Feathered Focus: A Bird-Centric Virtual Series

Explore the avian realm with Indiana Audubon's 2024 virtual series, "Feathered Focus." Join us monthly for engaging presentations on bird conservation, education, and research in Indiana and the Midwest. Delve into inspiring topics and gain insightful perspectives on our feathered friends.

Each session is limited to 25 participants to provide a more interactive and personal experience. Choose from individual sessions or category packages featuring four presentations each in conservation, education, and research. All sessions are recorded and shared with participants within a week of the event date.

Questions? Email Indiana Audubon at info@indianaaudubon.org.

Registration Process

Please look at the schedule below before purchasing tickets. You will purchase tickets by date (scroll up to "Select date and time"). If you are selecting a package (4 sessions or all 12 sessions), click on the "Tickets" button, select your package, and follow the prompts. Ticket options and workshop descriptions are below.

Ticketing Options

IAS Member Tickets*

• Individual Classes: $10 each
• Package (4 Sessions): $35 (15% discount)
• All 12 Sessions: $90 (25% discount)

Non-Member Tickets

• Individual Classes: $15 each
• Package (4 Sessions): $50 (15% discount)
• All 12 Sessions: $135 (25% discount)

* Indiana Audubon memberships start at just $30/year and come with multiple benefits, including discounted rates to field trips and programs.

Package Options

Conservation Package

• Bird-Safe Indy (February)
• The Secret to Attracting Birds (March)
• IDNR Barn Owl Nest Box Program (May)
• Birds, Butterflies, and Bison (October)

Education Package

• Birds, Plants & Insects (April)
• Understanding Bird Language (June)
• Birds as Artistic Inspiration (July)
• AOS English Bird Name Changes (August)

Research Package

• Migration at Miller Beach (January)
• Secretive Marsh Birds of the Great Lakes (September)
• Northern Hawk Owl Movement and Habitat Use (November)
• Winter Finch Irruptions in the Midwest (December)

Refund & Transfer Policy

Indiana Audubon mandates a 48-hour notice for refund or transfer requests. If you're unable to attend a session after ticket purchase, email wyoerger@indianaaudubon.org by 6:30 p.m. ET/5:30 p.m. CT the Sunday before the session. All refunds and transfer requests within 48 hours of the session cannot be guaranteed.

Session Descriptions

January 23 | Research

Migration at Miller Beach: Reporting on the Inaugural Lake Michigan Waterbird Count

Will Keller will take you on a tour of the 220+ bird species that migrate along the Indiana Lakeshore during the lake-watching season. Keller conducted daily counts as Indiana Audubon's waterbird counter in fall 2023 at Marquette Park, highlighting the region's ecological richness important for migratory and resident waterbirds. Keller, a Kalamazoo College 2023 graduate and native, is a passionate land steward for the Southwest Michigan Land Conservancy with guiding expertise in Costa Rica.

February 13 | Conservation

Bird-Safe Indy: Who We Are and How You Can Help

Austin Broadwater, chair of Amos Butler Audubon Society's Bird Safe Indy initiative, will speak about how to create bird-friendly urban environments, with downtown Indianapolis as a case study. This virtual program provides information on safeguarding birds from window collisions during migration, as well as how to create safer environments for our resident and migrant birds. Broadwater has been a lifetime birder, but his natural interests have broadened to include herps, foraging, orchids, butterflies, and amateur nature photography on Instagram.

March 12 | Conservation

The Secret to Attracting Birds (Hint—It’s All About the Plants)

Explore the fascinating world of plants and their role in attracting birds in a presentation by Scott Namestnik, Botanist at the Indiana Natural Heritage Data Center. With 25 years of expertise in the flora of the Great Lakes region and the Midwest, Scott will unravel the secrets to creating bird-friendly environments through thoughtful plant choices. Join us for an insightful session on the interconnected relationship between birds and the vibrant plant life they rely on.

April 9 | Education

Birds, Plants & Insects: Natural Communities of Indiana

Explore the intricate connections among birds, plants, and insects in Indiana's natural communities with Nick Kiehl. While birds are only one component of the huge web woven by our environment, plants and insects play an important part in their ability to thrive. Kiehl, a dedicated naturalist and avid birder with a solid understanding of these linkages, will speak to the symbiotic interactions that define bird ecosystems and the balance of our local biodiversity.

May 21 | Conservation

IDNR Barn Owl Nest Box Program: Housing an Indiana Beauty

In this session, Grace LeCuyer, the Raptor Survey Coordinator for the Indiana Department of Natural Resources (IDNR), will provide insights into the IDNR's Barn Owl nest box program—an initiative supported by the Nongame Wildlife Fund. Discover the efforts to conserve the elusive barn owl in Indiana and learn more about their preferred habitats. LeCuyer will unveil the findings of the 2022 statewide survey of over 300 nest boxes conducted by IDNR staff and discuss future plans for this vital conservation project.

