Birding

Birding at Eagle Creek Park

Birding is Big at Eagle Creek

Welcome to Eagle Creek Park, your next great birding adventure in the heart of the Midwest! As one of the nation’s top 10 largest municipal parks, encompassing 3,900 acres of diverse habitats including woods, meadows, ponds, and a vast 1,300-acre reservoir, our park creates an exceptional haven for countless bird species.

You might spot magnificent raptors or hear the distinct hoots of various owls during your visit. The park’s commitment to avian life is also evident through features like the Carlsen Aviary and specific Raptor Training programs. Get ready to experience why Eagle Creek Park is a true midwestern birding hotspot!

Visit the Ornithology Center

People visit from all over the Midwest to bird at Eagle Creek. The Park adapted its first Nature Center into what’s now known as the Ornithology Center (or birding center). The Ornithology Center (orn-e-thol-ogy) hosts field trips, features exhibits, and is a great place to start your birding adventure. Learn more >

A Foundation Pass means more visits

An Eagle Creek Park Foundation Pass is the easiest way to give back to the park and the birds! It also grants unlimited gate entry to the Park so you can feed your birding hobby as often as you like!

Get A Pass

LOCATION:

Eagle Creek Park

7840 West 56th Street, Indianapolis, Indiana 46254

CONTACT:

317-327-7110

ECPF@eaglecreekpark.org

HOURS:

Open Dawn to Dusk

for more complete hours check here >

WEBSITE:

EagleCreekPark.Org

Visit the Ornithology Center

Your Birding Adventure Starts Here

With the beautiful lookout decks, the Carlsen Aviary, and knowledgeable staff and volunteers, the Ornithology Center is a great place to start your birding adventure. Whether you’re just starting or you’ve got a serious camera rig, you’ll find helpful advice and friendly faces here!

Ornithology Center

The Eagle Creek Ornithology Center: It’s for the birds.

A woman with long hair using binoculars to observe a scenic view through a large window, with another person in the background.

Wooden sign displaying 'Eagle Creek Ornithology Center' with a bird symbol above the text.

Barred owl partially hidden in the bark of a tree during winter with snow.

View of a calm lake framed by trees with autumn foliage in shades of yellow and orange.

Individual feeding a bird in an aviary with a natural setting in the background.

Close-up view of a vulture with a distinctive red head and black feathers behind a wire enclosure.

Adult bald eagle with a white head and dark feathers, standing on a surface with its beak open.

A crowd of people gathered outside a nature center building during winter.

Two women observing birds with binoculars in a forested area, surrounded by a group of people.

Taxidermy display of an American White Pelican with wings partially extended in a natural setting.

A yellow warbler bird sitting on a branch among green leaves against a blue sky.

Purple Martin birdhouse with several Purple Martins perched on it against a blue sky.

Bald eagle perched on a branch of a pine tree, showcasing its distinctive white head and dark brown body against a blue sky.

Great Egret standing in water with wings partially spread and reflection visible on the surface.

Two white egrets standing in shallow water, one with wings spread and the other standing still.

Two egrets flying above a body of water with wings spread wide.

A blue heron standing on one leg on a log near the water's edge with autumn leaves in the background.

Events at the Ornithology Center

Owl Fest

Each year the Ornithology Center hosts a massive birding festival to celebrate the beautiful and elusive owl! This event is held in mid-late October and is a fundraiser which supports the birds at the center. You don’t want to miss Owl Fest!

Owl Fest

Celebrate fall at Eagle Creek Park’s Owl Fest

Bird Fest

Bird Fest is an annual celebration of migratory birds and a fundraiser for the Ornithology Center’s avian ambassadors. Located on the Mississippi Flyway, Eagle Creek offers chances to see and hear dozens of species including vireos, swallows, and many kinds of warblers.