Rediscovering Local Birding Hotspots

Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge (BONWR) is an amazing, interesting birding destination in southeastern Indiana, and we live, luckily, about 30 minutes from it.  

Before going on the refuge, you’re required to view a safety video because the refuge sits on the Jefferson Proving Ground, with its own interesting history, which includes General John Hunt Morgan and 2,000 Confederate cavalrymen crossing it in 1863 in what's known as "Morgan's Raid" through southeastern Indiana.

It's approximately 18 miles long, five miles wide and covers over 55,000 acres.  The unexploded ordinances, though, make it too dangerous to attempt on foot, so you go by vehicle and stick to the roads on almost all of it.  

BONWR Bird Checklist

Bill, my very thoughtful husband, scheduled the trip with Beth Black, who works at the Refuge, and she included George and Walter, who also know a bit about the Refuge.  In fact, they know so much about birding on the Refuge, they compiled the bird checklist (left). 

Bill and I considered ourselves quite fortunate to go on a guided birding tour with these folks on Friday, August 16th.  We also birded here previously to see the Henslow's Sparrow.  Big Oaks has a nesting population of near-threatened Henslow's Sparrows, and many birders come here to add it to their lists.  

We began at the southern end which was mostly a grassy, meadow area with surrounding woods.  There, the new birds for this year that we (the group) saw and/or heard included Red-headed Woodpecker, Alder Flycatcher, and Olive-sided flycatcher.

We arrived at a small lake and saw a Belted Kingfisher, Wood Duck, and an aquatic deer.  Yes, a White-tailed Deer was shoulder high in the lake eating floating vegetation.  Lily pads, I think.  That was quite a site.

We then headed to Old Timber Lake at the north end of the Refuge.  We spotted another Belted Kingfisher, a Bald Eagle, and Stilt Sandpiper. 

Our finally tally, thanks to Walter, who kept the birding chart:

Great Blue Heron

Green Heron

Black Vulture

Turkey Vulture

Wood Duck

Bald Eagle

Sharp-shinned Hawk

Red-tailed Hawk

Wild Turkey

Killdeer

Solitary Sandpiper

Spotted Sandpiper

Mourning Dove

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Belted Kingfisher

Red-headed Woodpecker

Red-bellied Woodpecker

Pileated Woodpecker

Olive-sided Flycatcher

Eastern Wood-Pewee

Alder Flycatcher

Willow Flycatcher

Eastern Kingbird

Blue Jay

American Crow

Barn Swallow

Carolina Chickadee

White-breasted Nuthatch

Eastern Bluebird

American Robin

Gray Catbird

Northern Mockingbird

European Starling

Common Yellowthroat

Chipping Sparrow

Field Sparrow

Song Sparrow

Blue Grosbeak

Indigo Bunting

Eastern Meadowlark

American Goldfinch

Other birds sighted, but not on the checklist (nice!):
Stilt Sandpiper

Least Sandpiper

We saw or heard 43 species at the Refuge.  Fourteen of those birds we added to our year list, and a couple to our life list.  

If you have the time, it’s well worth it to spend a morning here.  You never know what you’ll see or who might be birding with you.  Bill and I had met Beth and knew her to be a wonderful, knowledgable birder, but we hadn’t met George or Walter.  We were very fortunate to spend time with them in that setting.  

Contact information for visiting the Refuge:

Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuge
1661 West JPG Niblo Road
Madison, IN 47250
(812) 273-0783
www.fws.gov/midwest/bigoaks

You won't be disappointed!