Eagle Creek Ornithology Center

Did you know that scholarships are available for our summer day camps at Eagle Creek Park? The first step is registering for your camps of choice with a $5 deposit! Registration begins online at 8am this Monday, January 23 or by calling Indy Parks Customer Service at 317-327-7275. The Earth Discovery Center and Ornithology Center open at 10am and can take phone registrations at that time.

tinyurl.com/CampsAtECP2023

Happy Penguin Awareness Day! Join us at the Ornithology Center today and this weekend for lots of fun crafts, coloring, scavenger hunts, and educational displays. 10-5 Friday and Saturday; 1-5 Sunday! 🐧

Why do we even have a penguin day, doesn’t everyone already love penguins!? It’s because there are 18 species of penguin in the world and all but 3 are near threatened or endangered. Penguin populations are impacted by hunting, guano harvesting, overfishing and bycatch, introducing invasive species, oil pollution, and climate change. We need to advocate for these precious waddlers! 🐧💕

It may only be January, but we are already dreaming of summer days, and we bet you are too! 😎 Job applications for summer jobs are NOW OPEN! We're looking for:

☀ Lifeguards - starting at $15/hr
☀ Camp Counselors
☀ Food Program Coordinators
☀ Cashiers
☀ Pool Managers
☀ SO MUCH MORE!

Learn more and apply today ➡ https://bit.ly/IndyParks-SummerJobs

Save the date! Registration for summer camp programming across all of Indy Parks begins on January 23rd at 8am. Summer camp programs at Eagle Creek Park fill up quickly - sometimes within the first day of registration.

Visit this link to view the camps available at Eagle Creek Park: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/indyparks/activity/search?onlineSiteId=0&activity_select_param=2&activity_keyword=eagle%20creek%20day%20camp&viewMode=list

Park staff are available via the phone from 10am-5pm Monday-Saturday and 1-5pm on Sunday to assist with registration.
Looking for financial assistance? Indy Parks offers scholarships. Visit indyparks.org to learn more.

Welcome to Squirrel Week here on the page for the Earth Discovery Center. Squirrel Appreciation Day may take place on only one day (January 21), but we are extending the love to include a whole week to help you learn about some of your squirrely neighbors who live in Indiana.

First up, we would like to introduce you to our largest tree squirrel - the fox squirrel. Fox squirrels are recognizable by their size and color. They have reddish/orangish-brown undersides, a mixture of brown and gray on their backs, and some black hairs on their tail.

Throughout the year, fox squirrels eat a variety of foods including nuts, berries, buds, bark, flowers, mushrooms, and maple seeds. They are also one of the few animals that will give Osage orange fruits any attention and will eat their seeds.

Fox squirrels are great at adapting to the cold Indiana winters. They prefer tree cavity nests in the winter and will raise their young there after breeding in December or January. If they are unable to find a proper tree cavity, they will build dreys which are nests made mostly of leaves. During this time, they will feed on stored nuts and seeds, but not all of the seeds will be found and eaten. Those left behind will help replant the forest instead. Squirrels spend more time in their nests in winter than the rest of the year which helps them avoid winter predators like owls, hawks, and red foxes.



📷 Image is of two fox squirrels inside of instant camera frames. One image is a fox squirrel who has fattened up for winter standing on its hindlegs in the snowflakes with a few snowflakes on its head. The other image is a lighter weight and less fluffy squirrel peering down to the camera from a tree branch on a sunny fall day.

Timeline photos

The Earth Discovery Center will be closed on Monday, January 16.

The MLK Day Self Guided Hike returns Sunday, January 15. If you are looking for a way to reflect on the holiday, vist Eagle Creek Park for a hike on the Pin Oak Loop. This trail begins in front of the Earth Discovery Center (near the large trail map), is about 1/2 mile in length, and relatively flat. Staff will have information about Martin Luther King Jr.'s life and legacy posted along the trail. Take some time to enjoy the peace of the forest in winter as you celebrate Martin Luther King Jr. and read some of his memorable words.

The signage for this hike will remain up until January 31. Free with park admission. Park admission is $5 per car for Marion County residents and $6 per car for non-residents. Rain and/or melting snow can make the trail squishy or muddy. Please plan for the proper footwear.

Thank you Lilly Endowment! We are thrilled to see improvements come to our park and others! Eagle Creek Park Foundation is receiving $2.6 million dollars to support accessibility upgrades to the Pin Oak loop trail at the Earth Discovery Center, funding for community engagement, and development of a documentary on the park's history! A great way to wrap up Eagle Creek's 50th anniversary celebration!

Yesterday we joined Mayor Hogsett, the Lilly Endowment, and City-County Council members to announce an $80 million grant from the Lilly Endowment for park improvements. Improvements are coming to 42 parks in all 9 townships in Indianapolis. To learn more about these improvements, and to view an interactive map, click here: bit.ly/3XnHBhR

Photos from Eagle Creek Park - Indy Parks and Recreation's post

Save the date! Registration for summer camp programming across all of Indy Parks begins on January 23rd at 8am. Summer camp programs at Eagle Creek Park fill up quickly - sometimes within the first day of registration.

