you to discover this extraordinary country and the birds and mammals that call it home.

Holliday Park Bird Hike
2026-04-21 08:00 - 10:30 | Holliday Park Nature Center, 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, 46260, United States
Join us at Holliday Park for a bird hike through the woods and along the White River. Meet in front of the nature center. For more information call (317) 327-7180. Beginning birders welcome!

Brandywine Park Hike
2026-04-25 08:00 - 10:00 | Brandywine Park, 900 East Davis Rd, Greenfield, IN, 46140, United States

Carpenter Nature Preserve Field Trip (ABAS Exclusive Entrance)
2026-05-02 08:30 - 11:00 | Carpenter Nature Preserve, 601 S. 900 East, Zionsville, 46077, United States
Join outstanding birder and hike leader, Jonathan Bontrager, for a pre-grand opening opportunity to explore the Carpenter Nature Preserve in Zionsville, IN. The preserve, which was formerly Wolf Run Golf Course, is a 215-acre area that has been a project between the mayor of Zionsville, Jim and Nancy Carpenter of Wild Birds Unlimited, and the Zionsville Parks and Recreation Department. It is designed to be a sanctuary for wildlife that includes enhanced wetlands, woodlands, and prairies. Eagle Creek runs along the eastern portion of the park and should be a nice riparian habitat.

Amos Butler Audubon Society has been given special permission to visit the park before it opens up, so we are asked to stay in areas that they deem safe. However, it is close to completion so many of the trails and boardwalks should be completed.

The hike is on Saturday, May 2 and will run from 8:00 am to 11:00 am. The address for the park is 601 S. 900 East, Zionsville, IN 46077. There should be a Park Monument sign to direct you to the entrance and drive back to the parking lot where we will meet.

There is a 10 participant limit so sign up early. To sign up, please email laurievoss25@gmail.com and please include your phone number and whether or not you are a member. ABAS members will have priority before April 15. Non-members will be added first come first serve after April 15, but sign up early to get on the list.

What: Pre-opening hike at the new Carpenter Nature Preserve
When: May 2, 2026 from 8:00-11:00 am
Where: Carpenter Nature Preserve. 601 S. 900 East, Zionsville, IN 46077
Register: laurievoss25@gmail.com

Strawtown Koteewi Park - Beginning Bird Hikes
2026-05-06 08:30 - 09:30 | Strawtown Koteewi Park, 12308 Strawtown Avenue, Noblesville, IN, 46060, United States
Birds are fascinating and watching them can be an awe-inspiring experience. Catching a glimpse of these gorgeous creatures can be frustrating. Learning how to identify all of them can be overwhelming. Join a Hamilton Co Parks Naturalist or other guest leaders the first Wednesday of each month and we will learn together. This will be a great opportunity for birdwatchers of all levels.
Meet in the parking lot of the Taylor Center of Natural History.
Pre-registration is not required. Don’t forget your binoculars!

Thornwood Nature Preserve Bird Hike
2026-05-09 08:00 - 10:00 | Thornwood Nature Preserve, 1597 South Morristown Pike, Greenfield, IN, 46140, United States

Global Big Day at Prophetstown SP with Thirty, Birdy & Thriving
2026-05-09 08:00 - 10:00 | Prophetstown State Park, 5545 Swisher Road, West Lafayette, 47906, United States
The best way to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day, also known as Global Big Day, is counting birds (—for science) with your peeps. And since it is peak spring migration, your trusty TBT leader Olivia Bautch is taking you out of the region to meet up with outstanding Tippecanoe County birder, Vivek Govind Kumar, who will lead this field trip at Prophetstown State Park.

Prophetstown SP is home to interpretive history, camping, and aquatics, but we’re here for the sprawling grasslands, wetlands, and young forest tracts that draw both exciting migrants and vulnerable breeding birds. Blue Grosbeak, Dickcissel, Sedge Wren, Yellow-breasted Chat, Northern Bobwhite, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, and Ring-necked Pheasant are just some of the special species across stops at this park.

Several pairs of binoculars will be available for those who need them. We may caravan between stops. Trail surfaces include wide paved trails (find access information here) and crushed gravel paths along the grassland, and narrow dirt trails with many inclines/declines in the forest/wetland. Our route and stops will vary based on day-of bird productivity, and more information will be emailed to participants closer to the event. We will do our best to ensure any special needs are met, so do not hesitate to ask about accommodations!

The Thirty, Birdy & Thriving group is designed for bird-lovers age 20-40, as a space to observe birds with new friends from the Central Indiana community. To register, email Olivia Bautch at falcon_515@outlook.com, stating if you are a ABAS member or not.
This program is limited to 12 participants and is free, but there is a gate fee per vehicle for the state park. To lower the fee for everyone, we will meet at the shops off I-65 in West Lafayette at 7:50am and carpool about 10 minutes into the park. Please bring $2 to contribute to the gate fee for your car.

Pre-registration is required. ABAS members get priority registration until April 25, but non-members should sign up early, as once registration is open, it is first come first serve.

What: Global Big Day at Prophetstown SP with Thirty, Birdy & Thriving
When: Saturday, May 9, 2026 from 8:00-10:00 am
Where: Prophetstown State Park. 5545 Swisher Road, West Lafayette, IN 47906
Register: falcon_515@outlook.com
