Indiana Dunes Birding Festival

Indiana Dunes Birding Festival The Indiana Dunes Birding Festival is an annual event that showcases the abundance of migratory birds in the Indiana Dunes.

The Indiana Dunes Birding Festival is an event designed to celebrate the dunes area’s rich biodiversity and bird watching opportunities to create a positive impact on the economic, conservation, and environmental education for visitors and residents to the Indiana Dunes region. The Indiana Dunes Birding Festival is hosted by the Indiana Audubon Society. Visit their page at www.indianaaudubon.org.

Best survey comment of the year?We received a lot of fun and thoughtful feedback after this year’s Indiana Dunes Birding...
06/11/2026

Best survey comment of the year?

We received a lot of fun and thoughtful feedback after this year’s Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, but one comment really said it all:

“PEENT!”

The American Woodcock has already had its turn as a festival logo bird, but let’s hear it: What bird should be next year’s Festival Bird of the Year? Drop your nomination below.

📸: American Woodcock by Michael Topp

Got a bird research project, conservation idea, education program, or natural resources work that could use a boost?This...
06/09/2026

Got a bird research project, conservation idea, education program, or natural resources work that could use a boost?

This is your nudge! Thanks to your support at this year's Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, over $25,000 is available in this year's Mumford & Keller Grants and Scholarship Program.

Bird nerds with auction baskets are indeed a powerful thing! Applications are open now through August 15.

Apply here: https://indianaaudubon.org/mumfordandkeller

Our guides deserve a serious post-festival thank you. Your survey feedback made it clear: the expertise, kindness, enthu...
06/03/2026

Our guides deserve a serious post-festival thank you. Your survey feedback made it clear: the expertise, kindness, enthusiasm, and patience of our field trip leaders are a huge part of what makes IDBF special.

To every guide who helped someone find a lifer, shared a scope, answered warbler questions, wrangled a group, or made a beginner feel welcome, thank you!

Tag a guide who has made your birding memorable.

📸: Unique Cerulean Warbler birding with guide Edward Oehlman.

We’ve heard of bird migration, but this may be our first confirmed case of nest box migration!One of the famous IDBF blu...
06/01/2026

We’ve heard of bird migration, but this may be our first confirmed case of nest box migration!

One of the famous IDBF bluebird boxes, built by Paul Labovitz as part of the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, traveled with Juan Diego Vargas of Lifer Nature Tours, a longtime festival sponsor and guide, packed it into his suitcase and brought it all the way back to Costa Rica.

It is now installed and waiting to see what native Costa Rican species might decide to call it home. Birding has a funny way of connecting people and places!

05/29/2026

During the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, 41 birds were studied and banded, including Gray Catbirds, American Redstarts, Prothonotary Warblers, Magnolia Warblers, Gray-cheeked Thrushes, Veerys, Eastern Phoebes, and more.

One highlight: a Gray Catbird first banded at the festival in 2023 was recaptured this year and is now at least 5 years old. Huge thanks to Audubon Great Lakes and all the volunteers who helped share bird research up close with festival visitors!

More than $30,000 was raised through this year’s Wings of Tomorrow auction at the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, suppor...
05/26/2026

More than $30,000 was raised through this year’s Wings of Tomorrow auction at the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, supporting the Mumford and Keller Grants & Scholarship Program.

Thank you to everyone who donated, bid, shared, and helped turn a week of birding into real conservation impact across Indiana. Watch for applications to open June 1.

📸: Barn Swallow by Shari McCollough.

05/23/2026

The morning bugle! 📢

These moments, like this one during an IDBF tour last week, connect people to birds, conservation and incredible places in the Indiana Dunes.

Huge thanks to Chesterton Feed & Garden Center for raising $2,200 so far in the May round up campaign. Visit through May 31, as we fund bird conservation from the feeder to the flyway!

🎥 by Brad Bumgardner/Indiana Audubon

🐦 What was your favorite bird moment from ? With over 200 species recorded over five incredible days at Indiana Dunes, ...
05/22/2026

🐦 What was your favorite bird moment from ?

With over 200 species recorded over five incredible days at Indiana Dunes, you've got plenty to choose from! Was it the wave of Connecticut Warblers on Sunday? A Cedar Waxwing flock in the thousands? Or maybe that lone Red Knot at Michigan City Harbor closing out the festival? Drop your best memory below! 👇

Read more: https://bit.ly/4dmfAly

Address

1215 N STATE Road 49
Chesterton, IN
46304

Website

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when Indiana Dunes Birding Festival posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Organization

Send a message to Indiana Dunes Birding Festival:

Shortcuts

Share

Category