Visit this link to view the camps available at Eagle Creek Park: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/indyparks/activity/search?onlineSiteId=0&activity_select_param=2&activity_keyword=eagle%20creek%20day%20camp&viewMode=list

Park staff are available via the phone from 10am-5pm Monday-Saturday and 1-5pm on Sunday to assist with registration.

Looking for financial assistance? Indy Parks offers scholarships. Visit indyparks.org to learn more.

Join a naturalist on a guided outing into the woods to get an introduction to identifying trees by their bark. In the wintertime, trees without their leaves can be very intimidating for identification. Knowing trees by their bark is an excellent way to refine your identification skills.

On this guided excursion, we will focus on color, texture, and characteristic pattern differences that will help you learn your trees in their dormant state. The hike is family friendly and all ages are encouraged to attend. Binoculars will be provided to look at bark and birds as we find them. FREE with park admission but pre-registration is required. Limited to first 15 people.

Register here for Jan 11: https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/indyparks/activity/search/detail/24507?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true

Register here for Jan 18:
https://anc.apm.activecommunities.com/indyparks/activity/search/detail/24337?onlineSiteId=0&from_original_cui=true

PROGRAM REGISTRATION FULL

Join a naturalist for a guided full moon night hike at Eagle Creek Park. We will meet at the Ornithology Center between 5-5:30pm and leave for the hike at 5:30pm. Sun will set at 5:36pm. Between 5:00-5:30pm, families are welcome to roast s’mores over a campfire, supplies provided. We will return to the Ornithology Center by 6:30pm.

Happy New Year!

Here are the latest updates about the Ornithology Center:
Building hours are Monday-Saturday 10am-5pm, and Sundays 1pm-5pm. We are closed on January 1st & 2nd, but reopen with normal hours on the 3rd! We are closed January 16th for Martin Luther King Jr. Day.

Upcoming special events are:
o Family Full Moon Hike, January 6th 5:00-6:30pm (#29609)
o Bark & Birds Hike, January 11th 4-5pm (#29587)
o Bark & Birds Hike, January 18th 4-5pm (#29417)

Preregistration is required for these special events. Register today at indyparks.org by searching for the listed program number.

FREE weekly programs at the Ornithology Center include:
o Falcon Fridays, Fridays at 2:00 pm
o Raptor Feeding Time, Saturdays at 2:30pm
o Amos Butler Audubon Society Bird Walk, Sundays at 9:00 am
o Meet a Raptor, Sundays at 2:30pm
Free with park admission. Drop-ins welcome. 6515 Delong Rd 46278

Image description:
January at the Eagle Creek Ornithology Center with dates and times listed for each program.

Do you want to support the raptor ambassador program? You can symbolically adopt a raptor by visiting https://eaglecreekpark.org/quick-ways-to-give/. All of the proceeds go towards the long term care of our eight raptor ambassadors who help us educate park visitors about conservation and the incredible world of birds!

Eagle Creek Park Holiday Hours:

Park grounds OPEN daily, 7am-6pm, restrooms available at the Marina.
With severe weather in the forecast over the next several days, road conditions may be treacherous and temperatures will be extreme - please have a safety plan in place if you choose to visit the park.

EARTH DISCOVERY CENTER and ORNITHOLOGY CENTER
Thursday, December 22 OPEN 9am-1pm
Friday-Monday, December 23-26 CLOSED
Tuesday-Thursday, December 27-29 OPEN 10am-5pm
Friday, December 30 OPEN 9am-1pm
Saturday, December 31 OPEN 9am-1pm
Sunday, January 1 CLOSED
Monday, January 2 CLOSED

56TH ADMIN OFFICE
Thursday, December 22 OPEN 9am-1pm
Friday-Monday, December 23-26 CLOSED
Tuesday-Thursday, December 27-29 OPEN 9am-5pm
Friday, December 30 OPEN 9am-1pm
Saturday-Monday, December 31-January 2 CLOSED

Have a safe and happy holiday season!

Don't disappoint Obi! Get your 2023 Eagle Creek Park Foundation member passes TODAY! - for yourself & for everyone on your holiday gift list! It's the gift that gives ALL. YEAR. LONG. Visit our website (www.eaglecreekpark.org) or contact Foundation staff at [email protected] with questions - or go directly to https://eaglecreekpark.org/ecpf-shop/ to purchase NOW!

Lantern Walk is this weekend!

