Bird Alliance of Central Indiana

Northeast Indianapolis CBC
2025-12-27 08:00 - 12:00 (America/Indiana/Indianapolis) | Fort Harrison State Park, 6000 North Post Rd, Indianapolis, IN, 46216, United States
Abbrev: ININ
Circle ID: 58967
Compiler: Wesley Homoya
Email: whomoya@yahoo.com
Location: (39.869391, -86.038867)
Count Date: 12-27-2025
Comments: New and previous participants can register prior to December 12 by contacting the ININ Christmas Bird Count compiler, Wes Homoya at: whomoya@yahoo.com The Indianapolis count, sponsored by Amos Butler Audubon Society, takes place within a 15-mile diameter circle covering the northeast side of Indianapolis with the center being in Fort Harrison State Park. If your home is within the boundaries of the Count Circle, you can make advanced arrangements with the Compiler to count and report the birds that visit your feeders. Participants are invited to gather at Jockamos for lunch at 1:00pm

Cool Creek Bird Hike
2025-12-27 08:30 - 22:30, 2026-01-10 08:30 - 22:30, 2026-01-17 08:30 - 22:30, 2026-01-24 08:30 - 22:30, 2026-01-31 08:30 - 22:30, 2026-02-07 08:30 - 22:30 | Cool Creek Nature Center, 2000-1 East 151st St, Carmel, IN, 46033, United States
Join expert birder Keith Starling each Saturday for a hike through Cool Creek.
No registration is required.
Meet in the north parking lot past the Nature Center.

Eagle Creek Bird Hikes
2025-12-28 09:00 - 11:00, 2026-01-04 09:00 - 11:00, 2026-01-11 09:00 - 11:00, 2026-01-18 09:00 - 11:00, 2026-01-25 09:00 - 11:00, 2026-02-01 09:00 - 11:00, 2026-02-08 09:00 - 11:00 | Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center, 6515 Delong Road, Indianapolis, IN, 46278, United States
Each Sunday year-round at Eagle Creek Park. Meet us at 9:00 am at the Ornithology Center.
This event is free, though a gate fee to Eagle Creek Park applies.

Cool Creek Beginning Bird Hike
2025-12-31 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-01-04 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-01-07 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-01-14 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-01-18 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-01-21 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-01-28 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-02-01 09:00 - 10:30 and 1 more date | Cool Creek Nature Center, 2000-1 East 151st St, Carmel, IN, 46033, United States
Birds are fascinating and watching them can be an awe-inspiring experience. Catching a glimpse of these gorgeous creatures can be frustrating. Learning how to identify all of them can be overwhelming Join a Hamilton Co Parks Naturalist and other guest leaders Sunday and Wednesday mornings and we will learn together. This will be a great opportunity for birdwatchers of all levels. You may begin anytime during the season and come as often as you like. Pre-registration is not required. Don’t forget your binoculars!
These hikes meet in the north parking lot of Cool Creek Park past the Nature Center.

Hamilton County CBC
2026-01-03 08:00 - 12:00 | Cool Creek Nature Center, 2000-1 East 151st St, Carmel, IN, 46033, United States
Abbrev: INHC
Circle ID: 55621
Compiler: Janet Tuten
Email: jktuten@outlook.com
Location: (40.090741, -86.033391)
Count Date: 01-03-2026
Comments: Contact Janet Tuten at 317-774-2500 or janet.tuten@hamiltoncounty.in.gov by December 13, 2025. Email is preferred. Once the teams and locations are determined, registered participants will receive the contact information of their team leader and the location of their survey area. Most teams will meet at their assigned areas at 8:00am unless notified by team leaders otherwise. Lunch will be provided for volunteers by Hamilton County Parks and Recreation Department and will be served at Cool Creek Nature Center (2000 E. 151st St., Carmel, IN 46033) at noon. Anyone interested in birding in the afternoon can and will be reassigned after lunch. Feeder watchers in the circle are welcome!! Please contact Janet (above).

Strawtown Koteewi Park - Beginning Bird Hikes
2026-01-07 09:00 - 10:30, 2026-02-04 09:00 - 10:30 | Strawtown Koteewi Park, 12308 Strawtown Avenue, Noblesville, IN, 46060, United States
Birds are fascinating and watching them can be an awe-inspiring experience. Catching a glimpse of these gorgeous creatures can be frustrating. Learning how to identify all of them can be overwhelming. Join a Hamilton Co Parks Naturalist or other guest leaders the first Wednesday of each month and we will learn together. This will be a great opportunity for birdwatchers of all levels.
Meet in the parking lot of the Taylor Center of Natural History.
Pre-registration is not required. Don’t forget your binoculars!

