Upcoming events
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October dBird Days: Help Us Collect Building & Window Collision Data
Calling all citizen scientists, conservation advocates, and early birds looking to make a difference! Join LAS and the Louisville Metro Government's Office of Sustainability for October dBird Days and help us collect critical data on bird-building collisions in Louisville.
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Past events
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Celebrate October Big Day: Join Louisville Audubon for a bird walk!
THREE options: Iroquois Park or Caperton Swamp in Kentucky, or Buffalo Trace Woods in Indiana! Spend a fall morning exploring nature, discovering a new birding destination or enjoying an old favorite, and contributing to worldwide citizen-science efforts. By taking part in October Big Day 2025—a global birding celebration on Oct. 11, 2025, that fuels migration research and conservation—you’ll also be celebrating Global Bird Weekend and World Migratory Bird Day. |
Louisville Audubon will be leading THREE October Big Day bird walks: two in Kentucky (Iroquois Park and Caperton Swamp) and one in Indiana (Buffalo Trace Woods). Please register, as capacity is limited!
- FREE: Register for Caperton Swamp: www.mobilize.us/audubon-chapters/event/857329/
- FREE: Register for for Iroquois Park: www.mobilize.us/audubon-chapters/event/856428/
- $5: Register for Buffalo Trace Woods: www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-october-big-day-hikes-with-ilpa-tickets-1512891672719
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Iroquois Park Archery Range Walk:
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Caperton Swamp Walk:
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Buffalo Trace Woods Walk
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 Image of "Ukraine" by Sabra L. Crockett used with permission from the artist.
When: Thursday, Sept. 25, 2025, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Where: WheelHouse Art Gallery, 2650 Frankfort Ave., 40206 in Louisville's Crescent Hill neighborhood Cost: $0, but registration is required due to limited capacity. Reserve your spot at this link! |
Exhibition & Gallery Talk—Birds in Fine Art, Past & PresentWhat: a special after-hours viewing of local artist Sabra L. Crockett's new exhibition, "I See No Leaders."
The event also includes:
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Fall Migration Celebration Bird WalkFall migration will be in full swing for this walk! We’ll look for migratory birds passing through our area as well as year-round residents.
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Lights Out Louisville: How You Can Help Save Migrating Birds
What: Every spring and fall, millions of birds migrate over Louisville each night. But many birds don't survive the journey, and the effects of artificial light at night create some of the biggest threats to their survival. The good news: Anyone can contribute to the solution by taking some small—but meaningful—actions during peak bird migration months.
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"The Milky Way rising like steam from the 'Teapot' asterism in Sagittarius." Photo credit and caption: Dan Price
Starry Skies & Light Pollution
- What: Until recently, humanity enjoyed a deep connection with the night sky and nature—and it's not too late for us to reforge those connections.
- Join NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador Dan Price and Lights Out Louisville program advocate Mary Beth Nevulis as they explore the impacts of light pollution on humanity, birds, and everything else.
- Learn how we can reconnect with the night sky and the natural world and make a positive difference in the world around us.
- Attendees will also enjoy bright stars during a laser-guided exploration of Bernheim’s night sky, complemented by telescopic observations and insights from Bernheim's dedicated Volunteer Naturalists.
- When: August 30, 2025, 8:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.
- Where: Bernheim Arboretum, 2075 Clermont Road, Clermont, KY 40110
- Cost: $15 for Bernheim members, $20 general admission.
- Learn more and register here.
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Let's Go Birding Together: Louisville Audubon's LGBTQ+ Pride Month Nature Walk
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Birdwatching: Birds are a work of art
What: Look up—nature's greatest masterpieces are in motion!
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When: Saturday, June 14, 2-3 p.m.
Where: Bullitt County Library, Nichols Branch, 10729 Highway 44 West, West Point, KY 40177 Cost: free, just drop in! Note: Seating and supplies will be available on a first-come, first-served basis. More info: View the library's event listing, or contact Samantha at the Nichols Branch Library at 543-7675 ext. 2560 or [email protected]. |
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Become a Community Scientist
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Birding 101 in Iroquois Park
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Nocturnal Networking at Bernheim Forest with Lights Out Louisville
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Please join the Louisville Audubon Society for our annual meeting!
