Indiana Audubon Society extends its services statewide, serving members as diverse as the natural regions of our great state. Our outreach and education initiatives aim to foster environmental understanding and highlight our interrelationships with the natural world within various Hoosier communities. To reach these goals, we offer the following outreach and education efforts.

Ready to request a program, workshop, or event tabling? Submit your request, and we’ll get in touch soon to discuss the details.

Outreach Programs

We offer an assortment of outreach programs for local libraries, Audubon chapters, nature centers, nature clubs, and other groups. The base program fee is $100, with additional charges based on the program, location, and group size. Recent programs are outlined below, and custom programs can be requested. Both in-person and virtual options are available.

Examples of past programs include:

  • An Indiana Dunes Birding Festival Primer
  • Backyard Birds of Indiana
  • Banding Northern Saw-whet Owls in Indiana
  • Beak to Tail: Indiana’s Birding Trail
  • Bird Banding Demonstrations (location dependent)
  • Birding Through the Seasons: The Temporal Delights of Indiana’s Birdlife
  • eBird 101
  • IAS Birding in Cuba
  • Indiana Hawkwatching
  • Fall Feeder Finches in Indiana
  • Fall Warbler ID
  • Migration 101
  • Owls of Indiana & Project Owlnet
  • Pura Vida Birding in Costa Rica
  • RADAR Ornithology
  • The Indiana Dunes Longshore Flight 
  • The Return of Sandhill Cranes in Indiana (optional fall tour to Jasper Pulaski for additional fee)
  • Tracking Owls with Indiana Audubon

If you’re ready to discuss a program, submit a request via our online form.

Workshops

We have two workshops aimed at cultivating an appreciation for Indiana’s birds: Crash Course to Indiana Birding and Bird Sounds ID. The three-hour Crash Course to Indiana Birding can be hosted at our Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary or other parks and nature centers statewide. Covering the history of ornithology to its current popularity, this introductory workshop includes a bird walk with guidance on using binocular and field guides, acquainting participants to over 100 common Indiana bird species.

For a more advanced experience, Bird Sounds ID is a three-hour workshop familiarizes participants with the diverse world of bird sounds. Why birds sing, what they mean, and differentiating songs from calls are all covered during this interactive workshop. Some birding in the field to practice some bird sound ID skills is included.

Bluebird Nest Box workshops are popular with many civic groups. These two-hour workshops can take place at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary or on location at another facility. Participants build and take home their own box while receiving tips on box management and care.

This workshop explores the online and mobile components of the eBird web-based application, allowing participants to log bird species, search for interesting birds in their vicinity, and even contribute to bird identification.

Our newest offering, eBird 101, is a hands-on workshop suitable for both novice bird watchers and general nature enthusiasts. This workshop explores the online and mobile components of the eBird web-based application, allowing participants to log bird species, search for interesting birds in their vicinity, and even get help identify the birds they are seeing.

To schedule a workshop, submit a request via our online form.

Schools

Through the Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary, IAS directly delivers year-round school programs to students. We offer a wide variety of programs at our sanctuary, with costs as low as $1/student per program.

Additionally, we extend support to teachers in writing funding proposals, creating outdoor learning areas, and providing extra staff support to educators across the state.

To schedule a school program or get further information, submit a request via our online form.

In 2018, Indiana Audubon brought Indiana for the Birds to 50 classrooms throughout the state. This program provides free educational materials for elementary teachers and other educators. It was made possible by a grant from the Efroymson Family Fund. Download the interactive guide here.

Event Tabling

Invite Indiana Audubon to have a table at your community event! Our knowledgeable staff, board, and volunteers are ready to share insights about birds, preserving and creating bird-friendly habitats, and more. To request IAS community engagement at your event, contact Whitney Yoerger, communications and outreach manager, at [email protected] or complete the online request form.

Share & Connect

The Indiana Audubon Society Share & Connect program is a newly launched initiative to promote, inspire, and facilitate the next generation of bird enthusiasts and conservationists in Indiana. Share & Connect facilitates the collection of donated new and gently used birding equipment. The program also connects the donor with Hoosiers seeking assistance in building their birding passion.

Share & Connect is designed for young birders, under-served members of the birding community, and individuals demonstrating a need for birding equipment to further their interest in birding and conservation in Indiana and beyond. The program operates by generous support of donations and seeks working binoculars, spotting scopes, birding field guides relevant to Indiana birding, and other accessories that contribute to skill development and sustained interest.

To learn more or to apply, visit the Share & Connect Page.

Bird Guiding

Indiana Audubon offers personalized and private bird guiding services through the expertise of our society members. These services can be for individuals or groups, offering an opportunity to explore Indiana’s rich birdlife. (Click here to download our field checklist of birds seen in the state.) Guiding sessions can take place various locations, including Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary, Indiana Dunes, and other destinations across the state.

For additional details or to request more information, visit our Bird Guiding Page.

Have a partnership opportunity for Indiana Audubon? Contact us!

2022 Copyright ©  Indiana Audubon Society, Inc.

Log in with your credentials

Forgot your details?