Brown-headed Nuthatch (Sitta pusilla) By: Karen Henman Upon moving to the Southeastern part of the United States, I began...
Ring-necked Pheasant by Alex Forsythe It’s the holiday season, so game birds are on the minds of everyone from...
Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) By: Rhiannon Thunell The Wild Turkey is one of North America’s most iconic and well-known...
Turkey Vulture (Cathartes aura) By: Cookie Ferguson “The turkey vulture?!” you say. Yes, indeed, the turkey vulture is one...
Golden-crowned Kinglet (Regulus satrapa) By: Kristen Sweinhart I never felt more like a Disney princess than I did that...
Sanderling (Calidris alba)By Andy Belt If you’ve ever taken a trip in late summer to Lake Michigan, chances are...
Tufted Puffin (Fratercula cirrhata)By Mary Fox When I volunteered to script the July BOTM, one of the first birds...
Red-shouldered Hawk (Buteo lineatus)By Joni James “Kee-aah” “Kee-aah” “Kee-aah” “Kee-aah” “Kee-aah”. Every spring this call rings out across my...
Red-headed Woodpecker (Melanerpes erythrocephalus)by Tracey Setze I can remember the first time I heard red-headed woodpeckers chattering to each...
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) by Alex Forsythe Many of you know that the White-throated Sparrow comes in two forms:...
White-breasted Nuthatch (Sitta carolinensis)By Joni James One of the common birds I am especially fond of is the White-breasted...
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana)By Josh Hill Birding at Work:What the Treasurer sees from his office every day The Brown...
Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) by Tanner Troyer The Northern Shrike is a songbird that can seem harmless at first glance. Its...
Eastern Screech-Owl
, Bird of the month, bird of the month, eastern screech owl, nesting, pellet, shari mccollough, 0Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops Asio)By Shari McCollough The first time I heard the whinny call of a Eastern Screech Owl I'm not...
Lincoln’s Sparrow (Melospiza lincolnii)By Rhiannon Thunell There are few birds that I am excited to see in the spring...
Northern Saw-whet Owl
, Bird of the month, bird of the month, cookie ferguson, northern saw-whet owl, 0Northern Saw-whet Owl (Aegolius acadicus)By Cookie Ferguson Who “Toots” in the Woods? Walking in the woods on a brisk...
American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)By Angela Clark The American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos) is dressed all in black from its beak...
Great Egret (Ardea alba) By Joni James Great egret. With its head tucked and legs extended behind, you could...
Worm-eating Warbler (Helmitheros vermivorum)By John Lindsey Deep in the Hoosier National Forest along a steep ravine, a small bird...
Indigo BuntingBy Alex Forsythe Seen from a distance or in poor light, this month’s Bird of the Month just...
Tree Swallow (Tachycineta bicolor)by Joni James Every mid- March, I anxiously await the return of my “friends” — Tree...
Cerulean Warbler (Setophaga cerulea)By Kristen Sweinhart Standing on the road near the Duneside Shelter and Trail 2 inside the...
Blue-winged Teal (Anas discors)By Matt Beatty For many IAS members, the best part about birding in Indiana is the...
Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)by Alex Forsythe Imagine eating 10 – 20% of your body weight during a meal, washing...
Golden Eagle (Aquila chrysaetos) By Mark Welter In Indiana, Bald Eagles get all the love. And why not? They...
Sanderling (Calidris alba) By Rhiannon Thunell Head to the beach on Lake Michigan in late summer and you will...
White-throated Sparrow (Zonotrichia albicollis) by Kim Ehn By Kim Ehn “From my upstairs window, I watch a bunch of...
Chimney Swift (Chaetura pelagica) by Alexandra Forsythe Looking for a home blessing? Try this one: “Grant to this chimney...
Eastern-Screech Owl
, Bird of the month, alee forsberg, bird of the month, bom, eastern screech owl, megascops, owl, 0Eastern Screech-Owl (Megascops asio) by Allee Forsberg As an owl enthusiast, it’s sometimes impossible to choose a favorite owl...
Yellow-breasted Chat (Icteria virens) By Josh Hill What bird was once classified as a Wood Warbler but was recently...
Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas) By Carl Wilms When I first became acquainted with the Common Yellowthroat (banding code: COYE), I...
