Explore the best natural areas of northeast Indiana with IndiGo Birding Nature Tours! Noble County is home to Chain O’Lakes State Park, a beautiful example 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 areas and birding hotspots. Our lodging will be at the historic Kimmell House Inn Bed and Breakfast, located within 15 minutes of most of our birding spots. 

We will kayak multiple times at Chain O’Lakes State Park, where we will weave through the narrow channels that connect the lakes and get close encounters with a variety of bird species.  On the first afternoon we will meet at the park for some birding and hiking before going to the nearby Kimmell House Inn B&B to check in. Each day will involve an early morning birding walk at a nearby nature preserve followed by a full breakfast at the Inn. We 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. I have purposely allowed for some flexibility in the schedule so that we can adjust plans as necessary based on the weather forecast; we want to take advantage of the best conditions to be out exploring! 

 We will meet at 3:00 p.m. at Chain O'Lakes State Park on the 4th. The tour ends around noon on the 7th. In between, here are the places we plan to visit:

• Chain O’Lakes State Park: 2,718-acre park with nine small, interconnected lakes and 23 miles of forested trails.
• Gene Stratton-Porter State Historic Site: The author’s 1913 home and gravesite sit on a 125-acre protected natural area.
• Merry Lea Environmental Learning Center: This Goshen College property provides hiking trails through a variety of ecosystems on a 1,189-acre nature preserve.
• Spear Lake Nature Trail: A trail on a state nature preserve in the Tri-County Fish & Wildlife Area.
• Lloyd Bender Memorial Forest: A 1.1 mile loop trail on this ACRES land trust property.

June is the time that many birds are nesting or raising young. We should see a variety of wetland, grassland, and forest species: 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, and many warblers: Blue-winged, Prothonotary, Hooded, Cerulean, Chestnut-sided, American Redstart and Ovenbird. Considerable time will be spent on identifying and learning birdsongs.

This is the second offering of this itinerary. Some prior kayaking experience is preferred, but none of the paddling trips we take will be very difficult or long. You are welcome to 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. There is one room that could sleep 3 or 4 people if that better fits your needs.

Because we are traveling as a group, we require that anyone participating in this tour is up-to-date with COVID-19 vaccinations and boosters.