Activites include owl pellet dissections, crafts, games, scavenger hunts, concessions, vendor tables, the silent auction display, and more will be set up at the Ornithology Center during festival open hours (moved indoors if raining). Visit the raptor ambassadors in their enclosures, learn about owls, try the migration obstacle course, and explore our exhibits.
All funds raised go to the Ornithology Center and our Avian Ambassadors! Thank you to our presenting sponsor, WILD BIRDS UNLIMITED, the Eagle Creek Park Foundation, and our other sponsors for making this event possible.
SATURDAY OCTOBER 18th
Ornithology Center open 10:00 am – 7:00 pm
12:00 pm – 6:30 pm Activities, Crafts, & Tables at the Ornithology Center
Owl pellet dissections, crafts, games, quidditch, scavenger hunts, concessions, vendor tables, silent auction display, and more will be set up at the Ornithology Center during festival open hours (moved indoors if raining). Visit our raptor ambassadors in their enclosures, learn about owls, try the migration obstacle course, and explore our exhibits. Come in costume and get a free piece of candy or small prize!
10:00 am – 12:00 pm Feminist Bird Club Morning Bird Hike Location: Ornithology Center
“The Feminist Birding Club is for LGBTQ+, disabled folks, BIPOC & women with chapters across the so-called US, Canada & Europe.” The Indianapolis chapter of FBC will meet us at the Ornithology Center for a bird walk at 10am. Join the Feminist Bird Club of Indianapolis for a .5 mile walk to Lilly Lake on the Red Trail. Rain or shine. All genders, ages and levels of experience are welcome.
Trail: 0.5 miles, easy, fairly accessible
12:00 – 12:30 pm Owl Trainer Chat Location: Ornithology Center
Have you ever wondered how the Ornithology Center trains their Raptor Ambassadors? Learn about animal behavior and contemporary training methods from OC Manager Jenna McElroy and see our two owl ambassadors in their new enclosures.
12:30 – 1:00 pm Owl Hike to Lilly Lake Location: Ornithology Center
Planning to watch Mark Booth’s Owl Program at 1:00 pm at Lilly Lake? You can either park around Lilly Lake or at the Ornithology Center! If you are at the Ornithology Center around 12:30, we will be hiking over to Lilly Lake as a group with binoculars to enjoy the fall leaves and birds we see along the trail.
Trail: 0.5 miles, easy, fairly accessible
1:00 – 2:00 pm Live Owls with Mark Booth (Take Flight!) Location: Lilly Lake Shelter
At the Lilly Lake Shelter this year! One of our most popular Owl Fest programs! Local falconer and wildlife educator, Mark Booth, will teach you all about the amazing nocturnal adaptations of owls, with a little help from his live owl coworkers.
1:00 – 1:30 pm Skunk Saturdays Location: Earth Discovery Center
Get up-close and personal with our sweet and stinky skunk! Each Saturday at 1pm, Stinkerbell the Skunk comes out for a training session with one of her trainers. Ask questions, learn about skunks in Indiana and beyond, and discover how we train our animal ambassadors. This program takes place indoors in the Earth Discovery Center’s main exhibit hall at Eagle Creek Park. The skunk will be in a pen with her trainer, and NO touching or handling by the public is permitted.
1:30 – 2:30 pm Native Plant Garden Tours Location: Ornithology Center
Join Volunteer Naturalist, Laura Graham, for a casual tour of the garden spaces around the OC to find out ‘what’s growing on’ with native plants! Learn about the complex relationships between plants, insects & birds, and how even a small garden plot can harbor enormous diversity, support wildlife, and if necessary, improve water drainage.
2:00 – 6:00 pm Face Painting Booth Location: Ornithology Center
Fly on by to our artist Tiphanny’s booth, to make your face-painting dreams a reality! Free, but donations/tips accepted.
2:30 – 3:00 pm Raptor Feeding Time Location: Ornithology Center
Watch one of the naturalists feed the birds of prey in their enclosures at the Ornithology Center. They eat quickly so don’t be late!
