03/28/2026
Thank you Eagle Creek Ornithology Center. We are happy to continue helping ILS meet their restoration and conservation goals, and we couldn’t have said it any better!
Prescribed Burn Supports Birds & Pollinators at Eagle Creek Park - Indy Parks and Recreation🔥🌼🦋🐦
On March 24th, DPW Indy Land Stewardship staff, along with contractors from EcoLogic, successfully conducted prescribed burns on three pollinator plantings in the park. These areas were originally installed several years ago to enhance wildlife habitat and support native bees, butterflies, and moths. (Did you know Indiana is home to around 150 butterflies, and over 2,000 species of moths?!) 🦋
Prescribed burning is an important land management tool that helps control invasive weeds, reduce woody debris buildup, and promote the germination of native wildflowers. It also returns valuable nutrients to the soil, strengthening the overall health of prairie and grassland ecosystem.
🐦How does prescribed burning help birds?
Many of Central Indiana’s native bird species depend on the open habitats created by periodic fire. Grassland birds in particular thrive after burns because:
• Fire removes dense brush and woody growth, keeping prairies open
• New plant growth produces seeds and attracts insects—key food sources for birds
• Reduced woody debris makes it easier for birds to move, forage, and nest on the ground ( #1 Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council)
🐦Species that benefit from these conditions include:
• Eastern Meadowlark – prefers open grasslands with fresh growth
• Red-winged Blackbird – benefits from improved meadow and grassland edges
• Henslow’s Sparrow – a conservation-priority species that relies on well-managed grasslands ( #2 The Nature Conservancy)
By maintaining diverse prairie conditions through prescribed fire, land managers help support a wider variety of bird species—many of which have declined due to habitat loss. Fire essentially “resets” the landscape, creating the mix of vegetation structure that birds need to feed, nest, and survive. ( #2 The Nature Conservancy)
These carefully planned and controlled burns play a vital role in maintaining vibrant, diverse habitats that benefit pollinators, birds, and the entire ecosystem. Controlled burns are usually done during the dormant season every 3-5 years to maintain these habitats. Visitors should see a greater diversity of wildflowers blooming this year and less woody vegetation in burned areas.
🌱 Stay tuned for new growth—and keep an eye (and ear!) out for birds returning to these refreshed habitats this season!
Sources:
1) https://prescribedfire.org/learn/why-we-burn/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Why We Burn - Wisconsin Prescribed Fire Council"
2) https://www.nature.org/en-us/about-us/where-we-work/priority-landscapes/midwest/stories-in-the-midwest/midwest-fire/?utm_source=chatgpt.com "Controlled Burns, Wild Benefits"