Prothonotary Warbler (Protonotaria citrea) by Alex Forsythe If someone asked you to “describe the color yellow”, how would you...
Yellow-rumped Warbler
, Bird of the month, april raver, bird of the month, butter butt, yellow-rumped warbler, 0Yellow-rumped Warbler (Setophaga coronata) by April Raver “Just a bunch of butterbutts!” When I first began birding several years...
House Wren (Troglodytes aedon) by Philip English I'm always on the lookout for something I didn't already know. How...
Carolina Wren (Thryothorus ludovicianus) by Philip English The State bird of South Carolina, and with its voice being one of...
Winter Wren (Troglodytes hiemalis) by Philip English The Winter Wren is a complex bird. Of all wrens found today in...
Northern Shrike (Lanius borealis) by Tanner Troyer The Northern Shrike is a songbird that can seem harmless at first...
Brown Creeper (Certhia americana) by Sarah McKillip With winter approaching, I look forward to adding more Brown Creepers to my...
Barn Owl
, Bird of the month, allee forsberg, barn owl, bird of the month, midwestern owl, tyto, tyto alba, 0Barn Owl (Tyto alba) by Allee Forsberg If Australia’s Sooty Owl is a clear starry night, its cousin the...
American Avocet (Recurvirostra Americana) by Kim Ehn Avocets are a spectacular-looking shorebird that regularly swims as they feed in...
Barn Swallow (Hirundo rustica) By John Velasquez You have to love this long distance flyer. I chose to highlight the Barn...
Pied-billed Grebe
, Bird of the month, annie aguirre, bird of the month, chibi, peter griffin, pied-billed grebe, podiceps, 0Pied-billed Grebe (Podilymbus podiceps) By Annie Aguirre Back in spring of 2015, my first attempt at birding solo was not going...
Yellow-headed Blackbird
, Bird of the month, bird of the month, calumet, matt beatty, yellow-headed blackbird, 0Yellow-headed Blackbird (Xanthocephalus xanthocephalus) By Matt Beatty Hoosier birders are fortunate to live in an ecological crossroads, where species from the...
American Kestrel
, Bird of the month, american kestrel, bird of the month, falcon, kestrel, mark welter, spark bird, 0American Kestrel (Falco Sparverius) By Mark Welter Every birder has a “spark bird” – the one that first kindled their...
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
, Bird of the month, bird of the month, kristin stratton, yellow-crowned Night-Heron, 0Yellow-crowned Night-Heron (Nyctanassa violacea) by Kristin Stratton On June 4, 2014 while making a pot of coffee to start...
Eastern Bluebird
, Bird of the month, Uncategorized, bird of the month, eastern bluebird, jeff canada, 0Eastern Bluebird (Sialia sialis) by Jeff Canada I am often asked “how did you get into birding?’ There is...
Bald Eagle
, Bird of the month, april raver, Bald Eagle, bird of the month, eagle, endangerd species, 0Bald Eagle (Haliaeetus leucocephalus) by April Raver As you are out driving one day, a bit of motion in the sky...
American Tree Sparrow (Spizelloides arborea) by Kim Ehn While most people think Dark-eyed Juncos are the “sign of winter” birds, I...
Common Goldeneye, (Bucephala clangula) by Kim Ehn Coming from the boreal forests of Canada and Alaska where they nest in...
Terns can sometimes be difficult to identify if you’re new to birding, especially during certain times of year. The...
The Hermit Thrush is one of Indiana’s finest thrushes. It’s beautiful, ethereal, and mystical song is rarely heard in...
Birding in the mountains of Shenandoah National Park was challenging. On the day I arrived, the fog was so...
The Indiana Audubon Society is hosting a fantastic event this year: the Piping Plover Pursuit! The event takes place...
One of the perks of my summer job is its proximity to the ocean. Since I live in Indiana,...
I have a confession to make. When I was driving to NASA, I had a lot of doubts. Would...
Clay-colored Sparrow Photo by Alex Forsythe We all have at least one elusive bird: the bird species that won’t allow...
Painted Bunting Photo by Alex Forsythe A lot of kids head south for Spring Break this time of year....
by Alex Forsythe The male Red-breasted Merganser is distinctive for having what appears to be a perpetual "bad hair...
Laughing Gull by Alex Forsythe It’s been a long winter, and we could all use a good laugh. Why...
