Thanks to a submission and photos from Indiana Audubon member Dan Barriball, the Interpretive Birding Trail at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary is now featured on the Historical Marker Database (HMdb). The listing documents the Sanctuary’s interpretive signs, which guide visitors through a 1.5-mile loop highlighting the diverse habitats and wildlife found on the property.
The interpretive trail begins at the main picnic shelter, where the welcome sign invites visitors to explore the loop and follow the red cardinal trail markers. From there, the signage leads visitors past the ponds, through the prairie, into the riparian woods, and across the wetlands, each stop offering a closer look at the birds, plants, and seasonal changes that define these habitats and shape the Sanctuary’s story.
The HMdb marker page also notes ongoing projects at the Sanctuary, including bird banding and Motus tracking, which uses radio tags to follow bird movements during migration. It highlights several species visitors may encounter along the route, including the Northern Cardinal, Indiana’s state bird.
The HMdb is a crowd-sourced, searchable catalog of historical and interpretive markers, each with photos, location information, and a short site description. The Sanctuary’s new listing now appears alongside nearby markers such as the Canal House and the Whitewater Valley Arts Association, providing added visibility for people exploring the region.
Tags: interpretive trail
