We were on a road trip through Indiana and were lucky enough to spend the day with David while in Bloomington. He picked us up at our hotel with a van packed with equipment and essentials and off we went into the Indiana countryside.
Prime Birding Location
Complete Customization
Ideal for Photographers
Explore Indiana’s #1 Birding Destination With An Expert Guide
Join us on this exclusive day trip to the heart of Indiana’s #1 birding hotspot – the Indiana Dunes. This spectacular destination seamlessly blends a national park, state park, land trust properties, and nature preserves amid urban development and steel mills, creating a unique haven for a huge array of birds throughout the year. Our passionate and knowledgeable guide David Rupp is committed to tailoring the tour to suit your interests and physical abilities, so don’t hesitate to chat with us beforehand. We welcome bird enthusiasts of all skill levels. Our aim is to ensure an inspiring and informative birding experience for all with leisurely strolls and brief hikes through breathtaking landscapes. Each season offers a distinct variety of bird species to admire, so please inquire ahead of your booking if you have specific target species in mind. The concentration of birds in the area during migration can be astounding and the opportunities are almost endless! Just remember to bring the right footwear!
Tour Highlights
Tailor a tour to your needs- ideal for photographers or guests with limited mobility
Learn many of the best birding locations at Indiana’s only National Park
Go birding in a variety of habitats: lakefront, dunes, oak savannah, forest, marsh, grasslands, etc.
Observe how the dunes serve as a stopover spot for many migrating birds, so you’ll get a chance to see species that might only be in the area for a short time
Find both nesting and migrating warblers in the Dunes
Possibly discover rare birds in the area (thanks to Lake Michigan)
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Trip Details
Trip Details
Price
- $300/group for morning tour
- Inquire about the full-day tour – RECOMMENDED
Meeting Point
Indiana Dunes National Park Visitors Center
Seasons
Mid-August through May
Duration
Approximately 4-5 hours for a morning tour. The tour can be extended to a longer day (recommended) and include other destinations for an additional $100
Group size
1 to 8. Ideally 5 or fewer
Included
- Binoculars
- Use of spotting scope
Not included
- Entrance fees to the National Park if driving separately, which should be purchased online prior to the tour
- Food and drinks, so be sure to bring what you might need
- Lunch on full-day tours
What to bring
- Water bottle
- Appropriate clothing for the season
- Jacket
- Comfortable walking shoes
- Hat
- Sunglasses
- Your own binoculars or scope
- Phone/camera
About your guide
David Rupp, owner of IndiGo Birding, will lead this trip. David has over 25 years of birding experience and loves to share his joy for birding.
What to Expect
You’ll start the day by meeting me at the Visitors Center together with your exclusive group, where you can ride with me (groups of 5 or fewer) or caravan behind as we visit the best birding spots in the area for the season. I will ask beforehand if you have any wishes regarding particular species, habitats, or hikes.
Provided the weather is nice, we will walk some of the trails (Cowles Bog, Grand Marsh, Heron Rookery) in the National Park or check out Trail 2 in the State Park. We then may hike the dunes or watch the lake for seabirds – the choice is yours! If you wish to extend your time and do a full-day tour then we can do both and much more. Please let me know in advance.
See How Previous Guests Sang Our Praises
David’s tours are always informative and enjoyable! He is very personable and a wealth of knowledge. He is not just a birder, but a naturalist, as well. He easily adjusts his tours to the level of his clients. I highly recommend Indigo Birding Nature Tours.
