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Ohio Valley Birding Festival--2022
The 2022 Ohio Valley Birding Festival is scheduled to run from Friday, April 22 through Sunday, April 24. 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. The 2023 OVBF is scheduled for April 28-30, 2023. The schedule and updated information will be posted here soon.
Friday, April 22
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, continuing the hike past Snakey Point
Marsh for possible views of waterfowl and marsh birds, and ending 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.
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 23
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.
Boardwalk at Audubon Wetlands
Audubon's Bird Migration Walk
8:30 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!
Red-headed Woodpecker Photo Credit: Gary Robinette
Family Birding Fun
9:30 A.M to Noon--Stop by Anytime
Audubon Museum
John James Audubon State Park
Henderson, Kentucky
Make-N-Take Rock-a-Birds: These fun little paper creations
will keep young hands busy for a while. A scissors and glue
will be used to help design your very own bird species.
Aiming to Save: Can you gather all the habitat components needed to survive? Play this
bean toss game to experience the difficulties a bird faces in finding just the right place to live.
Will your bird stay alive?
Audubon Museum-JJ Audubon State Park
Jr. Birder Hike
10:00 A.M. Meet at the Audubon Museum
John James Audubon State Park
Henderson, Kentucky
Accompany the Jr. Birders as they assist Evansville Audubon
members on a hike through the John James Audubon State
Park. The park showcases lots of spring migrants such as, orioles, tanagers, thrushes, warblers, and vireos. No birding experience is necessary and this hike is appropriate for ages 8-18 (with an
accompanying adult). Binoculars will be provided.
Jr. Birder Hike at Audubon State Park
Hands-on Bird Banding Workshop with
Master Bird Bander, Scott Kramer
10:30 A.M. to Noon-- Stop by Anytime!
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 early migratory birds up close and connecting with nature. So, bring your camera.
Bird Banding
"How Birds Behave: What They Do and Why They Do It"
presented by Sharon Sorenson
Noon at the Audubon Museum Theater
John James Audubon State Park
Henderson, Kentucky
Approximately one hour
We've all watched birds doing strange things--hanging upside down, going bald, singing at midnight, chasing one another, standing on one leg, wallowing in the dirt. What's going on with all that? We'll explore some of the more interesting behaviors and learn what the experts have to say about what those behaviors tell us about their lives as Sharon shares stories from her latest book, How Birds Behave: Discover the Mysteries of What Backyard Birds Do 365 Days of the Year. Join us for a few laughs, a few sighs, a few "oh-no's".
Guest Speaker: Sharon Sorenson
"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 24
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
Sponsors for the Ohio Valley Birding Festival are the
Evansville Audubon Society and John James Audubon State Park
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