Birds and Blooms at the Heron Rookery

Late April is a special time in the floodplain woodlands at the Heron Rookery trail in the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Although the namesake rookery was abandoned years ago, this woodland trail is the best place in the region to see the spectacular display of spring ephemeral wildflowers. While you observe flowers at your feet, look and listen for early arriving songbirds such as the Louisiana Waterthrush, Northern Parulas, and Yellow-throated Warblers (the last of which is only known from this location in the Dunes-Calumet region). Meet at the Indiana Dunes Visitor Center at 8:00am to carpool to the site, as parking can be somewhat limited. Free and open to the public, but please RSVP to mbeatty233@gmail.com