Eagle Creek ParkEagle Creek ParkEagle Creek Park

Ornithology CenterOrnithology CenterOrnithology Center Program TopicsProgram TopicsProgram Topics

Ornithology, the study of birds, can be used to

teach all kinds of nature and environmental topics.

Many of the programs listed here can be modified

to suit all age groups OR we can create a program

just for you! Call today to set up your program!

PROGRAMS FOR ALL AGES:

Birds of Prey - Meet one or more of our resident, permanently injured birds up close. Learn about owl, hawk, falcon, and/or vulture behavior, habitat, conservation, and more!

Seasonal Nature Hike - Explore the beautiful woodland trails by of Eagle Creek Park! The goal of the Nature Hike is not how far we go, but how much we see, just dress for being outdoors! Visit us in the spring to explore how birds nest and find mates, in the winter to learn how birds cope with the cold, or during your favorite season to discover the natural world of Eagle Creek Park. In addition to birds, program topics can also include insects, spring wildflowers, tree identification, fall leaves, winter twigs and bark, park history, and more!

Indiana Birds - Whether you are a group of beginners or lifelong birdwatchers, we can create an exciting birding field trip for you, hiking the trails or sitting in the comfort of our observation rooms! Learn how to identify birds by shape, color, size, habitat, song, and more!

NEW ACTIVITY FOR AGES 6 TO 12!

The Great Migration Challenge - When the weather begins to turn, millions of birds take to the skies! Children will learn why birds migrate, how they know where to go, and what challenges they might face by pretending to be a migratory bird in our new Migration Obstacle Course!

PRE-K TO FIRST GRADE:

Five Senses Bird Hike - On this short 30 minute hike, children will touch holes made by two kinds of woodpeckers, see and smell the kinds of foods birds eat, and listen to birds calling in the forest near the Ornithology Center.

Feathered Friends - Students will meet two of our most colorful birds of prey, then play a color matching game with bird pictures. In the exhibit hall, the children will go for a scavenger hunt to locate and count blue, yellow, and red birds.

What Makes a Bird - See birds up close by meeting some of our resident birds of prey and learn about the basic characteristics (such as beaks and feathers) that combine to make a bird a bird!

Habitats, Holes, & Hideaways - Every animal needs a habitat, and every hab-itat needs certain things! Come learn what a habitat is and go on a short hike to see how many we can find.

SECOND TO THIRD GRADE:

Bird Tracks & Signs - In the classroom, we will talk about the different tracks birds can leave in the woods, including footprints and nests. Then we will go on a hike to see what we can find!

Bird Adaptations - Long bills, short bills, webbed feet, featherless heads?? Birds have an amazing variety of adap-tations which allow them to thrive in many ecosystems. Students will “build a bird” of their own from cut outs to learn about adaptations. A second program can be added so students can meet some live birds of prey and learn about predatory adaptations.

Life Cycles - In the spring, the woods are filled with beautiful birdsong and if you look carefully you might spy a nest with little eggs. In this program, we will learn about the life cycle of birds and some of their mating rituals.

Recycle for the Birds - Humans and animals use natural resources in many ways. In this program, we will reuse some common household items to make bird feeders or birdhouses and learn how humans are impacting birds around the world.

FOURTH TO FIFTH GRADE:

Habitat Hunt - Using our unique ornithology exhibit hall with over 100 taxidermy birds, we will explore the different habitats that birds use and the adaptations they need to survive in those habitats.

Bird Eat Bird World - Food chains aren’t always as simple as they seem. We will take a closer look at avian diet and create a food web. A second program can be added to meet some of our live, resident birds at the top of their food chains!

Decomposition - Learn about the natural cycle of decomposition by meeting one of our resident birds who is a master of decomposition: the Turkey Vulture!

Biomimicry - Nature has inspired some amazing human inventions. We will talk about some of these creations and the animals that inspired them. Then students will have a chance to dream up their own nature-inspired contraption.

SIXTH TO EIGHTH GRADE:

Bird Song - Birds have songs and calls which they use to communicate all sorts of different things! Learn what the birds are saying as well as the science (physics and anatomy) behind how they make these beautiful sounds.

Migration Madness - Why do some birds go south for the winter and others stay be-hind? Students will learn about bird migration and the different hazards birds can face.

EGGstravaganza - Discover bird eggs up close! Learn about egg and chick develop-ment and conduct an experiment to test egg strength or see inside an egg!

Whooo Goes There? Students will learn all about owls! They will dissect owl pellets ($1 extra fee per pellet), identify the bones that they find, and investigate how scien-tists learn about owl health and changes in an owl’s environment. A second program can be added so students can meet some of our live, resident owls!

Bird Behavior Scavenger Hunt - Students will learn to identify different behaviors of birds and explain their functions by searching for birds on a hike or watching for them at our bird feeders. Students will also learn the importance of data collection for scientific discovery and conservation efforts.

NINTH GRADE AND UP:

Birds of a Feather - Learn about the different families of birds and how scientists separate and name them (taxonomy and phylogeny).

Bird Anatomy - Explore the anatomical features of birds and compare to other animals to see how unique birds really are! This could include skeletal, digestive, nervous, feather/external anatomy, and more.

Home Sweet Home - Students will learn observation and data collection skills by evaluating whether a site at their school or Eagle Creek Park is suitable for a specific bird species. They will learn about habitat requirements and recommend on-site actions to benefit birds in the area.

Junior Ornithologist - Are you curious to learn more about birds? We will answer questions such as: do they see colors, can they smell, how much do they weigh, why are they so different? Students will work in small groups and create their own mini bird study and use the Ornithology Center to test their hypothesis.

Natural History Hike - Learn about the history of the Ornithology Center and Eagle Crest Forest Preserve by taking a brief building tour and a hike into the woods. See and learn about the state tree and the state bird. Find out about some of the birds that live in the park today because of the trees that were planted for the preserve.

Bird Conservation and Wildlife Management - Why are there only 160 California Con-dors left in the wild? What happened to Bald Eagles in the 1950’s? There are many bird topics we can use to talk about wildlife conservation, population management, and natural resources. Just let us know what you are interested in!

CALL TODAY CALL TODAY CALL TODAY

to set up your programto set up your programto set up your program

317.327.BIRD (2473)317.327.BIRD (2473)317.327.BIRD (2473)

6515 Delong Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46278

Mon - Saturday 9-5:00, Sunday 1-5:00

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Ornithology CenterOrnithology CenterOrnithology Center

Open yearOpen yearOpen year---round!round!round!