Seasons Greetings!
At sunrise at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary, the old bridge still stands quietly over the creek. It’s worn, but holding on. By March, a new one will take its place, reconnecting people to the heart of the Sanctuary. When spring migrants return, their songs will echo across restored trails and thriving habitats you’ve helped protect.
That bridge is more than a structure. It’s a symbol of connection — between places, between projects, and between people who care deeply for birds.
Because of you, Indiana Audubon continues to connect the dots between research, education, and on-the-ground conservation. From tracking Wood Thrushes across continents through the Chasing Melody Project, to listening for their night calls with Echoes of the Night Sky, and restoring critical habitats like Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary, your support keeps this work in motion.
This year, we’ve launched a special challenge match, thanks to several longtime members and friends. When we reach the goal, we’ll unlock $30,000 total to fund key projects such as:
- Project Owlnet – Expanding Saw-whet Owl research statewide.
- Bird Safe Indiana – Growing outreach and education to reduce bird threats.
- Echoes of the Night Sky – Empowering citizen scientists to listen for migrants.
- Lake Michigan Flight Surveys – Continuing nearly 20 years of migration data.
- Indiana Barn Owl Project– Setting the stage for future recovery of this unique owl.
- Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary – Accessibility and bridge improvements for 2026.
- Loggerhead Shrike Program – Protecting one of Indiana’s most at-risk species.
- Need Based and Accessible Scholarships – Expanding access to IAS events and IDBF.
Every dollar you give by December 31 will be matched dollar-for-dollar, up to $17,000. Together, we can ensure that when the Wood Thrushes return this spring, they’ll find not only a renewed bridge at Mary Gray, but a community still bridging gaps for birds across Indiana and beyond.
—Brad Bumgardner, Executive Director
Tags: community giving
