Noble County Birding & Kayaking Tour

Calling all birding and kayaking enthusiasts! Get ready to explore the best natural areas of northeast Indiana during the peak of the nesting season in June. Immerse yourself in the sounds of various bird songs as we navigate through the narrow channels that connect the lakes at Chain O’Lakes State Park. With multiple kayaking trips, you’ll have the chance to get up close and personal with a diverse range of bird species in their natural habitat. This multi-day tour provides a unique opportunity to witness the beauty and wonder of bird life in Indiana’s picturesque wilderness!

Noble County in northeast Indiana is home to Chain O’Lakes State Park, a beautiful mix of kettle lakes and forested glacial till terrain. The state park will be the focal point of our tour, but we will visit several other natural and historic areas and birding hotspots. Be sure to check out our Birding List below!

On this tour we allow the weather to help guide our day-to-day itineraries as we want to take advantage of the best conditions to be out exploring! We do always start each day with an early morning birding walk at a nearby nature preserve followed by a full breakfast at the Inn.

Our tour begins at Bloomington (if you need transportation), but you will receive a discount if you drive yourself and meet at the state park on the afternoon of the 3rd. We will then hike and bird on one of the trails before going to the nearby Kimmell House Inn B&B to check-in.

We also have day trips planned to two amazing environmental and historic sites: Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site and Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center. Each day will also include a “birding by kayak” trip on the connected lakes at the state park.

Some prior kayaking experience is preferred, but none of the paddling trips we take will be very difficult or long. Discounts are available if you bring your own kayak or provide your own transportation. Please contact David before registering to find the best traveling and lodging package for you and your touring companions. A single supplement may be available if space allows, but priority will be given to those registering as double occupancy.

Here’s a list of some of the bird species we hope to see:

• Sandhill Crane
• Wood Duck
• Yellow-billed Cuckoo
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Willow and Least Flycatchers
• Scarlet Tanager
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak
• Baltimore Oriole
• Yellow-breasted Chat
• Indigo Bunting
• Many warblers: Blue-winged, Prothonotary, Hooded, Cerulean, Chestnut-sided, American Redstart, and Ovenbird.