The 2023 Ohio Valley Birding Festival is scheduled to run from Friday, April 28 through Sunday, April 30.  This page contains a listing of all the hikes and activities associated with this year's festival.

Schedule:

Friday, April 28, 2023

7am: Patoka River NWR Birding Hike
Location: Meet at Boyd Woods on the Refuge, Oakland City, Indiana
Approximately  2-3 hours
Sturdy Shoes Recommended

Join us for a birding walk through Boyd Woods in search of warblers and other migratory songbirds. We'll continue the hike past Snakey Point Marsh for possible views of waterfowl and marsh birds, and end at a little-visited portion of the Columbia Mine Preserve to look for grassland sparrows.

Directions: East on SR 64 out of Oakland City one mile from SR 357 (Main Street) to CR 1275E (look for refuge sign).  Turn left and follow signs to Snakey Point Marsh and continue on to the parking lot on the left at Boyd Woods (Maxey Marsh on the right).

5pm: Howell Wetlands Birding Hike
Location: Meet at Howell Wetlands Parking Lot, 1400 Tekoppel Avenue, Evansville, Indiana
Approximately 2 hours

Accompany us on a search for early spring migrants, during a walk through this restored wetland and grassland area on Evansville's West Side.  Expect to see warblers, vireos, thrushes and other migratory songbirds as you walk the trails and boardwalks.

Saturday, April 29, 2023

7am: Birding at Audubon Wetlands
Location: Meet at Audubon Wetlands across from 790 Wolf Hills Road Henderson, Kentucky
Approximately 2 hours
Wear shoes for marshy conditions

This recent wetland acquisition essentially doubles the size of Audubon State Park. Help us identify the bottomland forest birds that occupy this wetland including woodpeckers and several of the spring songbird migrants. This property is home to a heron rookery and an active bald eagle nest. Please note that this hike is dependent upon Ohio River flood stages.  If water levels at Evansville surpass 32 feet, please meet at Audubon Park Museum for an alternate hike.

Portions of this hike may be ADA accessible.  Please ask your hike guide for information

9:00am: Audubon's Bird Migration Walk
Location: Meet at Audubon Museum, John James Audubon State Park, Henderson, Kentucky
Approximately 1.5 hours

The Park's Beech-Maple forest is an urban oasis for woodland songbirds.  In addition to the seven woodpecker species, several Neo-tropical migrants can be seen.  Join us as we look for Eastern Bluebirds, Baltimore Orioles, Yellow-throated and Prothonotary Warblers, Scarlet and Summer Tanagers, Belted Kingfishers, Indigo Buntings, Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, White-eyed and Red-eyed Vireos. New birders are welcome!  Members of the Evansville Audubon Society's Jr. Birders will assist with this hike.

*Portions of this hike may be ADA accessible.  Please ask your hike guide for information.

10:00am - 12:30pm: Family Birding Fun (Day One) - Stop by Anytime
Location: Audubon Museum, John James Audubon State Park, Henderson, Kentucky

Make-N-Take Birdnoculars:  These fun little paper creations will keep young eyes focused on spotting skills and develop hand-eye coordination.  Get your kids well on their way toward exploring nature and becoming birdwatchers!
Bird Behavior Scavenger Hunt: Observing  birds in the wild is fun but takes some patience and skill.  Bird behaviors are plentiful and may vary from species to species.  Take our scavenger hunt challenge and look carefully while you are here.  How many bird behaviors can you find?

11:30am: "Helping Bluebirds Survive and Thrive" presented by bluebird authority Bob Peak
Location: in the Audubon Museum Theater, John James Audubon State Park, Henderson, Kentucky
Approximately 30-40 minutes

Having established bluebird trails in Audubon Park, Land Between the Lakes, Lake Barkley SRP, and other areas in Kentucky and Tennessee, Bob Peak has volunteered many years of his life to assisting populations of Eastern Bluebirds and other cavity-nesting species.  The invaluable data he collects assists avian researchers with continued studies of our native birds.  Join us for this informative look at bluebird monitoring projects.

