Indiana Dunes National Park Birds

Located at the southern tip of Lake Michigan the national lakeshore is an important feeding and resting area for migrating birds. Lake Michigan influences the migration patterns of bird species. During the fall migration southbound birds follow the north-south shoreline and are funneled into the Indiana Dunes. Also, the large expanse of open water and miles of shoreline can attract large numbers of wintering birds.

The Indiana Dunes provides an excellent opportunity for birders to see a variety of bird species. Birders can spend time sitting on the shoreline with a spotting scope watching the lake for birds, or standing on the fore dunes observing the hawks during migration, to looking for wetland birds in remnant sections of the great marsh. Whether you are a beginner or have advanced identification skills, the Indiana Dunes is a great place for birders. You can find a seasonal bird checklist to help identify and find the birds of Indiana Dunes by clicking on "Seasonal Bird Checklist" at the bottom of this page.

The national lakeshore conducts annual monitoring of birds at several different locations throughout the park. The monitoring is focused on tracking population trends of breeding birds. Monitoring programs provide valuable data on the status of birds in the park and also contribute to national efforts to track bird populations. You can download the North American Breeding Bird Survey data for Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore by clicking on "Breeding Bird Survey" at the bottom of this page.

Bird Watching at Indiana Dunes National Park

Located at the southern tip of Lake Michigan, the national park is an important feeding and resting area for migrating birds. Lake Michigan influences the migration patterns of bird species. During the fall migration, southbound birds follow the north-south shoreline and are funneled into the Indiana Dunes. The large expanse of open water and miles of shoreline also attract large numbers of wintering birds.

The Indiana Dunes provides an excellent opportunity for birders to see a variety of bird species. Birders can observe hawks during migration from the top of a sand dune, watch waterfowl with a spotting scope from the shoreline, or look for wetland birds in remnant sections of the Great Marsh. Whether you have beginner or advanced identification skills, Indiana Dunes National Park is a great place for birders.

The national park plays an important role in the annual Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, which take place the third weekend in May. This incredible four-day event showcases dozens of birding spots around the region with expert led outings.