Join us for a lantern walk around Lilly Lake in Eagle Creek Park this Sunday, December 18, from 5:00 - 7:00 PM! First, create your very own lantern at home, and then bring the lantern to our evening walk around Lilly Lake! This is FREE with park admission. Learn more ➡ https://bit.ly/3UTecub

‼🌳Registration for programs and events for this Winter is NOW OPEN! Grab your space while you can for many sought-after programs such as Maple Syrup Day, Swim Lessons, Fitness Classes, Art Classes, Environmental Education and so much more. View all programs at indyparks.org

Indy Parks & Recreation

Indy Parks & Recreation

Photos from Park Naturalist - Indy Parks and Recreation's post

ECPF's annual Celebration of Nature art exhibit opens tomorrow - Sat Dec 3 - and runs through Dec 18 at the Earth Discovery Center. The display - featuring a multitude of media including painting, photography, sculpture, prints, carving, fabric, and more - is free with park admission. Hours are 10a to 5p Mon thru Sat, and 1 to 5p Sundays. Many Celebration of Nature works will be for sale through coordination with the artists. (pro tip: they make superb one-of-a-kind gifts!)

The Bear Overlook parking area will be closed beginning tomorrow, 11/30, for construction on the automatic gate system. Construction is also taking place on the parking areas at the Starling Sanctuary and Eagle’s Crest. Once parking improvements are complete and gates are installed, access will be available with an Eagle Creek Park Membership pass or a $5 fee (credit card only). Automatic gates will allow public access to the West Side Trail, set to open in 2023. Completion dates and re-opening schedule are dependent on weather and construction contractor schedules – we will post with updates.

We love hosting field trips!

Timeline photos

In the early 1900s wild turkeys were nearly extinct. Thanks to conservation efforts, their population count today is approximately 6.5 million, with ranges expanding in many areas. Next time you spot a wild turkey, remember this amazing rebound!

📷 by Courtney Celley/USFWS

All three of our recent owl ambassadors at the Ornithology Center were disabled as a result of vehicle collisions just like this screech-owl. Please be careful when driving at dusk! 🦉🌙

During fall and winter months our staff see an influx of patients admitted after being struck by vehicles. With sunset occurring earlier, many animals are now moving around and looking for food during times when people are on their way home from work and running errands before evening hits. At the same time, as fields are cleared of their corn, soybean, etc., rodents will take advantage of spilled grains and can be found more readily along roadways. Where prey animals are, predators go. This mix of occurrences drive birds of prey to hunt along the roadside and small mammals such as opossums and raccoons to converge on these areas as well. It's the perfect storm for animal/human interaction.

This Eastern Screech Owl was brought to the center after being struck by a vehicle in Michigan City. While its wings and body were healthy, overall, it did sustain damage to its right eye. Upon intake staff could observe blood pooling around its eye and have been working over the last 10 days to provide medications that will help alleviate the trauma. There is a fair chance that this bird has sustained a detached retina due to the trauma. A trip to the vet will occur within the next few weeks once we have cleared up the ulcers in its eye. From there, we must be certain it can hunt with its new disability prior to being able to release it back to the wild.

www.humaneindiana.org/wildlife-donate

Photos from The Oaks Academy's post

As you make plans to visit the park with friends & family this Thanksgiving holiday, please note our upcoming building availability. Park grounds will be open their normal hours (7am-6:30pm). Flushing restrooms are available at the Marina.

Photos from Eagle Creek Park Foundation, Inc.'s post

Photos from Indiana Audubon's post

We will be closed Tuesday 11/8 for Election Day. Park grounds are open dawn to dusk (6:30 pm).

What was it like to live along Eagle Creek decades ago? If you've wondered about the older buildings & homesites within the park, you can satisfy your curiosity this Sat Nov 5 at Eagle Creek Heritage Day. The event is set for 9a to 4p at the Earth Discovery Center & other park facilities - and is free with regular park admission. History hikes (both guided & self-guided), a memorabilia museum, building tours, films & slide shows, plus live music are planned. It's an outstanding way to continue the 50th anniversary celebration of Eagle Creek Park!

A birder’s guide to exploring Indianapolis — A Brush with Birds

A birder’s guide to exploring Indianapolis — A Brush with Birds If you have three days to spend in Indy, follow this itinerary for the most satisfying birding and dining spots.

We're hiring again! Apply to be a part-time naturalist at the Ornithology Center here: https://www.governmentjobs.com/careers/indianapolis/jobs/3770033/seasonal-naturalist-ornithology-center?pagetype=transferJobs Photo dump of all the fun staff and volunteers have had over the last few months! 🦅🐍🦉🌳
(Even though the position is listed as seasonal/temporary, it can be year-round at 20 hours per week.)

Eagle Creek Park Owl Festival returns this weekend

Eagle Creek Park Owl Festival returns this weekend Whoooooooo's ready for Owl Fest???  One of Eagle Creek Park's most popular annual events wings its way back to the park's Ornithology Center on Saturday, October 22 and Sunday, October 23. Donna Riner, assistant Manager of Eagle Creek Park Ornithology Center, joined us