Join Mark Welter at Sodalis Nature Park in Hendricks County in search of migrating warblers and other Spring arrivals!

In 2011, a collaborative effort among Hendricks County Parks & Recreation, the Indianapolis Airport Authority and the US Fish & Wildlife Service established Sodalis Nature Park in southeastern Hendricks County. This 210-acre tract lies within 2200 acres of land acquired by the Airport Authority for the purpose of wetland conservation and habitat protection for the endangered Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis), after which the park is named.

Once opened to the public, Sodalis quickly became known as one of the most productive birding hotspots in Hendricks County. 158 species have been recorded there according to eBird records, including 34 warbler species, 12 sparrow species, and all the vireo, swallow and woodpecker species expected in Indiana. In addition to migrants, we will also target some of the species that breed in the park. One of the park’s specialties is Prairie Warbler. Territorial males can usually be seen and heard along the Oak Trace trail. If we are lucky, we may also discover whether the Mississippi Kites that nested in the park last year have returned.

Sodalis Nature Park is located at 7700 S. Co. Rd. 975E, Plainfield IN 46168. Participants will meet in the parking lot at 8:30am; trip is expected to take 2-3 hours. Trails through the park are a mix of gravel and dirt and are normally an easy walk, but interior trails can become very muddy after even moderate rain, making access problematic. Appropriate footwear is recommended.