Events and Field Trips
Upcoming Programs
Field Trips (Click here to see a list of birds from each of our previous field trips)
Field trips are open to all; we welcome beginners! Things to keep in mind:
--Bring a picnic lunch for longer trips; pack water and snacks for all trips
--Arrive a few minutes early; we leave on time!
--We carpool for out-of-town trips; sharing gas expenses is appreciated; if you're one of the drivers, arrive with a full tank; extra drivers may be needed!
--We can meet people at our destination or on the way if arranged in advance
--Return times are estimates and are not guaranteed; you can return early if you drive yourself
--Dress for the weather; waterproof shoes or boots are often needed; be prepared for mosquitoes; dress in layers - bring warm clothes and prepare for cold winds especially along shorelines.
--For further information, contact the relevant trip leader or email Ed Powers at zzedpowers@aol.com
The list of birds that we spotted on some of the past field trips are available (click here to see the past field trips).
Field trips are open to all; we welcome beginners! Things to keep in mind:
--Bring a picnic lunch for longer trips; pack water and snacks for all trips
--Arrive a few minutes early; we leave on time!
--We carpool for out-of-town trips; sharing gas expenses is appreciated; if you're one of the drivers, arrive with a full tank; extra drivers may be needed!
--We can meet people at our destination or on the way if arranged in advance
--Return times are estimates and are not guaranteed; you can return early if you drive yourself
--Dress for the weather; waterproof shoes or boots are often needed; be prepared for mosquitoes; dress in layers - bring warm clothes and prepare for cold winds especially along shorelines.
--For further information, contact the relevant trip leader or email Ed Powers at zzedpowers@aol.com
The list of birds that we spotted on some of the past field trips are available (click here to see the past field trips).
Spring Field Trips 2019
Sat Mar 9 Kankakee FWA; meet at 8:00 AM EST at north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69). Waterfowl, some at eastern extreme of their range; songbirds. Travel mostly by car. Return around 5 PM. Leaders: Dave Reichlinger, John Winebrenner.
Sat Mar 16 Pigeon River FWA; meet at 8:00 AM EDT at north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69). Waterfowl, Sandhill Cranes, songbirds, maybe owls. Return around 5:00 PM. Leaders: Sam Plew, Eric Helfrich.
Sun Mar 17 Hurshtown Reservoir. Meet at the reservoir, 16000 Roth Rd, 1 mi S of hwy 1 (1.5 mi N of Grabill Rd) at 3 PM. Loons, grebes, ducks, gulls, maybe Snow Buntings. We circle the reservoir by car, stopping occasionally to get out and scope the water. Finish by 5:00 PM. Leader: Ed Powers
Sat Mar 23 Pisgah Marsh and Tri-County FWA; meet at 8:00 AM at north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69). Waterfowl, herons, songbirds. Return around 4-4:30 PM. Leaders: John Winebrenner, Margit Codispoti.
Sun Mar 31 Hurshtown Reservoir. Details same as Mar 17.
Sat Apr 6 Eagle Marsh. Meet at 7:30 AM at the BSA Scout parking lot at the end of Olde Canal Place (opposite Lutheran Hospital campus). Shorebirds, herons, swallows, etc. Up to two miles on flat trails; boots recommended. Finish by noon. Leaders: Ed Powers, Phil Wixom.
Sat Apr 20 Fox Island County Park; meet at the Vera Dulin Building parking lot at Fox Island, 7324 Yohne Rd., at 8:00 AM; Woodpeckers, woodland songbirds, including migrant warblers. Three or four miles on easy trails; may be some wet spots. Finish by noon. Leaders: Eric Helfrich, Sandy Schacht. We will be joined mid-way by members of the Indiana Master Naturalist class. Park entrance fee of $2 payable at self-serve post just inside gate or at the Nature Center.
Sat Apr 27 Salamonie Lake; meet at 7:30 AM from northeast corner of Rural King parking lot, Village at Coventry, US 24 just west of I-69, or meet us at 8:00 AM at Forks of the Wabash, southwest corner of US 24 and IN 9, Huntington. Waterfowl, woodpeckers, songbirds. Largely birding by car, but up to three miles on foot; some hills, may be muddy spots. Return around 5:00 PM. Leaders: Sandy Schacht, Andrew Wolfe.
Sat May 4 Chain O’ Lakes State Park; meet at 7:30 AM at north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69), or at the Youth Campground at Chain O’ Lakes at 8:15. Hawks, woodpeckers, migrant songbirds. Up to five miles on mostly flat trails; may be some wet spots. Return about 4:00 PM. Leaders: Margit Codispoti, John Winebrenner.