Ruby-crowned Kinglet by Alex Forsythe Quick! Identify this bird! Is it a Ruby-crowned Kinglet? Or a Cuvier’s Kinglet? If...
by Alex Forsythe It’s almost time for Thanksgiving, so game birds are on the minds of everyone from hunters...
Barred Owl by Alexandra Forsythe As a raptor rehabber, I’ve been privileged to work with some of the most...
by Alexandra Forsythe “In hidden retreats, where the tangled wilderness of lakes and forests guards in lonely silence the...
Mourning Warbler by Alex Forsythe Discovered in 1810 by Alexander Wilson in Philadelphia, the Mourning Warbler migrates through Indiana...
Prairie Warbler by Alex Forsythe Despite its name, Prairie Warblers are not typically found in prairies or in back...
“The swallows have the air for their province. On tireless wings, with open mouths, they sieve the air, taking...
by Alex Forsythe My family and I took a 3-week road trip out west in September, and what a...
by Alex Forsythe It’s January and winter has definitely arrived! With lows in the single digits, many of us...
by Alex Forsythe I love this time of year! During the holidays, the house is filled with friends, relatives...
by Alex Forsythe It’s that time of year when we think of pumpkin pie and roast turkey with all...
by Alex Forsythe October brings spectacular foliage, perfect temperatures and delicious apples fresh off the trees. It also brings...
by Alex Forsythe The Ruddy Turnstone has a beautiful pattern that blends perfectly with the pebbles and shells on...
by Alex Forsythe Last Mother’s Day, my mom had one request: find her a Scarlet Tanager close enough that...
by Alex Forsythe Many of you know that the White-throated Sparrow comes in two forms: white-crowned and tan-crowned. What...
by Alex Forsythe I have had the pleasure of helping to band a Red-bellied Woodpecker. Their size and the...
by Alex Forsythe Imagine eating 10 – 20% of your body weight during a meal, washing it down with...
by Alex Forsythe A familiar harbinger of spring, the Red-winged Blackbird is a welcome sight, with the males arriving...
by Alex Forsythe This finch dressed like a sparrow can be seen in abundance one year, then rarely the...
by Alex Forsythe The Hairy Woodpecker is often confused with the Downy Woodpecker. They are very similar in appearance, especially if...
by Alex Forsythe From the “bluebird of happiness”, to Judy Garland’s iconic voice singing “Somewhere over the rainbow, bluebirds...
by Alex Forsythe The Downy Woodpecker is the smallest species of woodpecker in North America. It is also one of the most widespread of...
by Alex Forsythe “A very quiet and well-conducted little member of our winter choir, with habits similar to those...
by Alex Forsythe Edward Forbush, renowned ornithologist and at age 16 the Curator of Ornithology for the Worcester Natural...
by Alex Forsythe The Purple Finch is the state bird of New Hampshire, and it is the bird that ornithologist and...
by Alex Forsythe Until 1940, House Finches were only found in the western portion of the United States. In 1940 illegally...
Tufted Titmouse by Alex Forsythe Often we can hear a bird before we see it, so knowing the calls...
by Alex Forsythe The House Sparrow was introduced into North America by Europeans who wanted familiar birds from their...
by Alex Forsythe There are seven species of chickadees that breed in North America, but only two breed in...
by Alex Forsythe Baltimore Orioles, with their bright plumage and beautiful song, are favorites among backyard birders. John James...
by Alex Forsythe This golden bird has the Midas touch! It has won the Pulitzer Prize, it was the...
by Alex Forsythe Are you right- or left-handed? Are you right-handed when you write, but left-handed when you perform...
by Alexandra Forsythe The Peregrine Falcon is the fastest animal in the world, capable of traveling up to 200...
by Alexandra Forsythe I love this photo, mostly because of the memories and emotions that accompany it. This little...
by Alexandra Forsythe Want to start a stampede? Turn toward a crowd of birders and yell, “Kirtland’s Warbler!” The...
by Alexandra Forsythe “You Yellow-bellied Sapsucker!” Compliment or insult? Yosemite Sam used the term “Yellow-bellied Sapsucker” to describe Bugs...
by Alexandra Forsythe The Pied-billed Grebe: a small, chunky waterfowl that behaves like an alligator and has almost as...
