Indiana Audubon

10/06/2026

Passenger Pigeons were once so numerous that their flocks filled the sky, but they disappeared after the last one, died on Sept. 1, 1914. Learn about their story via Terri Gorney Lehman’s latest “Flight Paths Through History” article: https://bit.ly/4zehbSG

10/05/2026

Some big leads have been taken this month in the Indiana Birding Trail Checklist Challenge. Our top 3️⃣ players—mikeminium, EntropysLittleHelper, and Vanessa—have visited over 85% the sites on the Trail, with at least 700 points each. 😮

🎉 Congratulations to Mitra P, who won our Summer Prize Bundle with gift cards to REI, Roberts Camera, and Wild Birds Unlimited, worth $150.

🗓️ With three more months in 2026, there’s still time to make moves in the . Fall is a great season for enjoying warblers, waterfowl, and winter migrants from the Boreal Forests. What will you find?

Don’t forget about our three Grand Prize drawings happening at the end of the year. Learn more and report your progress at bit.ly/ibtchallenge2026.

10/04/2026

There’s only one week left to register for one of 18 October Big Day Hikes with Indiana Land Protection Alliance (ILPA)! Go to obd2026.eventbrite.com to learn more and sign up.

We’ve partnered with ILPA for five years now to host these single-day outings. Everyone is welcome, no matter your birding experience or background. You’ll get to explore both private and public properties, help document local species, and support conservation through community science.

A few hikes are nearly full, but some of the best birding this fall might be at the sites flying a little under the radar. Smaller groups mean a more relaxed pace and more educational time with your guide. Registration closes at noon on Friday, Oct. 9.

Here are some hidden gems to consider:
📍 Asherwood | ACRES Land Trust
📍 Brennan Woods | Clear Lake Township Land Conservancy
📍 Buffalo Trace Woods | Buffalo Trace Land Trust
📍 Mulvey Pond | NICHES Land Trust
📍 Shawnee Karst Preserve | Indiana Karst Conservancy
📍 Lloyd W. Bender Memorial Forest | ACRES Land Trust
📍 Lydick Bog Nature Preserve | Shirley Heinze Land Trust
📍 Meadowbrook Nature Preserve | Shirley Heinze Land Trust
📍 Webster Woods | Cardinal Land Conservancy

OBD 2025 Images: Kankakee Sands (photo by Alyssa Nyberg); Atherton Island Natural Area (photo by Denise Marie Sobieski); and Sam Shine Foundation Preserve (photo by Wyatt Downey).

10/03/2026

Want to support our Northern Saw-whet Owl research this fall? Here are a couple of ways you can help.

🛍️ Purchase Project Owlnet merch in our online store: https://inaudubon.square.site. We just added a forest green hoodie, plus lens cleaners, travel mugs, and more. Every purchase supports this research!

🎨 You can also join us for a Saw-whet Owl Painting Workshop on Saturday, Oct. 10, at Chesterton Art Center. Humane Indiana Wildlife will bring their ambassador saw-whet owl, so you’ll get to meet her up close before painting your own acrylic version of this fierce little cutie. This event is a fundraiser for Project Owlnet. Sign up at owlnetworkshop.eventbrite.com.

10/02/2026

The 2026-2027 Winter Finch Forecast has been released. Every year, The Finchmasters - Finch Research Network checks seed and cone crops in Canada to predict which northern finches might travel south. This winter should be pretty quiet in Indiana because good crops up north and east will likely keep most finches there.

By Tyler Hoar: Cover Photo of Dancing Crossbills by Jamie Sylvan– GENERAL FORECAST: Last year was a bit of a mixed bag for boreal irruptions, but it was a solid flight year here in the Read More

09/30/2026

🛠️ Meet Bill Cummings, an engineer and Indiana Audubon volunteer. Bill has helped out at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary for 30 years, designing several footbridges and maintaining beehives on the property. Read his Q&A: https://bit.ly/3VwzGmv

We appreciate the help of any and all volunteers! Fill out the interest form at indianaaudubon.org/volunteering to get involved. Each month, we share upcoming opportunities, including habitat and trail workdays, bird banding programs, and event support across the state.

09/29/2026

Will you be joining us for Big Day? It is only 11 days away!

For five years, Indiana Audubon and Indiana Land Protection Alliance have hosted Big Day, and this year’s event is happening October 10!

Red-tail Land Conservancy will be hosting at McVey Memorial Forest, alongside Indiana Audubon host Elena Paul!

Elena has been birding for as long as she can remember, but picking up a camera in high school changed the way she experienced birding. Today, she uses photography to capture the stories and natural behaviors of birds and share them with others.

“My personal favorite thing is the ability to really witness natural behaviors of birds that you wouldn't necessarily see if you weren't looking for it.”

We’re excited to have Elena joining us at McVey! Come explore, discover some birds, and celebrate Indiana’s incredible birdlife with us.

Will we see you there?
Registration: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2026-october-big-day-hikes-with-ilpa-tickets-1993606052369

Photo Credits: Matt Howell & Red-tail Staff

09/29/2026

⏰ It’s time for another prize drawing in the Indiana Birding Trail Checklist Challenge. This time, all players who have earned over 50 points between July 1 and Sept. 30 are eligible for the summer “Trail Adventures” bundle, which includes gifts from REI and Roberts Camera.

Don’t forget to report your progress via the online form before 11:59 p.m. on Sept. 30 for leaderboard updates and prize drawing eligibility.

Our next drawings will be the end-of-year grand prizes! See the full leaderboard and report your progress, plus peep grand prize bundles at indianaaudubon.org/ibt-challenge-leaderboard-and-prizes.

⭐️ Another reminder: If you’ve been playing along, we’d love to share your travels with our followers on social media. Send a screenshot of one of your checklists to [email protected] before Oct. 16 to be featured in a collaborative journey post.

09/28/2026

Fall is for the birds—sparrows and owls in particular! 🦉 Enjoy s’mores while meeting Indiana’s smallest owl, go birding at a new-to-you nature preserve with Indiana Land Protection Alliance, or finally learn to tell those little brown sparrows apart.

🗓️ See what’s coming up on our calendar and find a program, workshop, or field trip at indianaaudubon.org/events.

09/26/2026

🍂 Notice the owls getting louder after dark? Fall’s arrival brings more calling, and more chances to help. Seven ways to support Indiana's owls this season, from nest boxes to owl adoptions.

Read the article: https://bit.ly/4yOyklr

Images: Eastern Screech-Owl in a tree cavity (photo by Ryan Sanderson); American Barn Owl chick (photo by Andy Belt); and a secretive Northern Saw-whet Owl in a cedar tree (photo by Austin Broadwater).