Indiana Audubon Society serves communities statewide.  Its members are as diverse as the natural regions that make up this great state. Our outreach and education focuses on helping Hoosiers of different communities to cultivate an understanding of the environment and our interrelationships with the natural world. To reach these goals, we provide the following outreach:
Bird Guiding
Indiana Audubon offers custom and private bird guiding services through the society’s expert members. Guiding services can be for individuals or groups.  Click here to download a field checklist of birds seen in the state.  Guiding can occur at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary, Indiana Dunes, or other properties around the state. To learn more, or to request more information, visit our Bird Guiding Page.
Outreach Programs
Indiana Audubon Society directors provide an assortment of outreach programs for local libraries, Audubon chapters, nature centers, nature clubs, and other groups.  Base program fee rates of $100 apply with additional fees based on the program, location, and group size.  A sampling of some recent programs are below.  Custom programs can also be requested. Contact us to schedule a program with your group. Both in-persona nd virtual programs are available. A few examples of past programs include:
- Sandhill Cranes in Indiana (optional fall tour to Jasper Pulaski for additional fee)
eBird 101- A Dunes Birding Festival Primer
- IAS Birding in Cuba
- The Indiana Dunes Longshore FlightÂ
- Pura Vida Birding in Costa Rica
- RADAR Ornithology
- Backyard Birds of Indiana
- Banding Saw-whet Owls in Indiana
- Fall Feeder Finches in Indiana
- Fall Warbler ID
- Bird Sounds ID Workshop
- Owls of Indiana
- Hawkwatching 101
- Bird Banding Demonstrations (location dependent)
eBird 101Schools
Through the Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary, IAS provides school programs directly to students year round.  We offer a wide variety of programs on site as well as at our sanctuary. Program costs are as low as $1/student per program.
We also provide teacher assistance with writing funding proposals, creating outdoor learning areas, and providing additional staff support to our educators throughout the state. Email us to schedule a school program or with additional questions.
In 2018, Indiana Audubon brought Indiana for the Birds to 50 classrooms throughout the state. Indiana for the Birds provides educational materials for elementary teachers and other educators free of cost. This program was funded by a grant from the Efroymson Family Fund. Download the interactive guide here.
Share & Connect
The Indiana Audubon Society Share & Connect program is a new initiative to promote, inspire, and facilitate the next generation of bird enthusiasts and conservationists in Indiana. Share & Connect collects donated new and gently used birding equipment (binoculars, scopes, field guides) and helps connect the donor to Hoosiers looking for assistance with building their birding passion.
Share & Connect is designed for young birders, under-served birding community members, and others that can demonstrate a need for birding equipment to further their interest in birding and conservation in Indiana and beyond. The program is run by generous support of donations and seeks working binoculars, spotting scopes, birding field guides relevant to Indiana birding, and other accessories that help someone advance their skills and interest. Visit the Share & Connect Page to learn more or to apply for the program.
Workshops
Two workshops are currently provided to foster an appreciation for the birds of Indiana.  A 3-hour Crash Course to Indiana Birding is offered at our Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary and other parks and nature centers around state. This introduction to birding covers the history of ornithology to its popularity today.  A bird walk with instruction on binocular and field guide use also accompanies the workshop.  Over 100 species of common Indiana birds are introduced to participants.
A Bird Sounds ID Workshop is a more advanced 3-hour workshop designed to introduce participants to the world of bird sounds around them. Â Why birds sing, what they mean, and dissecting a song from a call are all covered during this interactive workshop. Â Time is made to do some birding in the field to practice some bird sound ID skills.
Bluebird Box Workshops are popular with many civic groups. Â These 2 hour workshops can be put on with the beautiful Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary setting as a back drop. Â Participants build and take home their own box, as well as receive tips on how to manage and care for the box.
eBird 101 is our newest opportunity. This hands-on workshop is designed for both beginning bird watchers and general nature enthusiasts looking to learn more about the the online and mobile portions of the web based application that allow birders to log their bird species in the field, search for interesting and rare birds near them, and even help identify the birds they are seeing.
To schedule a workshop, contact Brad Bumgardner or visit our Trips and Events page for upcoming workshops already scheduled around the state.
