2023 Eagle Creek Bird Fest with Indy Parks and Recreation

THURSDAY, MAY 4th

Ornithology Center open 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

9:00-11:30 am Hideaway Hike with Aidan Rominger, Location: Eagle’s Hideaway, Pre-registration required at indyparks.org - program #29898 - Join Aidan for this spring migrant hike, starting at Eagle’s Hideaway and possibly hiking all the way to Eagle's Crest and back. FREE but pre-registration is required. Trail: moderate, woods and fields, not ADA or stroller accessible, up to 5 miles

12:00-12:30 pm May the 4th Be with You: Obi the Barn Owl, Location: Ornithology Center - Celebrate Star Wars Day and the beginning of Bird Fest by joining for this special training demonstration with Obi the Barn Owl Ambassador at the Ornithology Center, who was adopted on May 4th, 2021.

12:30-2:00 pm May the 4th Be with You: Craft & Storytime, Location: Ornithology Center - Celebrate Star Wars Day and the beginning of Bird Fest with themed crafts, stories, and activities after the 12:00 Obi the Barn Owl training demonstration.

3:00-4:00 pm Bark & Birds Tree Hike, Location: Ornithology Center - Join naturalist, Pat Stutz, to learn about the trees and birds we find in Eagle Creek Park. Trail: easy, 0.5 miles, fairly accessible

5:30-7:30 pm Coffee & Canvas, Location: Eagle’s Hideaway, Pre-registration required at indyparks.org - program #29899 - Celebrate Bird Fest with this bird-themed, step-by-step painting class and bird-friendly coffee. Adults only. $25/person. All art supplies, hot drinks, and snacks will be provided.

FRIDAY, MAY 5th

Ornithology Center open 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

8:00-10:00 am  Inclusive and Accessible Birding, Location: Bear Overlook - Join West Side manager Sam Newkirk for accessible birding at the Bear Overlook. We will hike the Bear Overlook ADA loop trail twice—first starting at 8:00 am and then again at 9:00 am. The trail is ADA-compliant compacted stone with a maximum grade of 5%. The loop is 0.7 miles long—if you plan to hike the loop twice it will be 1.4 miles total. There is no running water at this site, but a chair-friendly port-a-let will be available for use. Groups will gather at the Galyan’s Bear statue. There are automated gates at this location - be prepared to scan an Eagle Creek Park Pass or pay $5 with a credit card for parking when you enter this location (sorry, but cash is not accepted for parking). If you need specific accommodations to enhance your experience, please do not hesitate to email Samuel.Newkirk@indy.gov prior to this event.

10:00-11:30 am Birding with Don Gorney, Location: Skating Pond - Join Indy birder, Don Gorney at the Skating Pond to have a chance at seeing multiple spring migrants. This could include migrant warblers, thrushes, flycatchers and more! Trail: 1 mile, easy, grass and forest, could be wet/muddy

12:00-1:30 pm Adventures in Bird Training, Location: Ornithology Center - Have you ever wondered how the Ornithology Center trains their Raptor Ambassadors? Learn about animal behavior and contemporary animal training methods from OC Manager Jenna McElroy, followed by a training demonstration with Hazel the American Kestrel.

2:00-2:30 pm Falcon Friday, Location: Ornithology Center - Witness Freyja, the Peregrine Falcon ambassador, eat her favorite food - chicken! Learn about her and the peregrine conservation success story from her trainer and park volunteer, Donna McCarty.

5:00-6:30 pm Birding with Chuck Anderson, Location: Ornithology Center - Hike the Coffer Dam loop with the Amos Butler Audubon Society’s president Chuck Anderson. Trail: 2 miles, moderate with one hilly portion

7:30-9:00 pm Campfire and Owl Prowl with Wes Homoya, Location: Ornithology Center, Pre-registration required at indyparks.org - program #29903 - Join naturalists at the Ornithology Center for a family campfire before going on an owl-themed hike with a professional birder, Wes Homoya. Limited to first 40 registered. Trail: 1 mile, easy, but difficult in some spots for strollers

SATURDAY, MAY 6th

Ornithology Center open 10:00 am – 5:00 pm

8:00-9:30 am Warbler Watch, Location: Marina - Join Aidan at the Marina for an early morning warbler watch! This is a fantastic opportunity to observe and hear multiple migrant warbler species. We will meet in the parking lot and will plan to bird the road leading to the marina, and the peninsula for migrant warbler flocks!

10:00 am – 5:00 pm Activities, Crafts, & Tables at the Ornithology Center - Crafts, coloring, scavenger hunts, and interactive tables will be set up at the Ornithology Center (moved indoors if it’s raining) for all ages! Visit the raptor ambassadors, learn about the birds that visit the feeders, and explore our exhibits. The Migration Obstacle Course will also be open, as well as the Nature Play Room in-between other programs.

