ABAS Event Calendar
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 – Volunteer Training
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesABAS is making it easy to volunteer with our Volunteer Training Program. Each session will focus on a different topic designed to provide volunteers with hands-on opportunities to gain the knowledge and skills needed to help with chapter programs and events. No experience needed, open to individuals age 16+.
Fort Harrison State Park Fall Migration Walks
Fort Harrison State Park 6000 North Post Rd, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesFall migration is lively and full of warblers, raptors, sparrows, and other songbirds. During the walk, your leader will point out birds seen and heard and provide details on how to identify cryptic fall warblers, drab flycatchers, and LBJ’s, or Little Brown Jobs, also known as sparrows. Walks are approximately 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 at 8:00 am. Masks or some face covering should be with you and it is strongly encouraged during the walk.
Fall Birding at Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge 12985 East US Highway 50, Seymour, IN, United StatesJoin ABAS Education Chair Jessica Helmbold for a day of celebrating the best of fall. Southern Indiana fall colors, fall waterfowl migration, and lunch after the outing. Duck migration should be well underway and many species are expected to be present in the refuge. Meet at the Muscatatuck Visitors Center. Lunch will be at a local eatery with the location to be determined. There will be no fee for the field trip and it's open to the public. Registration is not required but greatly appreciated. Masks will be required for the majority of the hike. There may be times when we can spread out and get a quick break from the masks.
Eagle Creek – Bird Hikes
Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center 6515 Delong Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesEach Sunday year round at Eagle Creek Park. Meet at 9:00 am at the Ornithology Center. This event is free, though a gate fee to Eagle Creek Park applies.
Holliday Park Bird Hike
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin us at Holliday Park for a bird hike through the woods and along the White River. Beginning birders welcome! Depending on the rules at the time, masks will likely be required for most of the hike. There may be times we can spread out and take a quick break from the masks. Check the ABAS calendar to be sure the hike isn't canceled.
Beckenholdt Family Park
Beckenholdt Family Park 2770 North Franklin St, Greenfield, IN, United StatesJoin the Greenfield Birders for a bird hike. Beginners are welcome.
Fort Harrison State Park Fall Migration Walks
Fort Harrison State Park 6000 North Post Rd, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesFall migration is lively and full of warblers, raptors, sparrows, and other songbirds. During the walk, your leader will point out birds seen and heard and provide details on how to identify cryptic fall warblers, drab flycatchers, and LBJ’s, or Little Brown Jobs, also known as sparrows. Walks are approximately 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 at 8:00 am. Masks or some face covering should be with you and it is strongly encouraged during the walk.
Eagle Creek – Bird Hikes
Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center 6515 Delong Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesEach Sunday year round at Eagle Creek Park. Meet at 9:00 am at the Ornithology Center. This event is free, though a gate fee to Eagle Creek Park applies.
Celery Bog Nature Area Field Trip (Full)
Celery Bog Nature Area 1620 Lindberg Rd, West Lafayette, IN, United StatesRegistration is full. Join ABAS Field Trip Chair Chuck Anderson for a field trip to Celery Bog Nature Area. This will be a great opportunity to view waterfowl and year-round resident birds. Target birds are waterfowl, including Northern Pintail, Redhead, and Canvasback ducks, with a possibility of spotting a Long-tailed Duck. Snow Goose and Greater White-fronted Goose also frequent the bog. There is no fee for the field trip. However, it is limited to 12 participants, and registration is required. Masks will likely be required for most of the trip. There may be times when we can spread out and take a break from the masks.
Eagle Creek – Bird Hikes
Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center 6515 Delong Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesEach Sunday year round at Eagle Creek Park. Meet at 9:00 am at the Ornithology Center. This event is free, though a gate fee to Eagle Creek Park applies.
Eagle Creek – Bird Hikes
Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center 6515 Delong Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesEach Sunday year round at Eagle Creek Park. Meet at 9:00 am at the Ornithology Center. This event is free, though a gate fee to Eagle Creek Park applies.
