ABAS Event Calendar
Monthly Program
Guatemala: A Birder’s Paradise
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin ABAS President and Sabrewing Nature Tours owner, Rob Ripma, as he takes us on a photographic journey though the incredible country of Guatemala. Not only is Guatemala a birder’s paradise with species such as Pink-headed Warbler and Horned Guan, it’s also one of the best countries in Central America to experience the ancient Mayan culture. From the UNESCO World Heritage site of Antigua to the ancient Tikal ruins, there are numerous fascinating cultural and historic sites to see. Combine that with a wonderful diversity of birds, and Guatemala is a country that you don’t want to miss!
“Jeop-birdy” with Wes Homoya
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesWes Homoya, a native Hoosier, is an avid birder, tour guide, conservationist, and bartender, among other things. His travels and ornithological employments have allowed him to live and bird in places as varied as Maui, Brazil, the Galapagos, Hungary, SE Asia, and Ecuador. Come and test your avian skills playing one of the world's most beloved game shows.
Coffee – A History and Conservation
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJessica Helmbold, ABAS Education Chair, loves coffee. Most people love coffee, though are most people as obsessed with coffee as she is? Jessica presents the history of coffee, and how to select and brew the best coffees. Clearing land for the production of staple crops such as bananas, pineapples, and coffee is one of the biggest threats to our rainforests. Coffee can grow in harmony with the rainforest. Learn how the small choices we make can make a difference. We will also sample different varieties of Rainforest Alliance coffees. Join us!
Bird Photography – Beyond the Snapshot
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin well known local birder and photographer, Ryan Sanderson, for an informative program on photographing birds. He will take us to the next steps, and show us how to go beyond just taking snapshots to something you might hang on your wall.
Hoosier Whooping Cranes
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Danielle Williams, Whooping Crane Outreach Program Assistant for Indiana for the International Crane Foundation (ICF), for an informative program about Whooping Cranes in Indiana. Did you know the tallest birds in North America winter right here in Indiana? Historically, this was not always the case. In this program, Danielle will discuss how the Whooping Crane made its amazing comeback from fewer than 20 individuals in the 1940s to over 800 today. Learn about the creative methods used to bring Whooping Cranes back to the eastern United States, the ongoing challenges associated with this effort, and what the ICF is doing to help these cranes right here in Indiana.
Birding The Nature Conservancy Properties in Indiana
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Matt Williams for our February program. As Director of Conservation Programs for The Nature Conservancy in Indiana, Matt will take us on a virtual tour of some of the Conservancy’s best properties around the state, and show us a photography slide show of some of the bird species that can be seen at these sites. Matt will also tell us a bit about his new book, Endangered and Disappearing Birds of the Midwest.
Birding in South Africa
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin ABAS member, shutterbug, and local birder Doug Vine as he presents photo highlights from his recent visit to South Africa. African creatures are majestic and awe-inspiring, and so are the birds! Doug's trip included a Capetown-based pelagic trip, and safaris into Kruger National Park, the Karoo, and KwaZulu-Natal regions.
Why Bird Feeding Makes a Difference
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin ABAS Board Director Brian Cunningham for an informative program about feeding the birds. Anyone who has ever fed wild birds knows that it can bring joy to their lives. But, does bird feeding just benefit people? Do the birds become dependent on the food we provide? We’ll take a look at what we have learned from various scientific studies and citizen science data on why feeding wild birds makes a difference for the health and well-being of people and for our backyard feathered visitors.
Ornithology Center Celebrates Ten Years!
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesFor 10 years, the Eagle Creek Ornithology Center has provided top notch bird-based education to the city of Indianapolis and beyond. Join Ornithology Center Manager Will Schaust as he updates members on improvements to the center, ABAS funded projects, the 10 year anniversary of the "OC", and answers your questions.
White River Vision Plan
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Brad Beaubien, Long Range Planning Administrator for the City of Indianapolis, as he presents an update on the White River Vision Plan.
Indiana Raptor Center
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesWho doesn’t love raptors? And, who doesn’t love learning more about them? Join us as we host the Indiana Raptor Center alongside some of their Education Ambassadors ... raptors! The presentation will introduce you to the world of raptors along with some of the current projects of the Center. ABAS Birdathon grants have supported the Center each year since 2015.
Birds of Great Britain
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Jessica Helmbold, ABAS Education Chair, as she unravels the mystery surrounding birds of Great Britain. How are British birds similar or different from US birds? Hint: it's not their accents! Step into the avian world of our neighbors across the pond.
Antarctica Field Research
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Dan Boritt, Holliday Park Manager, for an informative discussion of the time he spent doing field research in Antarctica. Weddell Seals inhabit one of the most inhospitable places on earth. How can they reproduce in such a place? How do people live there? Come and learn how these seals survive, how the researchers survive, and some chance encounters with the few birds that call this land home!
The Best of Birding in Central America – Which Country is Right for You?
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin ABAS President and Sabrewing Nature Tours owner Rob Ripma as he explains what factors you should consider when deciding which country in Central America you want to visit. From birding and experiencing the culture of Guatemala to discovering the remote and exciting Darién province in Panama, Rob will help you explore all the best birding options in this incredible region!
The Secret Love Life of Birds
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin John and Will Schaust as they share research on the pair-bonding strategy of birds through some fascinating facts and humorous analogies to our own crazy courtship behaviors.
A Season on the Wind – Spring Migration through the Midwest
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesEvery spring, billions of birds go sweeping northward across North America. This vast parade of small migrants was the subject of Kenn Kaufman's book A Season on the Wind, published in April 2019. Although the book focused on the concentrations of migratory birds in the Magee Marsh area of northern Ohio, in this program Kenn will talk about larger patterns of spring bird movements throughout the Midwest, including central Indiana.
A Season on the Wind – Spring Migration through the Midwest
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesEvery spring, billions of birds go sweeping northward across North America. This vast parade of small migrants was the subject of Kenn Kaufman's book A Season on the Wind, published in April 2019. Although the book focused on the concentrations of migratory birds in the Magee Marsh area of northern Ohio, in this program Kenn will talk about larger patterns of spring bird movements throughout the Midwest, including central Indiana.
Canceled – Bird Rehabilitation
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Liz Hatton for an informative discussion of bird rehabilitation. Located in Westfield, Liz has been a DNR permitted wildlife rehabilitator since 1995. Her husband, Chris, joined her in 1991. Last year they registered over 800 birds for rehabilitation. She will have a few live birds that aren't candidates to be released and will demonstrate feeding techniques with some young birds if possible.
Canceled – The Dark Side of Lepidoptera
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Amanda Smith, Superintendent of Natural Resources and Education for the Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Department, for an informative discussion about the dark side of Lepidoptera, specifically moths. They make up 90% of the Order of Lepidoptera, however, they share very little of the excitement or appreciation that surrounds their more popular cousins, the butterflies. Moths are critical to the food webs, extremely diverse, understudied, and many are more striking than the prettiest butterfly. In this program we will discuss moth identification, their importance in the ecosystem, how to attract them, tips on moth photography, and provide connections to resources and projects geared to helping people learn about these fascinating and yet often overlooked insects.
Canceled – Bird Rehabilitation
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin Liz Hatton for an informative discussion of bird rehabilitation. Located in Westfield, Liz has been a DNR permitted wildlife rehabilitator since 1995. Her husband, Chris, joined her in 1991. Last year they registered over 800 birds for rehabilitation. She will have a few live birds that aren't candidates to be released and will demonstrate feeding techniques with some young birds if possible.