Music
Music
Mark your calendar to join us on April 17-19 & April 25, 2020
&
Wildflower Extravaganza and
Ohio Valley Birding Festival!
The Ohio Valley Birding Festival is an Evansville Audubon Society event featuring guided spring migratory birdwatching hikes in southwestern Indiana and western Kentucky along with family friendly birding activities at John James Audubon State Park in Henderson, Kentucky.
Wildflower Extravaganza & Ohio Valley Birding Festival 2020 Schedule of Events
(Friday, April 17th - Sunday, April 19th & Saturday, April 25th)
Note: All times are Central time zone. Please choose appropriate footwear as many hike areas present marshy conditions.
Friday, April 17
Patoka River NWR Birding Hike 7 A.M. -- Meet at Boyd Woods, Oakland City, IN; Approx. 2-3 hrs.; Sturdy shoes recommended.
Join us for a birding walk through Boyd Woods in search of warblers and other migratory songbirds, continuing the hike past Snakey Point Marsh for possible views of waterfowl and marsh birds, and ending at a little-visited portion of Columbia Mine Preserve to look for grassland sparrows.
Directions: East on SR 64 out of Oakland City 1 mile from SR 357 (Main) to CR 1275E (look for Refuge sign). Turn left and follow signs to Snakey Point Marsh and continue on to parking lot on left at Boyd Woods (Maxey Marsh on right).
Howell Wetland Birding Hike 5 P.M. -- Meet at Howell Wetlands parking lot at 1400 Tekoppel Ave., Evansville, IN; Approx. 2 hrs.
Accompany us for a walk through this restored wetland park in search of early spring migrants.
Saturday, April 18
Birding at Audubon Wetlands* 7 A.M. -- Meet at Audubon Wetlands, across from 790 Wolf Hills Road, Henderson, KY; Approx. 2 hrs; Wear shoes for marshy conditions.
A wetland property acquisition essentially doubles the size of Audubon State Park. Help us identify this
bottomland forest’s bird guests. This property has a heron rookery and an active bald eagle nest.
Audubon’s Bird Migration Walk* 8:30 A.M. -- Audubon Museum, J. J. Audubon SP; Approx. 1.5 hrs
The park’s Beech-Maple forest is an urban oasis for woodland songbirds and shorebirds. In addition to the seven woodpecker species, several neo-tropical migrants make their home here. Join us as we hope to spot Eastern Bluebirds, Baltimore Orioles, Yellow-Throated and Prothonotary Warblers, Scarlet and Summer Tanagers, Belted Kingfishers, Indigo Buntings, Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds, White-Eyed and Red-Eyed Vireos. New birders are welcome!
Wildflower Walk* 9:00 A.M. -- Audubon Museum, J. J. Audubon SP; Approx. 1 hr
Spring wildflowers are emerging. Join us for this leisurely 1/2-mile hike in and around our woods as we try to identify as many early wildflowers as we can. This naturalist-led hike will likely pass by areas of Virginia Bluebells, Cut-leaf Toothwort, Mayapples, and more.
Family Birding Fun! 9:30 A.M. -- Noon; Stop by anytime! Audubon Museum, J.J. Audubon SP
Make-N-Take Rock-a-Birds --These fun little paper creations will keep young hands busy for a while. A scissors and glue will help design your very own bird species.
Aiming to Save -- Can you gather all the habitat components needed to survive? Play this beanbag toss game to experience the difficulties a bird faces in finding just the right place to live. Will your bird stay alive?.
Junior Birders Hike* 10:00 A.M. -- Audubon Museum, J.J. Audubon SP; Approx. 1 hr to 1.5 hrs
Accompany the Junior Birders as they assist Evansville Audubon Society members on a hike through John James Audubon State Park. Appropriate for ages 8-18 with an adult. Binoculars will be provided.
Hands-on Bird Banding Workshop 10:30 A.M. -- Noon; Stop by anytime! Audubon Museum,
J. J. Audubon SP
Come help with an ongoing conservation project as we catch, identify, band, and release birds from John James Audubon State Park. Bird banding helps us understand bird migration, behavior, social structure, lifespan and survival rates, and population trends. A great opportunity for spotting early migratory birds and for connecting with nature, so bring a camera!
Spring Wildflowers of Audubon State Park 10:30 A.M.-- Audubon Museum Theater, J.J. Audubon SP; Approx. 45 mins
Are you familiar with the spring wildflowers in this area? Let Park Naturalist, Lisa Hoffman, introduce you to the typical spring flora found in John James Audubon State Park. This presentation will also share traditional Native American and early American uses and folklore about these spring plants.
“Audubon's Extinct Birds -- True or Not?" presented by Tom Jake 11:30 A.M. --Audubon Museum Theater, J. J. Audubon SP; Approx. 1 hr
Did you know several birds depicted in John James Audubon's artwork have gone extinct? And several birds were thought to have gone extinct, but perhaps have not? Did you know Audubon painted some "mystery" species? Join historian, Tom Jake, for this informative discussion about the fascinating bird artistry of John James Audubon.
“Raptors Wild!” presented by The Talon Trust 12:45 P.M. -- Friends of Audubon Meeting Room, J. J. Audubon SP; Donations accepted for The Talon Trust; Approx. 1 hr
Enjoy an interactive personal experience with live raptors! Volunteers from The Talon Trust, Inc. will share stories of birds that have been injured and can’t survive in the wild, and now serve as ambassadors for their species.
The Talon Trust, Inc. is a local volunteer-based organization dedicated to the conservation of native raptors through rescue, rehabilitation, and education. All donations received by The Talon Trust go to help feed and care for injured raptors.
During the Birding Festival, a silent auction benefiting The Talon Trust will be offered on-site and on their Facebook page from 10 A.M. - 3 P.M..
Owl Puke--Yuck! Or Not? 2:15 P.M. -- Audubon Museum Nature Center, J. J. Audubon SP; Approx. 1 hr
The thought of owl puke may seem disgusting, but wait until you see what’s inside that lump! These nocturnal hunters seek out all sorts of prey. Discover what critters the owls consider a tasty dinner when you dissect a sterilized owl pellet. You just may be amazed at what you find!
Wildflower Walk & Scavenger Hunt* 3:00 P.M. -- Audubon Museum, J. J. Audubon SP;
Approx. 1 hr to 1.5 hrs
Spring wildflowers are emerging. Join us for this 1-mile trek over nature preserve trails to try to identify as many wildflowers as possible. We’ll up the fun by making it a scavenger hunt! How many flowers can you check off the list on this naturalist-led hike?
*Portions of these hikes are ADA accessible. Please ask your hike guide for information.
Sunday, April 19
Eagle Slough Natural Area Birding Hike 7:00 A.M. -- Meet at the Eagle Slough entrance on Waterworks Rd, just north of Ellis Park; Approx. 2 hrs
This local urban wetland was recently returned to its natural state. Join us for an early morning birding walk through this 127-acre property. Expect to see a variety of warblers, migratory songbirds, and late shorebirds, including Wood Ducks, Winter Wrens, vireos, thrushes, tanagers, etc. Bring binoculars if you have them.
Saturday, April 25
Birding the Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife Area 6:30 P.M. -- Meet at Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife Area man parking lot; Approx. 2 hrs
Join us at the Bluegrass Fish and Wildlife Area main parking lot where we carpool out to view Owls, Waterfowl, Nightjars and lingering Woodcocks.
Directions: Proceed to eastbound New Harmony Road off of Interstate 69, Exit 15. The parking lot is to the north, just past Kippel Road.