Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center’s annual Bird Fest begins today and runs through Sunday, May 7 at the Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center, 6515 Delong Road, Indianapolis.
Bird Fest is the springtime companion to the fall’s popular Owl Fest. Most events are free with regular park admission ($5 per vehicle for Marion County residents and $6 per vehicle for out-of-county residents). Click here to see a full list of events.
The festival kicks off at noon today at the Ornithology Center when beloved park ambassador Obi the Owl welcomes guests during the “May the 4th Be with You” event. Obi joined the Ornithology Center’s ambassador crew several years ago on May 4 – which explains how this feisty barn owl acquired his name.
Bird Fest continues through the weekend with hikes, crafts, story times, a nature-oriented Open Mic, Open Water Birding, Friday night Campfire & Owl Prowl, photography workshop, wild birds rescue instruction and more. Attendees will also enjoy a Birding 101 Workshop that will provide all sorts of tips and tricks for finding and identifying birds. Find the full schedule of events at this link.
About Eagle Creek Park
Eagle Creek Park, which ranks among the nation’s 10 largest municipal parks, has been acknowledged by National Geographic as a U.S. “birding hot spot.” Learn more at EagleCreekPark.org.
About the Ornithology Center
Eagle Creek’s Ornithology Center annually attracts more than 70,000 visitors of all ages, from wide-eyed youngsters on their first bird outing to veteran birdwatchers and photographers.
The building originally was the private library of JK Lilly, Jr., grandson of Col. Eli Lilly, who served as president and chairman of the board of the Indianapolis-based pharmaceutical firm founded by his grandfather during the 1940s and ‘50s, and also was a founder of The Lilly Endowment.
The library building was Eagle Creek Park’s original nature center until it was revamped in 2010 as a facility exclusively dedicated to ornithology. Included in the building revival was development of an 800 square-foot exhibit hall featuring four distinct habitats: forest, grasslands, pond, and wetlands. Approximately 100 taxidermy birds in their natural settings, complete with tranquil sounds of nature, are displayed there. The birds showcased are native to Indiana and all their live counterparts can be seen in the park.
Learn more at EagleCreekPark.org/ornithology-center.