June 11 | Education

Talking with Birds: Understanding Bird Language

Birds are talking to each other and to nearby wildlife. They're also talking about us at times. Wouldn't it be amazing to understand what the birds are telling you or are saying about you? Join seasoned bird language expert and bird mimic Dan Gardoqui for this engaging presentation and learn the tools to decode the language of the wild. You’ll learn how to shift your mindset, tune in your senses and understand the five voices of backyard birds. Come learn to speak bird!

Dan Gardoqui is a curious mammal who's devoted his life to learning, sharing and inspiring others to find meaning and connection with the more-than-human-world. Known to some as "The Bird Whisperer," he served as science and audio editor for "What the Robin Knows: How Birds Reveal Nature's Secrets" and has trained people of all ages in understanding bird language. Dan lives on the Southern Maine coast, where he runs Lead with Nature, a consulting, training and guiding service provider. He's an amateur bird photographer, hunter and forager.

July 9 | Education

From Pencil to Plumage: Birds as Artistic Inspiration

In this session, Alex Warnick, a skilled natural history artist hailing from southern Indiana, will share her artistic process, showcasing her illustrations for scientific institutions that celebrate the diverse world of birdlife. Her acclaimed work has been recognized by prestigious organizations such as the National Audubon Society, the American Birding Association, and Birdwatcher’s Digest. As a recipient of the Donald Eckelberry Endowment and the inaugural artist in residence at the Roger Tory Peterson Institute, Alex brings a unique perspective to bird illustration. Don't miss this opportunity to explore the intersection of art and avian science with one of the industry's talented artists.

August 13 | Education

@#$%&! – Why Is the AOS Changing a Bunch of Bird Names?

Learn about the intricacies of the upcoming English bird name revisions by the American Ornithological Society (AOS) with Dr. Barny Dunning, Professor of Wildlife Ecology at Purdue University's Department of Forestry and Natural Resources. From Cooper’s Hawk to Blackburnian Warbler, this presentation delves into the reasons and processes behind bird nomenclature changes, providing an engaging and informative exploration of the fascinating world of bird names.

September 10 | Research

Secretive Marsh Birds of the Great Lakes: A Regional Effort of Monitoring & Restoration

Join Bethany Dennis, volunteer coordinator with Audubon Great Lakes and Indiana Audubon, as she discusses the intricacies of using Autonomous Recording Units to monitor elusive birds like Sora, Virginia Rail, and King Rail as part of a larger regional effort in marsh bird habitat management. Bethany will share recent trends from gathered data available on the Audubon Great Lakes Marsh Bird Data Hub and give a snapshot of the research that’s being done in the Dunes-Calumet Region. Bethany, who holds a bachelor's degree in Wildlife and Fisheries Science from Pennsylvania State University, also leads the pollinator program at Indiana Dunes National Park and volunteers as an owl bander for the Indiana Dunes Project Owlnet station.

October 8 | Conservation

Birds, Butterflies, and Bison: Conservation and Restoration at Kankakee Sands

Gain insights into the vital conservation and restoration efforts shaping the landscape of The Nature Conservancy's (TNC) Kankakee Sands in this online program led by Project Director Trevor Edmonson. Edmonson and his dedicated team oversee the management of over 8,000 acres comprising high-quality sand prairie, wetlands, oak savanna, and Indiana's only bison herd, cared for by TNC. Hear more about this 8,400-acre restoration mosaic in Newton County, Indiana, exploring the thriving biodiversity it supports, including the enchanting world of birds, butterflies, and bison.

November 12 | Research

Northern Hawk Owl Movement and Habitat Use

The Northern Hawk Owl Project, led by Hannah Toutonghi, is looking at the movements and winter habitat use of Northern Hawk Owls in northern Minnesota and southern Manitoba. There is little known about what hawk owls do in harsh winter conditions and how far they move within a single season. We will discuss the species, what we previously have known about hawk owls, and the novel results of using telemetry to track individual hawk owls throughout the winter season! Please come with your curiosity and questions about this nomadic denizen of the Northwoods.

December 10 | Research

Winter Finch Irruptions in the Midwest

Immerse yourself in an enthralling session with Matt Young, president and founder of the Finch Research Network (FiRN), regarding FiRN's Winter Finch Forecast and how it influences which species are observed in the Midwest during irruption years. Young is a seasoned finch expert with a passion for studying the changing populations and movements of these species. With over 26 years of focused research in bird science and environmental studies, he will speak about the phenomenon of irruption years, when species such as Pine and Evening Grosbeaks, redpolls, and crossbills migrate southward on extraordinary journeys determined by food availability.