Events

Native plants are the foundation of habitat, but wildlife need more than food to thrive. Join ecologist and Certified Wildlife Biologist Shaun McCoshum, PhD, to explore how nesting sites, shelter, water, soil conditions, and other often-overlooked resources can transform a yard into a functioning ecosystem that supports biodiversity year-round.

Did you know 80% of terrestrial birds migrate at night, unseen but not unheard? Join Indiana Audubon’s Communications and Outreach Manager, Whitney Yoerger, for a one-hour virtual look at Echoes of the Night Sky, an innovative citizen science project now in its third year. Using remote listening devices and machine learning software, the project is decoding the flight calls birds make as they pass overhead in spring and fall, revealing just how massive these nighttime movements really are across Indiana’s skies. Come find out what your backyard sounds like at 3 a.m., and how listening, not watching, might be the next great tool for understanding migration.

Whitney Yoerger connects people to Indiana’s birds and conservation through programs and online resources. She is a curious writer and communications professional with a Master of Arts in nonprofit administration from the Savannah College of Art and Design. Her birding story began in 2014 during a long weekend at the Kiptopeke Hawkwatch in Virginia, where she watched migrating hawks with borrowed binoculars. Whitney is passionate about mindful birding practices, acoustic ecology, and animal behavior.

Member Meeting indoors at 10:00 am -recapping Summer activities – including your garden experiences!Native plant & seed swap outdoors at 11:00am.

The plant & seed swap is open to the public…

If you are not a member, and just want to attend the swap, please arrive at 11:00 a.m.

Please Note: In order to prevent the spread of unwanted pests, it is advisable to rinse plant roots that were dug from the ground before sharing. You can bring bare-root, or put into potting soil.        

 *** Native plants & seeds only ***

Please RSVP if you’d like to attend any portion of this day’s activities in person.

Members who want to attend the Member Meeting via Zoom, please register below.

What does it really take to turn a conventional lawn into a thriving native meadow? Join Owner & Principal, New Directions in the American Landscape (NDAL), Sara Weaner Cooper for a candid look at her family's ongoing lawn-to-meadow transformation featured in The New York Times and BBC. Drawing from three years of hands-on experience, Sara will share the methods, lessons learned, successes, and challenges of converting turfgrass into a dynamic native plant community. Participants will gain practical insights into site preparation, planting, management, and the ecological principles that guide successful meadow establishment, along with realistic expectations for how these landscapes evolve over time.

Registration link coming soon.

Bats are among the most important and misunderstood wildlife in our communities. Join experts from Bat Conservation International to explore how native plants, healthy insect populations, and thoughtful landscape design can help support bats. Learn about the ecological role of bats and discover practical ways to create habitat for North America's night flyers right in your own backyard.

Zoe Evans, rewilding coach and VP of Partnerships & Programs at Wildr shares a practical, science-informed framework for evaluating a home landscape, identifying its greatest habitat opportunities, and choosing actions that support more plants, insects, birds, and other wildlife.

Registration link coming soon.

No yard required. Learn how native plants can turn patios, balconies, containers, and other small spaces into meaningful habitat for pollinators and other wildlife. This practical panel will cover plant selection, container design, seasonal care, and realistic ways to support biodiversity in limited spaces.

Registration link coming soon.

Birds depend on healthy, connected habitats for food, shelter, nesting, and migration support. Join experts from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology to explore how native plants and thoughtful landscape choices can support birdlife at home. Learn how gardens, yards, and community spaces can provide the insects, seeds, berries, cover, and habitat structure birds need throughout the year.

Registration link coming soon. 

Monarch butterflies depend on a network of habitats stretching across North America, and home landscapes can play an important role in their survival. Join experts from Monarch Joint Venture to explore the science behind monarch conservation, including the importance of milkweed, nectar resources, and regionally appropriate habitat. Learn practical ways to support monarchs through native landscaping and help sustain one of the world's most remarkable migrations.
 

Registration link coming soon.