Leaders: Paul Evans (317)922-7908

Summer field trips to Ankeny NWR offer access to the interior ponds. We can find a variety of nesting ducks, grebe, Green Heron and American Bittern as their young emerge from grasses and water hedges. Songs and calls of Sora, Virginia Rail, Pied-billed Grebe and Marsh Wren fill the cattails and marshes. Warblers (such as Yellow Warbler and Common Yellowthroat), Yellow-breasted Chat, Black-headed Grosbeak, Bullock’s Oriole, Western Wood-Pewee, Western Tanager, flycatchers and woodpeckers contribute to the aural experience. Mudflats provide our initial glimpses of fall migrating shorebirds. Raptors, including Red-tailed Hawk, Cooper’s Hawk, Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier, American Kestrel and Peregrine Falcon frequent the pattern of waterways, ponds and snag-perch habitat. Osprey can also be seen. Plan on walking a berm with uneven surfaces and going a moderate distance without shade. If time permits we can also explore a cooler boardwalk for more passerines.

Meet at Ankeny Hill Nature Center (AHNC) Parking Lot at 7:30 AM. There are facilities at this location and the trails are now open! We will start here before visiting other locations. Bring water, binoculars and a snack. Trails can be uneven so please wear appropriate footwear. We anticipate finishing before noon. Please note that the gate does not open until 7:00 AM.

Directions: From Salem, take I-5 south to the Ankeny Hill Road exit (Exit 243) and turn right (west). At the Ankeny Hill Road/Wintel Road intersection bear right and continue on Ankeny Hill Road straight (west) approximately 2.2 miles to the AHNC Visitor Center entrance which will be on your left. An alternate route from Salem is to take Liberty Road south to Ankeny Hill Road, then turn left and continue about 0.4 miles to the AHNC Visitor Center entrance which will be on your right. Please do not leave valuables in your vehicle and confirm anything inside is out of sight.