Join ABAS Education Chair Jessica Helmbold as she leads you around Atterbury and Driftwood Fish & Wildlife Areas (FWAs) in Edinburgh, IN in search of spring migrants such as warblers and waterfowl. Jessica is the naturalist for Indy Parks and Recreation at Garfield Park Conservatory on the Southside of Indianapolis. She has been a Southside Indianapolis resident for many years and has lived in Franklin and Columbus as well, so she knows Atterbury and Driftwood FWAs very well. Johnson County has many great birding spots and she is excited to share some of them with fellow ABAS birders.

We’ll meet at the parking area on the south side of Pisgah Lake at Atterbury FWA at 8:00 am. Here is a link to the property for reference: https://tinyurl.com/ABASAtterburyApril24.

Coming from the south on IN-31, one would turn left/west onto (Old) Hospital Rd. towards Nineveh. This is the same spot where  IN-252 would go right/east towards Edinburgh. From (Old) Hospital Road, turn right/north on Mauxferry Rd. and take it until it dead-ends in the parking area.

Coming from the north on IN-31, one would turn right/west onto (Old) Hospital Rd. towards Nineveh. This is the same spot where  IN-252 would go right/east towards Edinburgh. From (Old) Hospital Road, turn right/north on Mauxferry Rd. and take it until it dead-ends in the parking area.

These latitude and longitude coordinates may be helpful:  39.385124, -86.020288

We will start at Atterbury and if time allows and people are interested, we will go to the nearby Driftwood WFA on US-31 in Edinburgh. There are not many official trails at Atterbury, so most of the birding will be done on FWA roads, which are paved, so rugged terrain is not really expected. Driftwood will be mostly road birding as well, however, there is a trail around Plover Pit that may be included if time allows. That trail is far from rugged as well. We will expect to finish between 12:30 pm to 1:00 pm. Everyone will be on their own afterward, but those who are interested can also go to lunch nearby.

The field trip is free but is limited to 12 participants and registration is required.  Priority registration is available to ABAS members through April 9, 2022.  After that date, if any open spots remain, non-members may register. If you wish to carpool, please make that known at the time of your registration and we’ll try to accommodate.  To reserve your spot on the field trip email Chuck Anderson at chucka1999@aol.com or text Chuck at (317) 767-5438.

Dress appropriately for the weather conditions. Don’t forget your binoculars and bring a scope if you have one. If you have any questions, please email Chuck Anderson at chucka1999@aol.com or Jessica Helmbold at jh_beagle@hotmail.com

Black-and-white Warbler courtesy of Chuck Anderson.