Eagle Creek Park
Ornithology Center School Programs
Learn about Indiana’s native birds and meet our
live raptors through our Birds of Prey Programs
and guided Nature Hikes. We offer a wide
variety of program topics for all ages, including
bird migration, nesting, habitats, conservation,
identification, and more!
PROGRAM FEES
$4/student for a single program topic.
$5/student for two topics or large groups
that must be split in half.
No charge for teachers or adult helpers!
Park admission and use of a shelter and
playground included!
Discounted rates are available to schools
with 40% or more of students on free or
reduced lunch.
Additional fees may apply for night or
weekend programing.
Having trouble with transportation or
want to schedule a school-wide program?
We can come to you! Outreach programs
begin at $75/hour for two live birds of
prey (hawks, owls, etc). Additional fees
may apply for long distance travel and
night or weekend programming.
CALL TODAY to set up
your program!
317.327.BIRD (2473)
6515 Delong Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46278
Mon - Saturday 9-5:00, Sunday 1-5:00
Eagle Creek Park
Ornithology Center Program 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 habitat 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 adaptations 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 behind? Students will learn about bird migration and the different hazards birds can face.
EGGstravaganza - Discover bird eggs up close! Learn about egg and chick development 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 scientists 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 Condors 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
to set up your program
317.327.BIRD (2473)
Eagle Creek Park
Ornithology Center
Open year
year--round!
6515 Delong Rd. Indianapolis, IN 46278
Mon - Saturday 9-5:00, Sunday 1-5:00