Field Birding on the Indiana Birding Trail: Muscatatuck

(NWR) is one of southern Indiana's most productive and accessible birding destinations and a featured site on the Indiana Birding Trail.

This Field Birding on the Indiana Birding Trail outing is designed for birders of all experience levels. First-time visitors and returning birders alike will find a relaxed, supportive way to explore the refuge while making progress on the Indiana Birding Trail Checklist Challenge (see details below).

Cathy Meyer will lead the trip, with a focus on seasonal birds, habitat use, and strategies for birding Muscatatuck NWR effectively. The refuge's mix of wetlands, impoundments, grasslands, and woodlots often produces a wide variety of waterfowl, shorebirds, songbirds, and raptors, depending on conditions. The group will meet at 8:00 a.m. Eastern Time at the Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge Visitor Center.

Registration is required and limited to 20 participants. Event tickets are $5 per person for Indiana Audubon members and $15 per person for non-members.

This outing includes short walking distances with frequent stops for birding. Most birding will take place from flat gravel or paved surfaces, dikes, and refuge roads, making Muscatatuck NWR one of the more accessible birding sites on the Indiana Birding Trail. Please bring your own binoculars. Spotting scopes and cameras are welcome.

There is no entrance fee to visit Muscatatuck NWR.

This field trip counts toward the , a free yearlong activity. Visit trail sites to earn points, collect badge stickers, and qualify for prizes through seasonal and year-end drawings in 2026.

For any questions about this event email [email protected] or call 765-205-1255. If you require accommodations to participate, please contact us as early as possible. While we may not be able to meet every request, we will make every reasonable effort to do so.

Photo Credit: WikiCommons

• Full refunds are provided for Indiana Audubon events, field trips, and public programs canceled due to inclement weather or unforeseen circumstances.
• Events, field trips, and public programs under $10 per person (excluding processing fees) are non-refundable, as proceeds support our work.
• Refunds for events, field trips, and programs over $10 per person (excluding processing fees) require 30-day advance notice, minus a 25% administrative fee.
• Refunds for Indiana Master Naturalist programs at Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary require 30-day advance notice, minus a 25% administrative fee.
• Separate cancellation policies apply to the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival and field trips, events, and public programs co-hosted by other organizations.

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