3:00 – 4:00 pm Big Trees & Owl Habitat Hike Location: Ornithology Center
Eagle Creek Park is home to trees that were living before colonizers arrived in the 1800s! During this hike, you will explore a forest containing champion-size trees of several species and their connected family groves. This forest ecosystem near the Ornithology Center has experienced less disturbance historically than other areas in the park, preserving important habitat for owls. Led by Eagle Creek Park Volunteer Marty Risch.
Trail: 1 mile, easy, fairly accessible.
3:30 – 4:30 pm Fantastic Beasts & Dragonology Location: Ornithology Center
Turns out, you don’t need to go to wizard school to meet magical creatures. Some of them live right in our backyard! Join a dragonologist to discover the fantastic abilities of all sorts of animals and meet a few of them up-close and personal. Photo ops included!
4:00 – 7:00 pm S’mores & Campfire Location: Ornithology Center
Enjoy cooking a perfectly toasted (or perfectly burnt) s’more from 4-7pm. S’mores supplies will be available for purchase at the concession stand during this time and roasting sticks will be available around a campfire. We may also be selling hot dogs but you are welcome to bring your own food to cook or enjoy around the campfire!
5:00 – 5:20 pm Owls vs. Vultures Location: Ornithology Center
Owls and vultures have so many unique adaptations! Meet our vulture and owl ambassadors in their aviaries and learn about what makes them so different. We will also have skulls and feathers for you to compare!
5:30 – 6:00 pm Whooo Knows Owl Calls? Location: Ornithology Center
Ask anyone what sound an owl makes, and you’re likely to hear them hoot back at you! But here’s something you might not know—owls not only hoot, but also can also screech, bark, growl, scream, hiss, clack, and shriek! Join Naturalist Donna on the deck to discover a fascinating array of owl vocalizations. And hey, if you have a great owl call up your gizzard, there will be a chance to share!
6:00 – 7:00 pm Forbidden Forest Hike Location: Ornithology Center
Calling all witches and wizards of all ages! Dress up in your favorite costume or Hogwarts house colors and join your Hogwarts professors on a stroll through the Forbidden Forest in search for fantastic beasts and magical creatures. Trail: 0.5-1 mile, easy, fairly accessible. *If you cannot join at this time, a magical, self-guided Forbidden Forest scavenger hunt will be set up during festival hours 12-7pm Saturday and Sunday, so come in your costume and explore on your own!
6:30 – 7:00 pm Owl Campfire Stories Location: Ornithology Center
Join a naturalist for some not-so-spooky campfire stories, all about Owls! Cook & enjoy your very own s’more creation, available for purchase at the concession stand!
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SUNDAY OCTOBER 19th
Ornithology Center open 12:00 pm – 7:00 pm
12:00 pm – 6:30 pm Activities, Crafts, & Tables at the Ornithology Center
Owl pellet dissections, crafts, games, quidditch, scavenger hunts, concessions, vendor tables, silent auction display, and more will be set up at the Ornithology Center during festival open hours (moved indoors if raining). Visit our raptor ambassadors in their enclosures, learn about owls, try the migration obstacle course, and explore our exhibits. Come in costume and get a free piece of candy or small prize!
9:00 – 11:00 am Amos Butler Audubon Society Morning Bird Hike Location: Ornithology Center
Join a group of new and experienced birders for a brisk morning bird walk! Meets every Sunday morning at 9:00 am, led by ABAS, rain or shine. Trail: various, depending on the group size and preference.
10:00 –12:00 pm Mindful Birding Location: Ornithology Center
Pre-registration required here at indyparks.org – program #37179 Mindful Birding is a nature-based wellness experience that blends mindfulness with the joy of bird observation through a slow, sensory, and immersive walk. Guided by Certified Association of Nature & Forest Therapy (ANFT) Guide Michelle Morton, participants will engage their senses to connect deeply with the natural world and the birds within it. Gentle prompts will encourage mindful, intentional observation without the pressure to identify species. This 1 hour and 45-minute walk includes short-distance wandering, sitting, exploring, and opportunities for group sharing, concluding with tea and snacks. The experience covers about half a mile and costs $15 per participant. Ages 10+. Youth need to be registered along with a registered adult.
