Photo: New bright red porch furniture welcomes visitors to Brooks Hall at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary, made possible through a grant from the Fayette Community Foundation.
This past summer, Indiana Audubon received a $17,658 grant from the Fayette Community Foundation to make upgrades to Brooks Hall at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary. Now that the work’s complete, we’re excited to share what this support has made possible and to invite you to see the changes in person.
Visitors will notice a brighter, more comfortable hall with a new energy-efficient lighting system and sound-dampening wall panels. At our recent Hummingbird Migration Celebration, guests said it was easier to see and hear the presentations, a change that makes programs more enjoyable for everyone.
The furniture has been replaced with sturdy tables and chairs that are easier to move and set up. This makes gatherings more comfortable for groups and less work for staff and volunteers. Just outside, the porch now has bright red seating that ties in with Brooks Hall’s exterior decorations and signage, creating a cohesive and welcoming space to pause and enjoy the sights and sounds of the sanctuary. From there, visitors can also see the accessible birding blind, a reminder of how Mary Gray continues to grow as a place where everyone can experience birds and nature.
Other updates add to the overall visitor experience. New wall-mounted display boards help us share program schedules, announcements, and educational information more clearly. Added shelving gives us space to better organize and feature hands-on learning materials and natural history artifacts that spark curiosity. Fresh brochures and exhibits provide more ways for visitors of all ages to explore the world of birds and conservation. And a new donor tree board in Brooks Hall gives us a dedicated way to thank those who support the sanctuary.
People are already noticing the improvements. Presenters have said the new lighting and sound panels make their talks easier to follow. Visitors have remarked that the hall feels brighter and more inviting. And our volunteers are glad the new tables and chairs make setup and cleanup less of a chore. Altogether, these changes are enhancing the experience for the nearly 2,000 people who take part in programs, field trips, and community events at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary each year.
We’re grateful to the Fayette Community Foundation for making these upgrades possible, and to our members, donors, and volunteers whose support keeps the sanctuary thriving.
If you haven’t been out to Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary in a while, this fall is a good time to come back. Join us for a program or simply walk the trails and stop in Brooks Hall to see what’s new.
All photos by Libby Keyes
Tags: mary gray bird sanctuary