Jessica Helmbold: Patuxent Research Refuge
2026-01-13 19:30 - 20:30 | Holliday Park Nature Center, 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, 46260, United States
Patuxent Research Refuge in central Maryland is the only U.S. National Wildlife Refuge established specifically to support wildlife research. Established in 1936, the refuge covers over 12,800 acres of forest, meadow, and wetland habitats between Washington, D.C. and Baltimore. The refuge is a significant landmark in conservation history, known for pioneering research on topics such as the effects of DDT on bird eggshells and assisted Whooping Crane migration. ABAS Board President Jessica Helmbold spent four years of her career working at Patuxent, and this presentation will highlight her work experience as well as historical and ongoing wildlife conservation research projects at the refuge.

Holliday Park Bird Hike
2026-01-20 08:30 - 10:30 | Holliday Park Nature Center, 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, IN, 46260, United States
Join us at Holliday Park for a bird hike through the woods and along the White River. Meet in front of the nature center. For more information call (317) 327-7180. Beginning birders welcome!

Lake Michigan Winter Field Trip
2026-01-24 08:00 - 14:00 | Michigan City Washington Park Beach, On the Lake, Michigan City, IN, 46360, United States
January 24, 2026 @ 8:00am – 2:00pm Central

Join experienced hike leader Richard Garrett for an exciting day exploring the winter birding hotspots along Indiana’s Lake Michigan shoreline. The day’s stops may vary depending on recent sightings. We will most likely begin in Michigan City looking for Snowy Owls, Purple Sandpipers, and any waterfowl present. Our next stop will likely be Beverly Shores to search for the Northern Shrike that has been frequently reported there. We will then visit Ogden Dunes to look for winter finches and the Townsend’s Solitaire. The group will also check the Port of Indiana and Portage Lakefront, where Purple Sandpipers and Western Grebes have been seen in past years. If time allows, we may also visit Whiting Lakefront Park and Whihala Beach County Park.
Along the route we will watch for winter gulls—especially Glaucous and Iceland Gulls—as well as any waterfowl. It should be a fun day, and who knows what rarity might show up!
The field trip will take place on Saturday, January 24 from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. We will meet at the Michigan City Washington Park Beach parking lot. Please bring binoculars and spotting scopes if you have them. Dress very warmly, and bring food and water, as we may not officially stop for lunch.
The trip is limited to 10 participants, and pre-registration is required. ABAS members have priority until January 5; non-members will be placed on a waiting list in the order their requests are received.
To sign up, please email Laurie Voss at laurievoss25@gmail.com. When registering, include your phone number in case last-minute changes are necessary.
What: Lake Michigan Winter Field Trip
When: Saturday, January 24, 2026 from 8:00 am to 2:00 pm Central
Where: Meet at Michigan City Washington Park Beach Parking lot.
Register: laurievoss25@gmail.com

FULL - Waterfowl and Owl Caravan with Thirty, Birdy & Thriving
2026-01-24 16:00 - 18:00 | Geist Coffee Company, 10110 Brooks School Rd, Fisher, 46037, United States
Hey TBT peeps, did you know Indy has its very own *reliable* Short-eared Owl hotspot? ABAS wants to take you out to see these magical birds of prey, as well as some weird ducks, geese, and swans on our next sunset field trip.
To accommodate for the owls and your work schedules, our program is scheduled for Saturday, January 24 from 4:00-6:00 pm. Participants will meet at the parking lot for Geist Coffee Company (just in case you’d like to stop for coffee, but please arrive early if your plan to do so). From there we will carpool to Geist Waterfront Park and/or the lot across the Olio Rd Bridge, depending on waterfowl activity. This end of the reservoir is usually good for large, mixed flocks.
At about the halfway point, we will carpool to Mt Comfort Airport in McCordsville to wait out the owls and whatever else shows up during this time. Likely winter species include Horned Lark, Northern Harrier, sparrows, and waterfowl gathering to roost. There is a possibility for Lapland Longspur, Snow Bunting, and Rough Legged Hawk.
At both stops we will do our best to allow for car-birding as well as birding outside. However, as there are limited spots that will provide a view from inside the cars, please let me know if you have a condition that cannot tolerate cold, wind, or long periods of standing, so that we can allow those in most need a car spot to enjoy the experience.
Please bring scopes and binoculars as distances will vary at each spot, and dress for the weather (including hand/toe warmers). We should arrive back at Geist Coffee at 6pm, which will be after dark.
This field trip is free but slots are filled. To get on waitlist, email Olivia Bautch at falcon_515@outlook.com. As a reminder, the Thirty, Birdy & Thriving program is designed to bring 20–40-year-olds together to find their peeps in-person and share their love of birds.