Indiana’s Rare Plants
Zoom Meeting IN, United StatesJoin Roger Hedge for an online program about Indiana’s rare plants. From oak savannas, prairies, dunes, and natural lakes of northern Indiana, to southern Indiana’s forested hills, glades, barrens, and cypress swamps, our state has a rich biodiversity. These and other Indiana natural communities support a spectacular array of plant and animal species, including nearly 450 vascular plants that are considered endangered or threatened in the state. Many of these species occur on dedicated state nature preserves and other public lands. The Indiana Natural Heritage Data Center in tracks and monitors these rare species and high-quality natural communities. Roger Hedge is an ecologist and botanist with the data center. This will be an online program using Zoom. Participants will register using Eventbrite and there will be a limit of 100.
Sandhill Cranes at Jasper-Pulaski
Jasper-Pulaski FWA Headqaurters 5822 Fish & Wildlife Lane, Medaryville, IN, United StatesJoin ABAS Field Trip Chair, Chuck Anderson, for a trip to Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area (FWA). This will be a great opportunity to view thousands of Sandhill Cranes as they congregate in Goose Pasture before returning to the roosting marshes. There’s always a possibility of spotting a Whooping Crane among the Sandhills. We’ll meet at 4:00 pm at the Sandhill Crane Observation Platform parking lot located on County Rd 1650W, 1 mile past the park’s headquarters entrance. Follow the very visible signage. Bring binoculars and spotting scope if you have one. The trip is limited to 10 participants, and registration is required. Masks will likely be required during most of the viewing as this is a very popular location for observing the cranes.
Eagle Creek – Bird Hikes
Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center 6515 Delong Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesEach Sunday year round at Eagle Creek Park. Meet at 9:00 am at the Ornithology Center. This event is free, though a gate fee to Eagle Creek Park applies.
Holliday Park Bird Hike
Holliday Park Nature Center 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesJoin us at Holliday Park for a bird hike through the woods and along the White River. Beginning birders welcome! Depending on the rules at the time, masks will likely be required for most of the hike. There may be times we can spread out and take a quick break from the masks. Check the ABAS calendar to be sure the hike isn't canceled.
Eagle Creek – Bird Hikes
Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center 6515 Delong Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesEach Sunday year round at Eagle Creek Park. Meet at 9:00 am at the Ornithology Center. This event is free, though a gate fee to Eagle Creek Park applies.
Fall Birding at Goose Pond (Full)
Goose Pond FWA Visitor Center 13540 West County Road 400 South, Linton, IN, United StatesJoin accomplished birders Whitney and Jonathan Yoerger for a late afternoon field trip to Goose Pond Fish & Wildlife Area (FWA) in search of waterfowl and raptors. In addition to viewing multiple species of ducks and geese, we should see Northern Harriers hunting low over the fields. Just before dusk, Short-eared Owls will likely appear. The is a limit of 10 participants and registration is required. The majority of the field trip will be by car with multiple stops to get out to view birds. Masks will be required when birding in close proximity to others.
Eagle Creek – Bird Hikes
Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center 6515 Delong Road, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesEach Sunday year round at Eagle Creek Park. Meet at 9:00 am at the Ornithology Center. This event is free, though a gate fee to Eagle Creek Park applies.
Newfields Bird Hike
Virginia B Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres at Newfields 1550 W 38th St, Indianapolis, IN, United StatesABAS is excited to partner with The Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park at Newfields for bird hikes on this beautiful property along the White River and Central Canal. The first hike will be led by ABAS President Rob Ripma. Meet at Lake Terrace in the Virginia B. Fairbanks Art & Nature Park: 100 Acres. The hike is free and open to the public. Registration is requested by emailing us at info@amosbutleraudubon.org. Join us as we explore the nesting species of this wonderful property.