Image: Group of birders with binoculars and scopes watching birds over a misty wetland at sunrise, promoting Indiana Audubon’s Field Birding on the Indiana Birding Trail series.
Indiana’s birding calendar never sits still. Spring migrants pour through wetlands, breeding birds settle into summer territories, fall migration builds along rivers and forests, and late-season birding brings its own surprises.
In 2026, Indiana Audubon is offering a series of Field Birding on the Indiana Birding Trail trips designed to match those seasonal shifts. Each outing visits a different Indiana Birding Trail destination and pairs a small group of participants with experienced Indiana Audubon leaders for a relaxed morning in the field.
These trips explore some of the state’s most productive habitats while building experience with identification, habitat, and seasonal bird activity. They also provide an easy way to make progress on the Indiana Birding Trail Checklist Challenge, a free statewide birding challenge where participants log visits to Indiana Birding Trail sites and qualify for prize drawings throughout the year.
The 2026 series includes four guided outings across Indiana:
- April 12: Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge
- June 13: DePauw Nature Park (new Indiana Birding Trail site in 2026)
- Sept. 12: Tippecanoe River State Park
- Nov. 7: Brookville Lake
Each trip is limited to 20 participants to keep the group small, interactive, and focused in the field. Tickets are $5 for Indiana Audubon members and $15 for non-members. Not sure if you’re a member? Email [email protected] and we’ll confirm. An individual membership costs $30 per year and pays for itself if you plan to attend more than one outing.
Four trips. Four seasons. Four Indiana Birding Trail destinations.
Tags: indiana birding trail
