Witness An Incredible Spectacle Of Nature Watching The Annual Autumn Bird Migrations In Indiana
By Tori Jane|Published November 08, 2021
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Tori Jane
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Tori Jane is a storm chaser, writer, photographer, and the village idiot - in that order. When she's not out and about dancing with the meanest storms on planet Earth for funsies she can be found wandering, shooting landscapes, writing, editing photos, and otherwise up to no good. Legend has it that she can also be occasionally spotted typing up short bios in the third person, but those rumors are unsubstantiated.
Indiana is quite fortunate for many reasons: it’s scenic, it sees all four seasons, and it has some amazing wildlife. Speaking of amazing wildlife, some of the most fascinating animal migrations in North America come straight through the Hoosier State, ensuring that we nature enthusiasts get several awe-inspiring natural spectacles year after year. Bird migration in Indiana is always a special event, and we look forward to it each year.
The one that occurs at the end of October into November is particularly spectacular; the annual sandhill crane migration has finally arrived, and it's a wonder to behold.
That migration is by far the most popular with birdwatchers and tourists, but what about other birds that come through during the fall? This is a shout-out to those little guys.
There are plenty of wonderful places to watch these autumn migrations in action.
Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area is by far the best for many different species, including the Sandhill Crane. Indiana Dunes National Park is another excellent source for all your birdwatching needs.
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As we said above, Indiana is extraordinarily lucky to be the epicenter for so many beautiful species passing through.
It's significant that folks from all over the Midwest, including Illinois, Wisconsin, and Michigan, travel to Indiana to watch the spectacle unfold -- rather than stay in their respective states. Of course, we don't mind - everyone is welcome to watch Indiana's beauty in action.
You never know what you'll see out there; from cute little guys like the Eurasian wigeon below to more elegant birds like whooping cranes (come November).
You also have a shot at seeing some rare-but-still-there species if you're patient and persistent enough. Some of the rare species to come through are the Red-breasted nuthatch, which is always a joy to observe, as well as Iceland gulls.
For best viewing of migrating birds, you should get up early - before sunrise - and be at wherever you're planning to be to watch the sun rise.
The birds tend to be quite active at sunrise and sunset, and those times are by far the best to go out and watch - though we suggested sunrise because sunset can get pretty crowded, especially in the more popular viewing places.
We're lucky to be Hoosiers for lots of reasons, but the breathtaking splendor of annual migrations is one of our personal favorites.