- What:
- The event will include:
• a program by the Raptor Rehab of Kentucky, including their owl ambassadors!
• community meet and greet
• silent auction of Ray Harm prints, birding books and collectibles, and other items
• the election of new members to the LAS Board of Directors
• light bites and refreshments
• and more! - When: Saturday, May 17, 2025, 2-4 p.m.
- Where: Gilda's Club Kentuckiana
- Register for free: Capacity is limited to 100 people. Please RSVP here to ensure you have a seat: https://mobilize.us/s/OWbQnT
LAS presents "How to grow a bird-friendly garden" at LFPL'S How To Fest
- What: Come see one of LAS' trained naturalists, Luke Pearson, give an interactive presentation on how to grow a bird-friendly garden at the Louisville Free Public Library's How To Festival!
- When: The festival runs 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2025
- Luke's presentation is from 1-1:45 p.m. on Saturday, May 10, 2025
- Cost: All events are free!
- More info: LFPL.org/How-To
Louisville Zoo’s Earth Day 2025
- When: Sunday, April 27, 2025 (exhibitors from 10 a.m.–2 p.m.)
- Where: Louisville Zoo, 1100 Trevilian Way, Louisville, KY, 40213
- Cost: $5 general Zoo admission, plus FREE parking!
- What: Meet some of the organizations in your community working to build a more sustainable future for our planet—and for us humans!—and enjoy fun, family-friendly activities.
- Stop by the LAS & Lights Out Louisville booth to participate in an interactive activity about birds!
- Visit friends of Lights Out Louisville—DarkSky Kentucky—to learn about the beauty of the night sky and how reducing light pollution is good for birds, wildlife, and humans alike!
10th Anniversary City Nature Challenge
LNC Walk
- What: The City Nature Challenge is a "bio-blitz" in which cities around the world explore and connect with nature during the same 4 days in April—this year, April 25 through April 28.
- Get to know local plants and wildlife while participating in citizen science by documenting Jefferson County's biodiversity!
- Good to know: Open to all ages.
- Can be done solo or with a group.
- Participants will need either a camera or a smartphone to upload photos to the FREE iNaturalist app.
- Please have the app pre-loaded if you plan to participate in any walks.
LNC Walk
- When: Saturday, April 26, 10 a.m. to 12 noon
- Where: Louisville Nature Center: 3745 Illinois Ave., Louisville, KY
- Cost: $15 per family
- What: Join naturalist and LAS Board member Luke Pearson on this hike through the woodlands of Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve and welcome the emerging ephemerals.
- Sign up here.
- When: Sunday, April 27, 10 a.m. to 12 noon
- Where: Big Beech Trail, The Parklands; participants will meet at a small parking lot
- Directions to correct parking lot: Enter Pope Lick Park from Taylorsville Road entrance and follow South Pope Lick Rd.
- Turn left toward the main parking lot just north of the playing field.
- Don't enter that parking lot; keep following the unnamed road north of the lot and turn left as it parallels the west side of that lot.
- Follow that road to the dead end, where there is a much smaller parking lot and park. Participants will gather there before walking together to the trailhead (~10-minute walk).
- Google Map to parking lot here
- Cost: FREE
- What: Join LAS Board member and retired Professor Margaret Carreiro for a walk through Big Beech Woods to enjoy the diversity of wildflowers and other organisms found there.
- Sponsored by Wild Ones Louisville.
- When: Sunday, April 27, 4 p.m. to 6 p.m.
- Where: Tom Wallace Recreation Area in Jefferson Memorial Fores
- Meet at the Jefferson Memorial Forest's Welcome Center parking lot: 11311 Mitchell Hill Rd., Fairdale, KY 40118
- Google Map to parking lot here
- Cost: FREE
- What: Hike the Memorial Trail in the the Jefferson Memorial Forest's Tom Wallace Recreation with naturalist and LAS Board member Luke Pearson to spot birds, wildlife, and native plants.
- Accessibility info: The trail has moderate elevation gain and is mostly dirt with some rocks.