10:00 am – 12:00 pm Coffer Dam Hike with Donna McCarty, Location: Ornithology Center - Hike the Coffer Dam loop around the Bird Sanctuary with long-time park volunteer and experienced birder Donna McCarty. Trail: 2 miles, moderate with one hilly portion

10:00 am – 12:00 pm Open Water Birding, Location: Earth Discovery Center, Pre-registration required at indyparks.org: Canoe Rental #29901 or Bring Your Own Boat (BYOB) #29900 - Get ready for an open water birding extravaganza on Eagle Creek Reservoir. This event will focus on enjoying, finding, and identifying birds from a canoe or kayak. Participants can rent equipment ($25) or bring their own ($15) - pre-registration is required for one person per boat. Find more information at indyparks.org.

10:15-11:00 am Chickens Aren’t the Only Ones, Location: Earth Discovery Center - When someone says the word “egg,” a chicken egg is the vision that comes to mind, but birds aren’t the only animals who lay eggs. From insects to mammals (yes, mammals) there is a wide variety to eggs. This program will showcase the diversity of textures, colors, sizes, shapes, and laying locations. Come learn what makes eggs so eggs-traordinary and meet some of the animals that hatch from eggs.

11:30 am – 12:00 pm Eagles of Eagle Creek Park, Location: Ornithology Center - Meet Carson, the Bald Eagle Ambassador at the Ornithology Center, and learn about the conservation success story of eagles in Indiana and their populations in Eagle Creek Park.

12:00-1:30 pm Family Campfire Lunch, Location: Ornithology Center - Bring your own lunch and join us around the campfire!

12:00-2:00 pm North Loop Hike, Location: Ornithology Center - Join Aidan to bird the North Loop trail! We will focus on searching for any migrant shorebirds present on the north end mudflats, as well as any migrant songbirds we see along the trail. Trail: 2-3 miles, easy but muddy/wet.

1:00-2:00 pm Family Bird Hike, Location: Ornithology Center - Join the Nawrocki Family for a beautiful stroll around Lilly Lake. Trail: 1 mile, easy, but difficult in some spots for strollers

2:00-3:30 pm Fisherman’s Cove Hike, Location: Ornithology Center - Walk with a naturalist along the Edesess Trail down to Fisherman’s Cove to look for egrets, waterthrush, and other birds at the floating wetlands. Trail: 1.5 miles, moderate

2:00-3:30 pm Birding 101 Workshop, Location: Ornithology Center, Pre-registration encouraged at indyparks.org program #29763 - Have you always wanted to learn how to bird but weren’t sure where to start? Join a naturalist at the Ornithology Center for a workshop on birding for beginners! Learn birding tips and tricks like how to use binoculars, common Indiana bird identification, and what resources you can use to get started. This program will begin in the Ornithology Center classroom, and we will visit the OC feeders to identify birds visiting. Binoculars will be provided. Ages 12 and up. FREE with park admission but pre-registration is encouraged as the program is limited to 25 participants.

2:30-3:00 pm Raptor Feeding Time, Location: Ornithology Center - Watch one of the naturalists feed the birds of prey in their enclosures at the Ornithology Center. They eat quickly so don't be late!

3:30-4:30 pm Birds & Blooms, Location: Ornithology Center - Join the Nawrocki Family for a spring wildflower and bird walk. The exposed bluffs around the OC are home to shooting stars, fire pink, and other ephemerals that like living on the edge! The Beech-Maple forest also stays moist and shaded, providing a great home for ostrich fern, spring beauties, and wood poppies. Trail: 0.5-1 mile, easy fairly accessible

(4:00-4:30 pm Bats vs. Birds, EDC - CANCELED)

4:00-5:00 pm Storytime with Olivia, Location: Ornithology Center - Join Olivia for story time in the nature play room. Bird-themed books and activities for children of all ages!

6:00-8:00 pm Nature Open Mic, Location: Ornithology Center - Step up to the mic and share a story, poem, song, or any performance art piece inspired by nature. This is a family friendly event; all ages are welcome to perform and attend. No registration required - performers will add themselves to a cue at the open mic.

SUNDAY, MAY 7th

Ornithology Center open 1:00 pm – 5:00 pm

9:00-11:00 am Photography with Kevin Carlsen, Location: Ornithology Center, Pre-registration required at indyparks.org, program #29902 - Have you ever had an amazing wildlife encounter in nature and wanted to get the perfect photo? Join photographer Kevin Carlsen for a two-hour wildlife photography workshop! This beginner's workshop will include a lesson focusing on basic photography skills & tips, followed by photography practice at the bird feeders. $25/person. Bring your own camera!

