Festival Presentation: Wildflowers of the Indiana Dunes National Parks

Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, Indiana Dunes National Park

 

Wildflowers of the Indiana Dunes: Now There’s a Book for That!

May 12, 2022  |  2:30 PM

There are more than birds in the Indiana Dunes! Join Nathanael Pilla and Scott Namestnik for a journey up the dunes and down into the marshes as they explore the incredible diversity of wildflowers that the Indiana Dunes has to offer. Nathanael and Scott realized the need for a guide to the wildflowers in one of the most diverse national parks in the country, and Indiana University Press partnered to publish a brand-new wildflower book. Through this presentation, you will experience not just the landscape of the dunes, but you will also get a sneak peak of the book and what went into creating it.

 

Nathanael Pilla – Speaker

Guide, Botanist

Nathanael J. Pilla is a charismatic plant preacher. He is a botanist, performer, father, husband, lover of life, and when not writing, dancing, or botanizing, he is studying philosophy and theology. He received his Master of Science in Biology from Purdue University Northwest. Nathanael is an active public speaker and nature enthusiast. His written work has appeared in peer-reviewed journals including Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science.

 

Scott Namestnik – Speaker

Guide, Botanist, Indiana DNR – Division of Nature Preserves

Scott Namestnik is the Botanist at the Indiana Natural Heritage Data Center, which is part of the Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Division of Nature Preserves. Much of his work involves conducting botanical inventories, assessing sites for protection consideration, and documenting and monitoring occurrences of endangered and threatened species. He has a degree in Botany with a focus in Environmental Science and over 20 years of experience with the flora of the Great Lakes region and the Midwestern United States. His written work on the flora has appeared in several peer-reviewed journals including The Michigan Botanist, The Great Lakes Botanist, Phytoneuron, Proceedings of the Indiana Academy of Science, and Rhodora, and he is co-author of Wildflowers of the Midwest (Timber Press) and Wildflowers of the Indiana Dunes National Park (Indiana University Press), both available in May 2022. He currently serves as a board member for NatureCITE, Indiana Native Plant Society (North Chapter) and South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Society, is on the advisory council for Shirley Heinze Land Trust and the planning committee for the Indiana Dunes Birding Festival, and is active with the Indiana Native Plant Society (Journal Team Leader) and the Indiana Academy of Science (member of the Biodiversity and Natural Areas Committee and Chair of the Plant Systematics and Biodiversity section). Scott has conducted bird surveys professionally and participates regularly in several Christmas Bird Counts and May bird counts. He also participated for several years in Upland Sandpiper (and other grassland bird) monitoring in South Bend. In addition, Scott has conducted volunteer monitoring as part of FrogWatch USA for many years.

 

 

Indiana Dunes Birding Festival

May 11, 2022—May 15, 2022

The Indiana Dunes Birding Festival is an annual event hosted by the Indiana Audubon Society that showcases the abundance of migratory birds in the Indiana Dunes.

Birding in the Indiana Dunes is the best the state has to offer. With its rich biodiversity, varying habitats and miles of Lake Michigan shoreline, the Indiana Dunes is a hotspot for migrant birds. The annual Indiana Dunes Birding Festival is held to celebrate the dunes area’s various birding habitats and bird watching opportunities to create a positive impact on the economic, conservation, and environmental education for visitors and residents to the Indiana Dunes region.

Register by May 1, 2022 11:59 PM