In Search of Indiana Owls (A Rainbow Birders "Big Time Birding" Experience)

The three destinations we are visiting on this Big Time Birding outing are prime locations to view a variety of birds, including our target species: owls! While there is no guarantee we will see owls, we've done our best to curate opportunities when we have the best chance. The three owl species we are most likely to observe include: Barred Owl Eastern Screech Owl Northern Saw-whet Owl

We are so excited to offer this unique Big Time Birding outing focusing on our Indiana owls! As it is birding, there are no guarantees, but we are going to known owl locations! This outing is comprised of three segments and participants can choose to do any one, two, or all three of them! 1. Celery Bog Nature Area (West Lafayette) This is actually our scheduled 3rd Saturday of the month outing! We will aim to be at Celery Bog by 9 am, which means those who meet at the CommUnity Center will need to be there by 6:45 am! We will bird Celery Bog for two to three hours and then break for a snack (or light lunch if you want to bring your own food). Fingers crossed that Ruby, the resident Eastern Screech-Owl will be out sunning herself! But there are many other excellent species to be found, and we should get a nice showing of our fabulous winter waterfowl! This segment is free and no registration required. 2. “Saw-whets & Smores” at the Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary (near Connorsville) This program is sponsored by the Indiana Audubon Society and has a cost. Some spots are reserved for Rainbow Birders and you will need to register directly with them with the provided links. Again, there are no guarantees that we will see owls but there is a guarantee that we will learn a lot and have a lot of fun! You can camp for free at the Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary, but most of us will probably prefer to stay in our trip hotel – see below. “Burn the midnight oil with the Indiana Audubon Society as they bring the 17th season of Northern Saw-whet Owl research with Indiana Audubon at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary. On select dates, visitors can get an up-close look at Indiana’s smallest owl and the science behind its study. Led by experienced ornithologists, guests will witness the delicate process of owl banding and learn about the owl’s stunning plumage and migration patterns. Whether you're a seasoned birder, a curious night owl, or just love marshmallows and mysterious birds, this is an unforgettable chance to experience nocturnal nature at its finest.” Learn more and register for one of these two options by copying and pasting the link into your browser (BE SURE TO REGISTER FOR THE NOV 15 OPTION AT MARY GRAY BIRD SANCTUARY!): A. Regular Registration ($10 but discounted for IAS members) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/saw-whets-smores-mary-gray-bird-sanctuary-registration-1442432276769?aff=oddtdtcreator B. All Access Field Night ($50 to support research) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mgbs-saw-whet-owl-banding-all-access-field-night-tickets-1563224890729?aff=oddtdtcreator Rainbow Birders has reserved a block of rooms at the Quality Inn in Rushville and you will need to register directly with them. Although the Inn has two floors, it does not have an elevator. So when you register, please indicate if you would prefer a room on the first floor. Use this link to register for your hotel room: https://www.choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/MP85H6 To summarize, if you want to attend the Saw-whets & Smores outing, you need to register and pay directly with Indiana Audubon for your preferred owl-banding session AND with the Quality Inn! And don't forget to register at the bottom of this page, even though there is no cost, so we know who is participating and can communicate information and updates! 3. On Sunday morning (9 am), we will bird Eagle Creek Park on our way home. Again, there is a known owl location (Barred), but no guarantees of seeing the owl! Eagle Creek will also provide us with more wonderful birding and an opportunity to see some of the deeper-diving waterfowl. There is a $7 entry fee for this park, which Rainbow Birders will pay. This segment is free and no registration is required. All of our destinations are located on the Indiana Birding Trail. For more information visit: https://indianabirdingtrail.com/

If you plan to stay overnight with the group, Rainbow Birders has reserved a block of rooms at the Quality Inn in Rushville and you will need to register directly with them. Although the Inn has two floors, it does not have an elevator. When you register, please indicate if you would prefer a room on the first floor. Use this link to register for your hotel room: https://www.choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/MP85H6

All birding skill levels are welcome.

We strive to offer the vast majority of our outings at no cost, and for those outings that do have a fee we work diligently to keep costs as low as possible to ensure that as many people can participate. For this outing, there are some stand-alone elements such as Celery Bog and Eagle Creek which are no cost for participants (Spencer Pride will pay for the Eagle Park entry fee). If you want to do the FULL experience offered for this outing, then there are two main costs: the banding experience (there are two options and this requires advance registration) and the hotel (with taxes, the room is $93-98 for the night, depending on the type of room you select). Links for these items are shown below. Banding experience options (Copy and paste the link into your browser;BE SURE TO REGISTER FOR THE NOV 15 OPTION AT MARY GRAY BIRD SANCTUARY!): A. Regular Registration ($10 but discounted for IAS members) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/saw-whets-smores-mary-gray-bird-sanctuary-registration-1442432276769?aff=oddtdtcreator B. All Access Field Night ($50 to support research) https://www.eventbrite.com/e/mgbs-saw-whet-owl-banding-all-access-field-night-tickets-1563224890729?aff=oddtdtcreator Accommodations at the Quality Inn in Rushville: https://www.choicehotels.com/reservations/groups/MP85H6 Note: Although the Inn has two floors, it does not have an elevator. When you register, please indicate if you would prefer a room on the first floor. And don't forget to register at the bottom of this page, even though there is no cost, so we know who is participating and can communicate information and updates!

This trip will involve hiking unlevel terrains and is not suitable for individuals utilizing a wheelchair or motorized scooter. There could be some longer walks and we can't guarantee the footing conditions. Comfort stops will be provided at reasonable intervals throughout the weekend. If you are staying at the Quality Inn, please note that although the Inn has two floors, it does not have an elevator. If you prefer a room on the first floor, please indicate this when you register.