9:00-11:00 am Amos Butler Audubon Society Birdwalk, Location: Ornithology Center - Join a group of new and experienced birders for a brisk morning bird walk! Meets every Sunday morning at 9:00 am, led by ABAS, rain or shine. Trail: various, depending on the group size and preference

11:00 am - 12:30 pm eBird Workshop, Location: Ornithology Center, Pre-registration encouraged at indyparks.org program #29765 - Calling all birders, beginning or experts! This eBird workshop will include step-by-step demonstrations on how to best use eBird across different platforms, how to easily keep track of the birds you’ve seen, as well as how to best use other eBird features such as viewing species population trends. We will offer a short birding hike after the classroom presentation, to get hands-on experience using the eBird app in the field. Ages 12 and up. All participants will need to create a personal eBird account (which is free) prior to attending, as well as bring a charged smart-phone, tablet, or computer. FREE with park admission but pre-registration is encouraged as the program is limited to 25 participants.

12:00-1:00 pm Brave Birder’s Hike, Location: Ornithology Center - Calling all LGBTQ+ birders and allies to a community bird watching event. The hike is facilitated by two naturalists who identify within the LGBTQ+ community and is meant to be a safe space for all people and all birding abilities to enjoy bird watching and build community! Binoculars will be provided for the first 20 people. Name tags will be provided. Trail: 1.5 miles, moderate

1:00-5:00 pm Activities, Crafts, Games, & Tables at the Ornithology Center - Crafts, coloring, scavenger hunts, and interactive tables will be set up at the Ornithology Center (moved indoors if it’s raining) for all ages! Visit the raptor ambassadors, learn about the birds that visit the feeders, and explore our exhibits. The Migration Obstacle Course will also be open, as well as the Nature Play Room in-between other programs.

1:00-1:30 pm Owls of Indiana, Location: Ornithology Center - Learn about the different owls that can be found in Indiana, see some owl taxidermy up close, and watch a feeding demonstration with our two Owl Ambassadors.

1:00-2:00 pm Family Campfire Lunch, Location: Ornithology Center - Bring your own lunch and join us around the campfire!

1:30 pm -TBD Hotspot Caravan, Location: Ornithology Center - Let Aidan Rominger, OC naturalist and life-long ornithologist, give you a personal tour of his favorite birding spots around the east side of Eagle Creek Park. Follow along in your own car to different locations, which will be determined that day based on recent bird sightings, weather, and the desire of the group.

2:00-3:00 pm Wild Bird Rescue 101, Location: Earth Discovery Center - Baby songbirds will soon be hatching in Indiana, and by April baby ducks and geese have already arrived. Do you know what to do if you find a baby out of the nest, or an injured adult bird? When does helping do more harm than good? Join EDC manager Dawn VanDeman to learn the basics of wild bird rescue and how to find a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in Indiana. Recommended age 12+. FREE with park admission, drop-ins welcome.

2:30-3:00 pm Meet a Raptor, Location: Ornithology Center - Meet Freyja, the Peregrine Falcon ambassador! Learn about her and the peregrine conservation success story from her trainer and park volunteer, Donna McCarty. Spanish-speaking naturalist, Donna Riner, will also be available to translate and answer questions as needed.

3:00-4:00 pm Bird Song Hike, Location: Ornithology Center - Learn about the basics of bird song identification and common mnemonics as we hike around Lilly Lake. Trail: 1 mile, easy, but difficult in some spots for strollers

3:30-4:30 pm Lights Out Indy Program, Location: Ornithology Center - Learn about the Amos Butler Audubon Society’s Lights Out and Bird Safe Indy program from ABAS board member Austin Broadwater.

4:30-5:00 pm Raptor Training Tour, Location: Ornithology Center - End Bird Fest with a behind-the-scenes tour of the Raptor Ambassador enclosures and learn about how the naturalists at the OC care for and train them. You may also get to watch some of them eat!

LOCATIONS

EAST SIDE:

Ornithology Center - 6515 Delong Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46278

Earth Discovery Center - 5901 Delong Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46254

Skating Pond - square shaped pond on Reed Rd. just south of 62nd St.

Marina - 7602 Walnut Point Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46254

WEST SIDE:

Eagle’s Hideaway - 8901 W 65th St. Indianapolis, IN 46278

Bear Overlook - 8600 W 56th St. Indianapolis, IN 46254

Eagle Creek Park Gate Entrance Fees: $5/vehicle if you live in Marion County, $6/vehicle out of county