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Ohio Valley Birding Festival--2023
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. You can click here to download a schedule and you can download the OVBF bird checklist here.
Watch our 2023 Ohio Valley Birding Festival Video
Friday, April 28
Patoka River NWR Birding Hike
7 A.M. 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).
Henslow's Sparrow Photo Credit: Joshua Clark
Howell Wetlands Birding Hike
5 P.M. 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.
Wood Thrush Photo Credit: Steve Maslowski
Saturday, April 29
Birding at Audubon Wetlands*
7 A.M. 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.
Boardwalk at Audubon Wetlands
Audubon's Bird Migration Walk*
9:00 A.M. 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.
Red-headed Woodpecker Photo Credit: Gary Robinette
Family Birding Fun (Day One)
10:00 A.M. to 12:30 P.M.--Stop by Anytime
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?
Audubon Museum-JJ Audubon State Park
"Helping Bluebirds Survive and Thrive"
presented by bluebird authority Bob Peak
11:30 A.M. 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.
Guest Speaker: Bob Peak
Building the Xbox Nest Box
12:15 P.M. at the Audubon Museum
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 12:15 P.M. to anyone waiting.
An Example of a Nest Box Kit
"Raptors Wild!" Presented by the Talon Trust
1:30 P.M. 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.
Lauren Norvell: Talon Trust
Owl Puke-Yuck! Or not?
2:45 P.M. 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.
Owl Pellets
Sunday, April 30
Eagle Slough Natural Area Birding Hike
7 A.M. 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.
Wood Duck Photo Credit: D.L. Batema
Family Birding Fun (Day Two)
11:00 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.--Stop by Anytime
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?
Audubon Museum--JJ Audubon State Park
Hands-on Bird Banding Workshop with Master Bird Bander, Scott Kramer
11:30 A.M. to 1 P.M.
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.
Bird Banding
Beginner Nature Photography Seminar
12:30 P.M. 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.
B&H Photo: from Best cameras for beginners
Park Raptors Meet & Greet
2:00 P.M. in the Audubon Museum Theater
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!
Audubon Park Educational Ambassador
A Stroll Down Warbler Road
3:00 P.M.
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.
Stolling down Warbler Road
Sponsors for the Ohio Valley Birding Festival are the
Evansville Audubon Society and John James Audubon State Park
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