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Ohio Valley Birding Festival--2026
The 2026 Ohio Valley Birding Festival is scheduled to run from Friday, April 24 through Sunday, April 26. This page contains a listing of all the hikes and activities associated with this year's festival. You can watch the video below which highlights the festival activities for this year. Click here to download a schedule and you can download the OVBF bird checklist here.
Watch our
2026 OVBF video
(click video box to start/stop/repeat video)
Friday, April 24
Patoka River NWR Birding Hike
7:00 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).
Sora Rail Photo Credit: D L Batema
Howell Wetlands Birding Hike
5:00 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.
American Goldfinch (female)
Photo Credit: D L Batema
Saturday, April 25 (Free Admission to the Audubon Museum Throughout the day on April 25.)
Birding at Audubon Wetlands*
7:00 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.
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!
*Portions of this hike may be ADA accessible. Please ask your hike guide for information.
Prothonotary Warbler
Photo Credit: D L Batema
Family Birding Fun!
10:30 A.M. to 1:00 P.M.
Audubon Museum
John James Audubon State Park
Henderson, Kentucky
-Stop by these educational booths:
Make-N-Take Bird Caller: Try your hand at making a simple tool that sounds similar to a bird's chirp.
Used in moderation, curious little songbirds may fly close to inspect the sound, giving you a chance at a better view.
Whose Song Is It, Anyway?: Think you know your bird sounds? Test your skill at identifying songs of common species during this fun little game of "Whose Song Is It Anyway?"
Make-N-Take-Hummingbird Spinners: These incredible little birds flap their wings so quickly, their wingbeats appear as a blur to us. Put together this optical illusion and watch your own hummingbird fly.
Upcycled Bird Feeders: Bring your own clean, dry, plastic soda bottle (16.9 oz, 1- liter, or 2-liter) and let the staff of Wild Birds Unlimited help you repurpose it into a functional bird feeder for hours of enjoyment at home. While supplies last....
This bird feeder activity is graciously supported by the Wild Birds Unlimited store at 5620 E. Virginia Street, Evansville, IN.
Audubon Museum-JJ Audubon State Park
Hands-on Bird Banding Workshop with
Master Bird Bander, Scott Kramer
10:30 A.M. to 12:30 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
"Whooping Cranes in the EMP"
presented by Dr. Angelica Solano
11:00 A.M. in the Audubon Museum
John James Audubon State Park
Henderson, Kentucky
Approximately one hour
Explore the history of the Eastern Migratory Population (EMP) of Whooping Cranes during this discussion of historic threats, the reintroduction of Whooping Cranes to Wisconsin, and why this is considered a story of creativity and perseverance.
Dr. Solano is the Indiana Outreach Biologist for the International Crane Foundation based in Baraboo, WI. She specializes in educating the public on Sandhill and Whooping crane conservation, migration patterns, and habitat protection. Her work supports the International Crane Foundation's mission to conserve cranes and their habitats through engaging local communities in Indiana.
Dr. Angelica Solano
"Protecting & Restoring Habitat for Birds
in Southern Indiana"
presented by Alex Sienkiewicz
12:45 P.M. in the Audubon Museum
John James Audubon State Park
Henderson, Kentucky
Approximately 1 hour
Join Sycamore Land Trust's Executive Director, Alex Sienkiewicz, for a presentation about Sycamore's ongoing land preservation and habitat restoration projects across southern Indiana. Learn about the multitude of bird species and other wildlife we've attracted to our newly restored wetlands and preview some of the exciting projects planned for 2026 and beyond.
Alex has spent more than a quarter century in various conservation work across the USA. Prior to his appointment at SLT, he served as Chief of Resource Stewardship and Science at Carlsbad Caverns National Park in New Mexico, a UNESCO World Heritage Site, where he led a team of scientists, resource managers, and museum and curatorial professionals in managing the park's scientific and resource stewardship portfolio. Prior to that, he was a district ranger for the Yellowstone Ranger District of the Custer Gallatin National Forest. Earlier in his career, he was a Presidential Management Fellow with the U.S. Forest Service at the D.C. Headquarters. He has served on a variety of non-profit boards. In 2018, he was awarded the Jim Posewitz Professional Conservationist Award for contributions to Montana and the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Alex and his wife, Holly, have three children.
Alex Sienkiewicz
"Raptors of the Region" Presented by the
Audubon State Park Naturalist Team
2:00 P.M. Audubon Museum
John James Audubon State Park
Henderson, Kentucky
Approximately one hour
Some raptors operate under the cover of darkness, others are readily seen during the day. How much do you know about these winged predators? Discover first hand their amazing adaptations and the important role they play in every ecosystem. Through artifacts, pictures, sound, and live birds, let Park naturalists bring the fascinating world of our native raptors to you! Meet the Park's ambassador birds during the program.
Lisa Hoffman, Park Naturalist, with Boo
Owl Puke-Yuck! Or not?
3:00 P.M. Audubon Museum Nature Center
John James Audubon State Park
Henderson, Kentucky
Approximately 45 minutes
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 26
Eagle Slough Natural Area Birding Hike
7:00 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.
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Photo Credit: D.L. Batema
Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve Birding Hike*
1:00 PM Meet inside the Nature Center;
WWNP is at the back of Wesselman Park
551 N. Boeke Road
Evansville, Indiana
Approximately one hour
This old-growth forest sanctuary boasts many year-round bird species and provides unprecedented stopover habitat for Neo-tropical migrants passing through the area. Expect to see warblers, vireos, tanagers, thrushes and more.
* This hike is an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) sanctioned hike.
Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve
Wesselman Woods Nature Preserve--Raptor Encounter
2:30 P.M. Meet at the stage near the raptor cages
WWNP is at the back of Wesselman Park
551 N. Boeke Road
Evansville, Indiana
Approximately 45 minutes
WWNP's Wildlife Curator/Educator, Elaine Kung, will introduce you to a resident raptor. Get an up-close look at this impressive bird of prey! Learn fun facts about raptor anatomy, diet, and their importance to our ecosystem.
Elaine Kung, WWNP Wildlife Curator
Sponsors for the 2026 Ohio Valley Birding Festival are the
Evansville Audubon Society, John James Audubon State Park, and Wild Birds Unlimited
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