Indiana Dunes National Park guide · 1 min read
World-Class Birding and the May Migration
More than 350 bird species have been recorded within the park's boundaries, and its position explains much of that.
The park sits at the southern tip of Lake Michigan, where it gives birds a place to feed and rest on their travels. The lake itself shapes the routes many species take, and its open water and long shoreline bring in large flocks of wintering birds as well.
Fall is when the geography matters most. In autumn, birds flying south follow the shoreline as it runs north to south, and the dunes gather them into the park. Hawks in flight can be spotted from the summit of a sand dune, while waterfowl come into view through a spotting scope set up along the shore. Newcomers and experienced birders alike will find something to watch.
Several spots are worth a visit. The Great Marsh is a popular place for wetland birds to rest and feed during migration, and birders search its remaining wetland sections for species. A trail with wheelchair access runs out to a lookout over the marsh. Cowles Bog and the Paul H. Douglas Trail are also good places to look, and the Longshore Birding Platform, inside the state park, offers another view.
Each May, the third weekend brings the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival. Indiana Audubon hosts the event, and the national park has a key part in it. Over four days, expert guides lead outings to dozens of sites across the area. Each year, thousands of visitors spend that window in the national and state parks watching birds pass through.