12:00 – 12:30 pm Owl Feeding Time Location: Ornithology Center
Watch one of the naturalists feed the owls and other Raptor Ambassadors in their enclosures at the Ornithology Center. They eat quickly so don’t be late!
12:30 – 1:00 pm Owl Hike to Lilly Lake Location: Ornithology Center
Planning to watch Mark Booth’s Owl Program at 1:00 pm at Lilly Lake? You can either park around Lilly Lake or at the Ornithology Center! If you are at the Ornithology Center around 12:30, we will be hiking over to Lilly Lake as a group with binoculars to enjoy the fall leaves and birds we see along the trail.
Trail: 0.5 miles, easy, fairly accessible, stroller friendly
1:00 – 2:00 pm Live Owls with Mark Booth (Take Flight!) Location: Lilly Lake Shelter
At the Lilly Lake Shelter this year! One of our most popular Owl Fest programs! Local falconer and wildlife educator, Mark Booth, will teach you all about the amazing nocturnal adaptations of owls, with a little help from his live owl coworkers.
2:00 – 6:00 pm Face Painting Booth Location: Ornithology Center
Fly on by to our artist Tiphanny’s booth, to make your face-painting dreams a reality! Free, but donations/tips accepted.
2:00 – 3:30 pm Fall Migrant Hike Location: Ornithology Center
Join Ornithologist, Aidan Rominger on a birding hike around the bird sanctuary in search of fall bird species within the park! We will target a variety of gulls, shorebirds, pelicans, warblers, and more! This is a great opportunity for beginner birders to get hands on identification experience in the field with an experienced birder. The majority of the program will be hiking so dress accordingly for the weather. Binoculars will be provided to those that need them!
Trail: 2 miles, moderate
2:00 – 2:30 pm Snake Recess Location: Ornithology Center
Visit with our educational black rat snake ambassador as she enjoys some enrichment and time out of her enclosure and learn about the native snakes of Indiana. Depending on weather we may be in inside or we may be outside near the giant log.
2:30 – 3:00 pm Meet a Raptor Location: Ornithology Center
Meet Freyja, the Peregrine Falcon ambassador! Learn about Freyja and the peregrine conservation success story from her trainer and park volunteer, Donna McCarty.
3:00 – 4:00 pm Poisonous Plants Hike Location: Ornithology Center
Do you know the difference between poisonous and venomous? Join naturalist Frank Brown for this short hike to learn about some of the more “dangerous” plants in the forest.
Trail: 0.5-1 mile, easy, fairly accessible.
4:00 – 5:00 pm Magizoology Location: Ornithology Center
Join renowned Hogwarts professor and Magizoologist Dr. Nawrocki to explore the skulls and artifacts of muggle and magical creatures alike, including owls, raptors, dinosaurs, and more!
4:00 – 7:00 pm S’mores & Campfire Location: Ornithology Center
Enjoy cooking a perfectly toasted (or perfectly burnt) s’more from 4-7pm. S’mores supplies will be available for purchase at the concession stand during this time and roasting sticks will be available around a campfire. We may also be selling hot dogs but you are welcome to bring your own food to cook or enjoy around the campfire!
5:00 – 5:20 pm Not So Scary Scavengers Location: Ornithology Center
Scavengers, such as vultures, get a bad rap, but they’re really nature’s immune system! You might also be surprised to learn that Bald Eagles, while known for their amazing fishing ability, also regularly scavenge for food. Come meet Matilda the Turkey Vulture and Carson the Bald Eagle and learn about how scavengers, such as vultures and eagles, are important for healthy ecosystems!
6:00 – 7:00 pm Sunset Owl Prowl Location: Ornithology Center
This guided sunset stroll is a slow wander in the forests near the Ornithology Center, where Barred Owls are frequently seen. We’ll explore the forest and see if we can spot these nocturnal hunters as they begin to wake up for their night on the prowl!
Trail: 0.5-1 miles, easy, fairly accessible, stroller friendly