Sat May 11 Big May Day Bird Count; details later.
Sat May 18 Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Ohio; meet at 6:30 AM from the southeast side of the Meijer lot on Maysville Rd. just W of I-469 at IN 37. Waterfowl, herons, shorebirds, warblers and other songbirds. Return around 6-7 PM. Leaders: John Winebrenner, Margit Codispoti.
Sat May 25 Foster Park; meet in the parking lot of the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, 5310 Old Mill Road at 8:00 AM. Songbirds. Finish by noon. A repeat of the "Stockbridge Challenge" in which we attempt to surpass Charles Stockbridge’s group’s count of 44 species found during a Foster Park outing in 1938. Leader: Stephanie Wagner.
Sat Jun 1 Willow Slough FWA/Kankakee Sands; leave at 6:30 AM from Kroger’s, northwest side of jct. IN 14 west and Scott Rd. Grassland birds and others, some at eastern extreme of their ranges. Return about 7 PM. Leaders: Stephanie Wagner, Ed Powers.
Sat Mar 16 Pigeon River FWA; meet at 8:00 AM EDT at north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69). Waterfowl, Sandhill Cranes, songbirds, maybe owls. Return around 5:00 PM. Leaders: Sam Plew, Eric Helfrich.
Sun Mar 17 Hurshtown Reservoir. Meet at the reservoir, 16000 Roth Rd, 1 mi S of hwy 1 (1.5 mi N of Grabill Rd) at 3 PM. Loons, grebes, ducks, gulls, maybe Snow Buntings. We circle the reservoir by car, stopping occasionally to get out and scope the water. Finish by 5:00 PM. Leader: Ed Powers
Sat Mar 23 Pisgah Marsh and Tri-County FWA; meet at 8:00 AM at north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69). Waterfowl, herons, songbirds. Return around 4-4:30 PM. Leaders: John Winebrenner, Margit Codispoti.
Sun Mar 31 Hurshtown Reservoir. Details same as Mar 17.
Sat Apr 6 Eagle Marsh. Meet at 7:30 AM at the BSA Scout parking lot at the end of Olde Canal Place (opposite Lutheran Hospital campus). Shorebirds, herons, swallows, etc. Up to two miles on flat trails; boots recommended. Finish by noon. Leaders: Ed Powers, Phil Wixom.
Sat Apr 20 Fox Island County Park; meet at the Vera Dulin Building parking lot at Fox Island, 7324 Yohne Rd., at 8:00 AM; Woodpeckers, woodland songbirds, including migrant warblers. Three or four miles on easy trails; may be some wet spots. Finish by noon. Leaders: Eric Helfrich, Sandy Schacht. We will be joined mid-way by members of the Indiana Master Naturalist class. Park entrance fee of $2 payable at self-serve post just inside gate or at the Nature Center.
Sat Apr 27 Salamonie Lake; meet at 7:30 AM from northeast corner of Rural King parking lot, Village at Coventry, US 24 just west of I-69, or meet us at 8:00 AM at Forks of the Wabash, southwest corner of US 24 and IN 9, Huntington. Waterfowl, woodpeckers, songbirds. Largely birding by car, but up to three miles on foot; some hills, may be muddy spots. Return around 5:00 PM. Leaders: Sandy Schacht, Andrew Wolfe.
Sat May 4 Chain O’ Lakes State Park; meet at 7:30 AM at north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69), or at the Youth Campground at Chain O’ Lakes at 8:15. Hawks, woodpeckers, migrant songbirds. Up to five miles on mostly flat trails; may be some wet spots. Return about 4:00 PM. Leaders: Margit Codispoti, John Winebrenner.
Sat May 11 Big May Day Bird Count; details later.
Sat May 18 Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Ohio; meet at 6:30 AM from the southeast side of the Meijer lot on Maysville Rd. just W of I-469 at IN 37. Waterfowl, herons, shorebirds, warblers and other songbirds. Return around 6-7 PM. Leaders: John Winebrenner, Margit Codispoti.
Sat May 25 Foster Park; meet in the parking lot of the Unitarian Universalist Meeting House, 5310 Old Mill Road at 8:00 AM. Songbirds. Finish by noon. A repeat of the "Stockbridge Challenge" in which we attempt to surpass Charles Stockbridge’s group’s count of 44 species found during a Foster Park outing in 1938. Leader: Stephanie Wagner.
Sat Jun 1 Willow Slough FWA/Kankakee Sands; leave at 6:30 AM from Kroger’s, northwest side of jct. IN 14 west and Scott Rd. Grassland birds and others, some at eastern extreme of their ranges. Return about 7 PM. Leaders: Stephanie Wagner, Ed Powers.
