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 birding...

         Indiana

 







Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis ©John Cassady http://www.jkcassady.com/

Indiana has a rich birding history despite being the smallest state, excepting Hawaii, west of the Appalachian Mountains. Approximately 400 bird species have been observed in the state and it is not unusual for birders to see more than 250 species in a year. The big year record for Indiana stands at 310 species set in 2002 by the same individual who already held the record. Indiana has many birding destinations awaiting you and many resources available right from your keyboard.

A seemingly endless hardwood forest that stretched from Lake Michigan down to the Ohio River once carpeted Indiana. The one noticeable break in the forest was a large tallgrass prairie that existed in parts of northwestern Indiana. Of course, man has broken up most of the forest and the prairie remnants are a pittance of their former glory. But birds certainly can be found in the remaining patches. The relative flatness of northern Indiana along with many lakes and wetlands are due to the advancing and then retreating ice pack during the most recent ice age. Much of southern Indiana was untouched by glaciation and is therefore hilly and home to Indiana`s largest forests.

Northwest Indiana birding is dominated by the 41-mile Lake Michigan shoreline. It is here, given the right conditions and time of year, that you may see jaegers (skuas); rare gulls, and sea ducks. More rare birds have been seen along or near the Lake Michigan shoreline than anywhere else in the state. Ken Brock covers the Birds of the Indiana Dunes wonderfully in his book of the same title. Also in northwest Indiana are remnant prairie patches with efforts underway to restore additional prairie. This is the best spot in the state to see prairie species and certain birds are at their eastern-most regular breeding range. Northeast Indiana benefits from the bird-rich Pigeon River Fish and Wildlife Area and many state parks and nature preserves.

Central Indiana has been heavily developed but you can find exciting birding spots such as Shades and Turkey Run State Parks in west-central Indiana and Summit Lake State Park in east-central Indiana. Even in Indianapolis, the state capital and the largest city, Eagle Creek Park and Fort Harrison State Park are rich in birds and birders. Southwestern Indiana is coal country with several reclaimed strip mines that attract prairie and grassland species. Much of the south-central and southeastern part of Indiana is hill country and large forest tracts abound.

Indiana has a variety of habitats and many locations to keep you busy birding for a day or for several weeks. Indiana birders as well as visiting twitchers to the state are fortunate to have one of the most impressive resources in the On-line Guide to Indiana Birding. Visit the Indiana Audubon Society website for this valuable resource to dozens of birding locations and start planning your trip today!

  contributor

 

Don Gorney
(Indianapolis, IN)
dongorney@yahoo.com

  numbers

 
Number of bird species: 406

  useful reading

 

Atlas of Breeding Birds of Indiana

J Hopkins,E Keller,C Castrale Indian DNR
ISBN: 144528
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Birds of Indianapolis

C E Keller Hardcover - 160 pages (1 October, 1993) Indiana University Press
ISBN: 0253331196
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Compact Guide to Indiana Birds

Gregory Kennedy and Ken Brock Lone Pine Publishing due March 2007
ISBN: 9789768200273
Buy this book from NHBS.com

Indiana Birds

An Introduction to Familiar Species James Kavanagh Waterford Press 2001
ISBN: 158355145X
Buy this book from NHBS.com

The Birds of Indiana

Russell E. Mumford, Charles E. Keller Hardcover - 376 pages (October 1984) Indiana University Press.
ISBN: 0253107369
Buy this book from NHBS.com

  useful information

 

State Bird


Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis

  clubs

 

Amos W Butler Audubon Society

http://www.amosbutleraudubon.org/
Serving Central Indiana, including Indianapolis, Carmel, Fishers, Brownsburg, Noblesville, and Greenwood

Audubon Society in Indiana

http://www.audubon.org/chapter/in/
The usual state-wide site.

Dunes-Calumet Audubon


The purpose and objectives of the Dunes-Calumet Audubon Society shall be to engage in any such educational, scientific, investigative, literary, historical, philanthropic, and charitable pursuits as may be part of the stated purposes of the National Audubon Society... PO Box 447, Hammond, IN 46325-0447, 219-931-4352 - Lynda McGinnis, President

Evansville Audubon Society

http://www.evvaudubon.org/
The mission of The Evansville Audubon Society is to promote the awareness, appreciation and preservation of birds and other wildlife and their habitats through education and conservation...

Indiana Audubon Society

http://www.indianaaudubon.org/
The guide is the result of many hours of volunteer effort by birders from all across the state. Look for more sites and bird information to be added as this project continues to grow.

