That’s a wrap! Take a look at the numbers below that tell our story of conservation, education, and community. Thank you to everyone who connected with us this year – whether on a field trip, at a program, through shared bird sightings, volunteering, adopting a bird, donating, or simply spreading the word. Your engagement fuels our mission.
Wishing you a wonderful year ahead, filled with more birds, nature, and joy!
128
Unique experiences offered in 2024, including tours, trips, events, workshops, programs, outreach, and the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival.
5,184
A record-breaking number of people we engaged with throughout the year, fostering conservation and community engagement.
747
Total birders registered for the 2024 Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, which comprised 181 events across four days. The festival’s 10-year milestone marked a decade of growing popularity, with record attendance and engagement, paving the way for enhanced experiences in years to come.
$13,114.80
Total funds awarded to nine recipients through the Mumford and Keller Grants and Scholarships program, amplifying our mission.
12
Scholarships to support conservation education: 10 promoted inclusivity in birding at the 2024 Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, while two funded natural resource stewardship through the Indiana Master Naturalist course at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary.
26
Motus Wildlife Tracking System nanotags deployed on Wood Thrushes in Indiana for Chasing Melody, which launched this year as part of a groundbreaking study spanning 26 U.S. states and Ontario. Continued support from the Sam Shine Foundation enables us to expand this research in 2025!
77
Nocturnally migrating species identified during spring and fall migrations through Echoes of the Night Sky, our new citizen science project that trained 15 Indiana Audubon volunteers. Notable species high counts included 2,740 Swainson’s Thrushes and 850 American Redstarts, both recorded during the fall season.
552
Individuals who learned about the elusive Northern Saw-whet Owl at our public banding events, complementing our 2024 Project Owlnet research efforts, which resulted in 100 owls banded (93 at the Indiana Dunes, 7 at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary).
28
Young Loggerhead Shrikes fledged in Indiana in 2024, which was a banner year for this State Endangered species. Your adoptions through our Adopt a Shrike program safeguards their future, planting cedar shrubs that supply crucial cover and hunting perches.
214,425
Individual birds from 209 species migrated through the Indiana Dunes this spring, a remarkable tally recorded by our Longshore Flight Bird Survey despite challenging weather. Conversely, the 2024 Lake Michigan Fall Waterbird Count yielded 48,693 birds (172 species), with a season-high tally on Nov. 30. Kudos to our counters for their exceptional contributions, powering data-driven conservation and decision-making. Read blog posts from the spring and fall counts here.
5
Number of Indiana communities that expanded the state’s bird-friendly network in 2024, with two earning new Bird Town Indiana designations and three achieving recertification, collectively enhancing habitats, supporting migratory routes, and inspiring local conservation efforts.
4,000+
Hours of compassion in action. Our volunteers drove conservation progress in 2024 through board service, sanctuary stewardship, event support, bird banding, and nocturnal flight call monitoring. These contributions are the backbone of our statewide efforts, and we’re deeply thankful for the time, expertise, and support of our dedicated volunteers!
Header Images (L-R Clockwise): The Longshore Tower at the Indiana Dunes State Park by Brad Bumgardner; mothing event at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary by Libby Keyes; the 800th Northern Saw-whet Owl captured at the Indiana Dunes by Sarah Barnes; Youth and Family Birding Day at the Douglas Center for Environmental Education by Savannah Bennett; October Big Day hike by Evie Kirkwood; nano-tagged Wood Thrush by Allisyn Gillet; spring songbird round-up fundraiser by Chesterton Feed and Garden Center; AudioMoth recorder by Whitney Yoerger; and sparrow ID workshops participants by Whitney Yoerger.