12:15pm: Building the Xbox Nest Box at the Audubon Museum
Location: John James Audubon State Park, Henderson, Kentucky
Approximately 30-45 minutes
Cost: $15/box, preregistration recommended

Give a helping hand to the survival of bird species in your area! Try out your carpentry skills by building a nest box to enhance cavity-nesting habitat. Bob Peak and park naturalists will assist you during this hands-on workshop.  Participant space is limited--reserve your $15 nest box kit by contacting the Audubon Museum at (502) 782-7918.  Pay in person prior to the workshop. "No-show" reservations will be released at 12:15pm: to anyone waiting.

1:30pm: "Raptors Wild!" Presented by the Talon Trust
Location: Friends of the Audubon Meeting Room - Audubon Museum, John James Audubon State Park, Henderson, Kentucky
Donations to the Talon Trust will be accepted
Approximately one hour

Enjoy an interactive personal experience with live raptors!  Volunteers from the Talon Trust, Inc. will share stories of birds that have been injured and can no longer survive in the wild, but now serve as ambassadors for their species.

The Talon Trust, Inc. is a local volunteer-based organization dedicated to the conservation of native raptors through rescue, rehabilitation, and education.  All donations received by the Talon Trust go to help feed and care for injured raptors.

2:45pm: Owl Puke-Yuck! Or not?
Location: Audubon Museum Nature Center, John James Audubon State Park, Henderson, Kentucky
Approximately one hour

The thought of owl puke may seem disgusting at first, but wait until you see what is inside that lump!  These nocturnal hunters seek out all sorts of prey.  Discover what critters the owls consider a tasty dinner when you dissect a sterilized owl pellet.  You just may be amazed at what you find.

Sunday, April 30, 2023

7am: Eagle Slough Natural Area Birding Hike
Location: Meet at the Eagle Slough Entrance On Waterworks Road, Just north of Ellis Park Evansville, Indiana
Approximately 2 hours

This local urban wetland was recently returned to its natural state.  Join us for an early morning birding walk through this 127-acre property.  Expect to see a variety of warblers, thrushes, tanagers, vireos and wrens. Wood ducks and some late shorebirds are also likely.  This is an easy, flat walk along an old railroad bed.

11:00am - 1:00pm: Family Birding Fun (Day Two)--Stop by Anytime
Location: Audubon Museum, John James Audubon State Park, Henderson, Kentucky

Bird Behavior Scavenger Hunt: Observing  birds in the wild is fun but takes some patience and skill.  Bird behaviors are plentiful and may vary from species to species.  Take our scavenger hunt challenge and look carefully while you are here.  How many bird behaviors can you find?
Person-Banding Station:  Understand more about the bird banding process by creating your own unique color-banded identification bracelet.  What story will your person-band tell?

11:30am - 1pm: Hands-on Bird Banding Workshop with Master Bird Bander, Scott Kramer
Location: Audubon Museum (behind the museum), John James Audubon State Park, Henderson, Kentucky

Come help with an ongoing conservation project as we catch, identify, band, and release birds from the John James Audubon State Park.  Bird banding helps us understand bird migration, behavior, social structure, lifespan, survival rates, and population trends.  This is a great opportunity for seeing feathered friends up close and connecting with nature.  So, bring your camera.

12:30pm: Beginner Nature Photography Seminar
Location: Audubon Museum, John James Audubon State Park, Henderson, Kentucky
Approximately 1.5 hours

One of the keys to great nature photography is choosing the right camera settings.  Join us for a beginner's seminar for improving your nature photos!  We'll share some basic tips for making the most of your camera, then take it outdoors to apply these techniques for a photo shoot within the park.  Bring a digital camera or a cell phone with you.

2:00pm: Park Raptors Meet & Greet in the Audubon Museum Theater
Location: Audubon Museum, John James  Audubon State Park, Henderson, Kentucky
Approximately 45 minutes

Having non-releasable live birds of prey as educational ambassadors has been a long-standing tradition at Audubon Park.  Our park naturalists will share our birds with you in this up-close "Meet & Greet". Hear personal stories and learn of their incredible adaptations!

3:00pm: A Stroll Down Warbler Road
Location: John James  Audubon State Park, Henderson, Kentucky
Approximately 1 to 1 1/2 hours

The last scheduled hike for the OVBF will be a stroll down Warbler Road.  This is an easy walk on a paved road and is a suitable hike for everyone.  Your hike leader will help you locate  warblers, vireos, tanagers,  orioles and more.

Date: April 28 - 30, 2023

Location: Various Venues

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