by Alexandra Forsythe As I write this, it is 17 degrees Fahrenheit outside. The eggs that my chickens and...
by Alexandra Forsythe Ask any group of people to list their favorite feeder birds and you’re sure to hear...
by Alexandra Forsythe The tiny and adorable Winter Wren looks like a tiny brown ball of fluff with a...
by Alexandra Forsythe The month of October brings to mind beautiful autumn leaves, bountiful harvests and plump pumpkins. For...
by Alexandra Forsythe Despite its size (23” – 33” inches in length with a wingspan of 36”), this member...
by Alexandra Forsythe Looking for a home blessing? Try this one: “Grant to this chimney a swallow.” If you...
by Alexandra Forsythe “To those whose pleasure it is to live in the realm of the Summer Tanager, both...
by Alexandra Forsythe The Canada Warbler is one of the last types of warbler to arrive in spring. This...
by Alexandra Forsythe It’s warbler season! If you watch the brushy areas at the edges of woodlands, you’re likely...
by Alexandra Forsythe The comical American Woodcock is famous for its spring mating display, known as the Sky Dance,...
by Alexandra Forsythe The American Robin is often thought of as a sign of spring, but it is actually...
This will be my last Bird of the Month for the Indiana Audubon Society. I believe it’s time for...
I’ve been busy these last few months, and I haven’t gotten out the “Bird of the Month” the way...
Do you have a “Spark Bird”? Do you remember the bird that “sparked or ignited” your interest in birdwatching? ...
A few days ago I heard someone say, with quite a bit of glee, “Ahhh…soon we’ll be seeing signs...
A month or so ago I received quite a few bird related phone calls and emails from panicked co-workers. These were...
Peter Cashwell, in his book, The Verb to Bird says, “Some birds have broad appeal, some don’t”. Along those...
I’ve decided to deviate a bit on the Bird of the Month. All previous BOTM’s have been birds that...
Last month’s bird was the very common Warbling Vireo. The proverbial pendulum has swung dramatically to the other side...
I’ve seen some great birds lately. Some distinctive ones. Some rare ones. Some colorful ones. Some with very lovely...
I’m a little slow on getting this Bird of the Month out, mainly, because I’ve been on the hunt....
Harrison State Park. I find Ft Harrison to be one of my favorite places to bird in Central Indiana. ...
Springtime is the hardest time for me to select a BOTM. The great spectacle of spring migration is going...
As I reflect on my birding experiences over the last month, I’m greatly challenged once again to select a...
Last month’s Bird of the Month was a duck (American Black Duck), and my birding over last month somewhat...
Many, when they take a look at this month’s bird will say, “Hey, I know what kind of bird...
While I love birds and birding, if I’m honest with myself, I find that I’m a bit jealous of...
As one who spends a lot of time outdoors, I’ve noticed that nature seems harsh at times. Even with...
While leading a team building exercise (birdwatching of course) at work a few months ago, the group encountered this...
As I reflect on my personal birding over the last month, I have to say it was a very...
If you haven’t noticed…birds tend to fascinate me. This month’s feathered friend is like no other. It must be...
Seen from a distance or in poor light, this month’s Bird of the Month just seems like a small,...
I love engaging the next generation of birdwatchers, and I recently had the opportunity to lead a third grade...
If someone asked you to “describe the color yellow”, how would you describe it??? My engineering and science friends...
While growing up as a kid, I can remember my Grandmother Florence often telling me, “Wayne, if you don’t...
ALRIGHT ALREADY!!! I know I’m a month behind on the Bird of the Month…LOL. But…nothing like the approach of...
OK…some birds have great appeal…and some birds…uggghhhh…don’t. We ended 2009 with what I considered to be a very appealing...
OK…some birds have great appeal…and some birds don’t. Being December, I feel a bit compelled to feature a bird...
As a “Birder” I enjoy seeing and observing birds. However, over the years, I’ve come to the conclusion that...
Ask any group of folks what their favorite bird is and many will undoubtedly say, “Cardinal” or “Red Bird”....
While standing on extremely long, thin, pink legs and sporting an elongated delicate-looking bill, this month’s bird appears to...
Author: Douglas “Birdman” Gray People tend to be marveled by birds on varied levels! It’s easy to find poems...