Indiana Bluebird Society

http://indianabluebirdsociety.org/
The Indiana Bluebird Society has been up and online for approximately 5 months. Already we are priviledeged to have had over 2000 hits. And with the additional items we`ve added we want everyone to keep coming back. We have added a few things that everyone will be interested in. For one there are three nestbox designs on the same page that has pictures...

Knob and Valley Audubon Society

http://www.kavaudubon.org/
We are located in the hills and the Ohio River valley of Southern Indiana (in the vicinity of Louisville, Kentucky)...

Nature Conservancy in Indiana

http://www.nature.org/wherewework/northamerica/states/indiana/
Whilst the photos on the opening page are lovely this site does not quite live up to some of the new NC sites in other states... the info is there but a bit basic.

Potawatomi Audubon Society

http://www.alco.org/audubon/
Birds were our beginnings, and Audubon remains dedicated to birding as the basis for our mission to conserve and restore our natural ecosystems, focusing on birds...

Robert Cooper Audubon Society

http://www.bsu.edu/web/audubon/
The Robert Cooper Audubon Society, Inc. (RCAS), is a regional chapter of the National Audubon Society, serving approximately 500 members in east central Indiana, in Blackford, Delaware, Grant, Henry, Jay, Madison, and Randolph Counties. We meet the second Monday of every month, excluding July and August, for a program about nature, natural history, or conservation. We also organize six to ten field trips each year...

Sassafras Audubon Society

http://www.sassafrasaudubon.org/
The Sassafras Audubon Society is a chapter of the National Audubon Society serving the Indiana counties of Monroe, Lawrence, Owen, Greene, Morgan, Brown and Bartholomew...

Soarin' Hawk Avian Rescue Center

http://www.soarinhawk.org/rehab/index_msie.html
Care and Rehab

South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Society

http://www.sbeaudubon.org/
The South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Society, with about 1,000 members, brings bird lovers of all ages together by offering membership meetings to discuss birding issues and conservation concerns, providing field trips to local natural areas, and hosting many educational opportunities each year. The Society also owns a private bird sanctuary, which is home to many native birds and wildflowers.

Stockbridge Audubon Society


PO Box 13131, Fort Wayne, IN 46864 - Gary Tieben, President

Sycamore Audubon Society

http://www.sycamoreaudubon.org/
Organized in 1975, SAS is a chapter of the National Audubon Society - a world wide environmental oganization. SAS`s membership consists of National Audubon Society members living in Benton, Carroll, Clinton, Tippecanoe, Warren, and White counties. Membership in the National Audubon Society and residence in one of those counties automatically involves membership in SAS. With over 500 members, the Sycamore Audubon Society is the largest environmental group in mid-north Indiana. The chapter is named for a race of the Yellow-throated Warbler which nests in sycamore trees along Indiana`s waterways, and is thus called the Sycamore Warbler...

Tippecanoe Audubon Society

http://www.tippeaudubon.org/
The Tippecanoe Audubon Society supports conservation and environmental education to promote appreciation, understanding, and preservation of birds, other wildlife, and diverse ecosystems for present and future generations.

Wabash Valley Audubon Society

http://wabashvalleyaudubon.org/
The Wabash Valley Audubon Society is a chapter of the National Audubon Society. We have monthly meetings (Sept. - May) in Terre Haute, Indiana. We sponsor field trips, speakers, school programs, conservation issues and a Christmas Bird Count...

  observatories

 

Chipper Woods Bird Observatory

http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/index.htm
Chipper Woods Bird Observatory, Inc. (CWBO); founded in 1996, is a Federal and State non-profit organization governed by a Board of Directors. Our mission is to bring good science to the conservation of birds and their habitats through scientific research, scientific training and educational programs designed for all age groups.

  museums

 

Joseph Moore Museum

http://www.waynet.org/nonprofit/jos_moore.htm
...and observe birds and mammals in their natural habitat.

  reserves

 

Griffy Woods Nature Preserve

http://www.indiana.edu/~preserve/griffy.shtml
Winter Bird Feeding & Watching. Children ages 6 - 12 will learn how to attract wild birds to their back yard by providing the right habitat and creative bird feeders. Participants will also get a chance to view bird life and learn a little about Indiana birds.

Hayes Arboretum

http://www.hayesarboretum.org/
The Bird Room offers an excellent place to relax and observe our feathered friends....and a few squirrels.

