SAVE THE DATE May 4-8, 2022 for our 5th Annual Eagle Creek Park Birding Festival! Get ready for a week of celebrating all the birding opportunities Eagle Creek Park has to offer during the height of migration season. We will offer FREE guided hikes, workshops, activities, adaptive/inclusive outings, and various paid birding adventures throughout the week. No birding experience required! For the free guided hikes and activities, park admission is $5 for in county residents and $6 if you live out of Marion county. For the week of Bird Fest, the Ornithology Center will be open Wednesday-Saturday 10am-5pm and Sunday 1pm-5pm.
SCHEDULE: Most programs are free and drop-ins allowed unless otherwise noted! (location in parentheses)
Wednesday May 4th:
- 10:00am-10:30am May the 4th Be with You: Obi the Owl (OC) (limited space available, no late admittance)
- 11:30am-1:00pm Pop-up Scope (Skating Pond)
- 12:00pm-2:00pm Birds & Brushes Painting Class (OC), ages 15+, $15/person, pre-registration required here: http://apm.activecommunities.com/indyparks/Activity_Search/22709
- 3:00pm-4:00pm Bark & Birds Tree Hike (OC)
Thursday May 5th:
- 10:00am-10:30am Vulture Visit (OC)
- 11:30am-1:00pm Pop-up Scope (Scott Starling)
- 12:00-4:00pm Bird Collages Craft Time (OC)
Friday May 6th:
- 10:00am-11:00am Raptors of Indiana: Hike & Training Demo (OC)
- 11:30am-1:00pm Pop-up Scope (Spring Pond)
- 2:00pm-2:30pm Falcon Friday (OC)
Saturday May 7th:
- 8:00am-10:00am Marina Hike (OC), 3 miles, moderate
- 9:00am-1:30pm Inclusive & Accessible Big Sit (Eagle's Crest), more information here: http://apm.activecommunities.com/indyparks/Activity_Search/23110
- 10:00am-12:00pm Open Water Birding (EDC)
- 10:00am-12:00pm Coffer Dam Hike (OC), 2 miles, moderate
- 10:00am-5:00pm crafts, coloring, scavenger hunts, feeder counts, migration game, and more! (OC)
- 12:30pm-1:30pm Birder's Campfire Lunch: Cash Only hotdogs, vegan dogs, chips, and s'mores - all proceeds go to our Raptor Ambassador Fund! Or you can bring your own sack lunch or food to cook on the campfire.
- 1:30pm-2:30pm Family Bird Hike (OC), about 1 mile, easy
- 2:30pm-3:00pm Raptor Feeding Time (OC)
- 3:30pm-4:30pm Birds & Blooms Hike (OC), less than a mile, easy
Sunday May 8th:
- 9:00am-11:00am Sunday Morning Birdwalk with the Amos Butler Audubon Society (OC), varying mileage and levels of difficulty
- 10:30am-12:30pm Bird Photography Workshop with Kevin Carlsen (OC), pre-registration required here: http://apm.activecommunities.com/indyparks/Activity_Search/23135
- 1:00pm-5:00pm crafts, coloring, scavenger hunts, feeder counts, migration game, and more! Spanish birding resources also available today! (OC)
- 1:00pm-2:00pm Bird Banding Demonstration (OC)
- 2:00pm-4:00pm Bird Kite Craft (OC), first come first serve, limited supplies
- 2:30pm-3:00pm Meet a Raptor (OC)
LOCATIONS:
- OC - Ornithology Center, 6515 Delong Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46278
- EDC - Earth Discovery Center, 5901 Delong Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46254
- Skating Pond - square shaped pond inside the park, on Reed Rd. just south of 62nd St., coordinates 39.86470N, 86.29022W
- Spring Pond - small pond in the southeast corner of the park, coordinates 39.85849N, 86.28508W
- Eagle's Crest - WEST SIDE property, not inside the main park. 7201 Fishback Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46278
- Scott Starling - WEST SIDE property, not inside the main park. Parking area located near/across from this address: 8234 Wilson Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46278
Call (317) 327-2473 or follow the Ornithology Center on Facebook for more details!