- Sponsored by the Louisville Audubon Society
Louisville Earth Fest 2025
- When: Saturday, March. 29 2025, 2 p.m. 6-p.m.
Where: Alberta O. Jones Park at 744 S 23rd St, Louisville, KY 40211 - What: a community festival with food, music, performances, arts and environmental activities, community resources, and more, hosted by the Louisville-Jefferson County Metro Government's Office of Sustainability
- Come celebrate nature and our planet—and while you're there, visit LAS and other conservation-forward organizations, including Trees Louisville the Parks Alliance of Louisville, the Louisville Compost Co-op!
- Cost: Free!
- More info: Visit the event page
Great Backyard Bird Count Hike
- When: Feb. 16, 2025, 12 p.m. 2-p.m.
Where: the Louisville Nature Center - What: The Great Backyard Bird Count (GBBC) runs for four days every year in February. During this time, people watch, count, and report their bird observations to help scientists better understand global bird populations.
- On this guided hike, LAS Board Member Luke Pearson will help you identify birds using field marks, behavior, habitat, calls, and more.
- You’ll also learn how log your findings in eBird as part of the GBBC.
- Binoculars and smartphones recommended.
- Age level: recommended for ages 12 and up; all levels of birding experience
- Cost: $15
- How to attend: Register online using this link.
- P.S. We also recommend participating in one or more days of the GBBC on your own or with fellow birders. It’s a great way to contribute to the world’s largest biodiversity-related citizen science project, eBird.
Community Science Chat: Bird Nerds
- When: Jan. 18, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Where: the Louisville Zoo’s Glacier Run classroom space (next to the bear exhibit)
- What: Learn how backyard birders can support native bird populations and local conservation.
- You’ll hear from community experts—including members of the Louisville Audubon Society and Lights Out Louisville—and get to meet one of the Zoo’s raptor ambassadors.
- Age level: recommended for ages 10 and up
- Cost: Adult ticket required.
- Members: Adult —$10 / Child — $7
- Non-members: Adult — $20 / Child — $15
- How to attend: Register online using this link.
Birding By Ear
- When: Jan. 19, 2025, from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Where: the Louisville Nature Center
- What: On this guided hike, LAS Board member Luke Pearson—naturalist and member of the LAS Board of Directors—will help you identify common bird species of the Beargrass Creek State Nature Preserve by the calls they make, as well as discuss the behaviors associated with birds’ vocalizations.
- Binoculars recommended.
- Cost: $15
- How to attend: Register online using this link.
Thank you for joining the Louisville Audubon Society on Aug. 22, 2024, to officially launch Lights Out Louisville!
We launched the Lights Out Louisville program in Aug. 2024. With your support, here’s what we’ve accomplished so far:
- 62 residences and 8 non-residential buildings have pledged to participate in the Lights Out program during peak spring and fall migration periods: April and May, September and October, between 11 p.m. and 6 a.m.
- View the interactive map showing residential pledges to date.
- Check out the organizations that have enrolled their buildings in the Lights Out program.
- Haven’t taken the pledge yet? Spring migration will be here before we know it—and everyone can make a difference by going Lights Out!
- Pledge as a resident.
- Enroll a non-residential building (business, school, nonprofit, house of worship, etc.) that you own or manage. (We’ll feature your organization on our website as a supporter!)
- Share the pledge forms with your friends and family and encourage them to go Lights Out!
- Missed the chance to get your own sign? Donate $10 or more through this secure link and be ready for spring migration.
- P.S. Our signs are durable enough to use every spring and fall for years.
- We’re hoping to have more events like this to continue rallying support for Lights Out and bring the local birding community together.
2024 Louisville Audubon Society Annual Meeting
April 6 at 6:00 p.m.
Gilda's Club Kentuckiana, 2440 Grinstead Drive, Louisville 40204
Raptor Rehab of Kentucky volunteer Heather Cox holding a Barn Owl. This owl was rehabbed in 2018 but is non-releasable due to its injuries.
The meeting will include:
• Meet and greet
• Program by Raptor Rehabilitation of Kentucky
• Election of new officers
• Silent auction of 27 Lenox porcelain birds (cash and check only)
• Hors d’oeuvres and dessert