Indiana's Nature Preserves

http://www.dcwi.com/~eric/goot/natpsrv.htm
Indiana's Nature Preserves are the real hidden treasures of the state. They have everything that the state parks have, and more - except people. With a few exceptions, the Nature Preserves are rarely visited; even when there are actually other people out there, you may never see them. If wildflowers or birds are in your line, this is the place to find the most unusual and interesting. The scenery can also be spectacular (for Indiana) and of interest. The Nature Preserve system is a collaboration between a number of groups and state agencies; the Nature Conservancy, ACRES, NICHES and other local or regional groups, universities, counties and the Department of Natural Resources have worked together to save the most unique and interesting pieces of Indiana...

Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary

http://www.indianaaudubon.org/MaryGray.htm
The Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary is owned and operated by the Indiana Audubon Society. The late Congressman Finley H. Gray and his wife Alice Green Gray gave the Society 652 acres as a living memorial to their daughter who never fully recovered from a childhood illness.

Thornhill Nature Preserve

http://www.huntington.edu/thornhill
The Thornhill Nature Preserve was acquired by Huntington College in 1967 through a Nature Conservancy Loan made possible by Mabel Thorne. The 77-acre nature preserve was owned by Ms. Thorne, a local teacher, who believed not only in the value of education...

  trip reports

 

Travelling Birder
http://www.travellingbirder.com
The Travellingbirder.com birding trip report search engine guides you to 7,000+ birding trip reports on the Internet. You can search for trip reports from a specific country and time of year. Not all these reports are in English. So, if you can’t find the trip report you want on this Fatbirder page… give them a try!

1998 [December] - Jeff McCoy - Bird Race

http://maybank.tripod.com/USA/IN-12-98-BD.htm
Our day started with two owling stops and despite Ed`s determined hooting and whistling we were met with complete silence. But in the marshes of Beverly Shores we fared better when two VIRGINIA RAILS answered our tape and finally, just before dawn, E. SCREECH-OWL responded...

2001 [May] - Lynea Hinchman - Indiana Dunes

http://maybank.tripod.com/USA/IN-05-2001.htm
My Big May Day encompasses Indiana Dunes State Park and the Heron Rookery portion of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Indiana Dunes State Park is adjacent to the southern shoreline of Lake Michigan. Its proximity to the lake and its wealth of habitat diversity contribute strongly to the wealth of bird diversity found within the park. The Heron Rookery is a unit of the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore...

  tour operators

 

Birding Pal

http://www.birdingpal.org/in.htm
Local birders willing to show visiting birders around their area...

  places to stay

 

Always Inn B&B

http://www.alwaysinn.com/
Here you'll find a relaxed country setting ......birds singing, butterflies floating above the fragrant flower gardens, a gentle breeze rustling the leaves, frogs croaking at the nearby pond, and the sounds of laughter and conversation from the wrap around deck...

Anchor Inn B&B

http://www.bbonline.com/in/anchorinn/aboutus.html
Bob attended college at the University of Idaho, Moscow, Idaho and received a degree in Wild Life Management...

Mulberry Inn & Gardens B&B

http://www.bbonline.com/in/mulberry/
Explore a legacy of old world charm and natural beauty in the heart of Rising Sun, Indiana. Mulberry Inn & Gardens Bed & Breakfast is set in a quiet, residential area featuring charming gardens with a quiet and relaxed atmosphere...

  mailing lists

 

Bloomington-Birds

https://listserv.indiana.edu/cgi-bin/wa-iub.exe?A0=BLOOMINGTON-BIRDS-L
To subscribe to list:majordomo@ucs.indiana.edu
Mailing List – Discussion Group - Discussion of birds around Bloomington, Indiana

IN-BIRD-L

https://listserv.indiana.edu/cgi-bin/wa-iub.exe?A0=IN-BIRD-L
subscribe in-bird
This screen allows you to join or leave the IN-BIRD-L list. To confirm your identity and prevent third parties from subscribing you to a list against your will, an e-mail message with a confirmation code will be sent to the address you specify in the form. Simply wait for this message to arrive, then follow the instructions to confirm the operation.

  other links

 

Backyard Birding in Indiana

http://www.slivoski.com/birding/
Welcome to Backyard Birding. This site is dedicated to the birds of Indiana, especially those who visit our backyard. We hope that you will find this site useful as an aid to identification.

Birding in Cincinnati

http://cincinnatibirds.com/
Although it`s not a prime destination for traveling birders, Cincinnati provides plenty of interesting birding opportunities. This web site is intended to help both local and visiting birders find birds in this area...

Birding Indiana

http://www.amosbutleraudubon.org/birding_indiana.htm
We have created a website for Birding Indiana as an adjunct to trying to disseminate it regularly by email. If your organization would like to sponsor Birding Indiana on a listserv, please contact us...

Birds of Benton County

http://www.ces.purdue.edu/extmedia/FNR/FNR-165/FNR-165.html
Benton County offers birders in Indiana interesting opportunities to see a variety of native birds. The land habitat on their land. In the 1990s, however, the Indiana Department of Natural Resources purchased county is located in the several properties and began restoring wetland and grassland habitats. Today, the Pine Creek Gamebird Habitat Area in southeastern Benton County provides an outstanding birding portion of the state that was dominated by prairies, and historically supported many grassland birds...

Birds of Indiana

http://www.nlci.com/users/fishers/bird2.htm
Pictures & Sounds of Some of Indiana's Birds...

Birds of Madison County

http://www.fruitjar.org/birds/
These are birds we have observed in and near our home in Madison County, Indiana. Most have been found in the city of Anderson along the banks of Killbuck Creek and White River, or in Shadyside Park, including the wetlands and the Shadyside Lakes. For a detailed, annotated map of the area see map and directions.

BLOG - Nutty Birder

http://nuttybirder.blogspot.com/
I am a birder and photographer from Carmel, Indiana. I have traveled around Indiana and the US to find birds and photograph wildlife. I attend Indiana University and worked for the Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory during the summer of 2008 doing field work in the Black Hills of South Dakota and throughout North Dakota. Eric Ripma

I am a birder and beginning nature photographer originally from Indiana but now living in Florence, Kentucky. I am passionate about wildlife and wildlife conservation. I recently graduated from Indiana University with a marketing degree. Rob Ripma

Don Gorney's Pathetic Website

http://www.dongorney.com
Not in the least pathetic of course... One of the more important items I have on my website is a Indiana Field Checklist of Birds. The checklist was just introduced to Indiana birders. It is the first complete and up-to-date checklist Indiana has ever had. All 398 species accepted for Indiana are listed or mentioned(extirpated and extinct species are mentioned in text).

Indiana Checklist

http://www.wbu.com/chipperwoods/checklist.htm
The species list downloadable from this page identifies those bird species that are commonly observed in Indiana. Names and order listings are in accord with the 7th American Ornithologists Union Check-list...

Indiana Dunes Bird Watching

http://www.nps.gov/indu/planyourvisit/birdwatching.htm
Because the Indiana dunes has so many diverse habitats, the opportunity to view a great variety of birds nesting here are numerous! During the spring and fall migration, the enormous size of Lake Michigan has a funneling effect on the path the birds must take. Which, again gives the birder a rare opportunity to view many species not normally seen together. With the help of local experts like Mr. Kenneth J. Brock, local photographers and the naturalists at the Indiana Dunes State park, I hope this site will someday provide an accurate impression of what the area has to offer the birder.

Indiana Rare Breeding Bird Report

http://www.in.gov/dnr/3095.htm
The Indiana DNR Division of Nature Preserves Natural Heritage Data Center seeks the help of Indiana birders to report sightings of rare breeding birds. Many Indiana birders keep detailed records of their sightings throughout the breeding season and currently submit records to various publications including the Indiana Audubon Quarterly and to North American Birds, published by the American Birding Association. The Natural Heritage Data Center, however, is interested in receiving data on only a select list of the rarer breeding species in Indiana...

Online Guide to Indiana Birding

http://www.indianaaudubon.org/guide/
This internet-based birding guide is written by Indiana birders for Indiana birders, offering expert advice on where to go to find target birds in Indiana. - The information contained here is the result of a collaborative effort of dozens of Indiana birders, from all parts of the state. They collectively represent hundreds of years of experience with Indiana birds--their habits, habitats, and conservation...

Pictures & Sounds of Indiana Birds

http://www.nlci.com/users/fishers/bird2.htm
The actual pictures, recordings, and digital files that make these images and sounds possible are copyrighted and being made available here (for viewing and/or listening only) through the courtesy and graciousness of the following...

Wayne County Birding

http://www.waynet.org/recreation/birding.htm
Hayes Regional Arboretum - a living museum, offering nature programs, hiking facilities, and nature center. Of special interest is the bird room that allows you to watch birds at numerous feeders from a comfortable, indoor space. A nice surprise is the well-placed microphone that allows you to hear the birds as well.

  artists

 

Photographer - John Cassady

http://www.jkcassady.com/
Excellent pix from one of Indiana's own...

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