Festival Schedule
Indiana Dunes Birding Festival
May 14-17, 2026
The full 2026 schedule will be released later this fall. Please note that the schedule is subject to change and will be updated with the date below to reflect a new guidebook version. Any changes incurred after registration will be emailed to participants directly.
View last year's festival schedule here: Festival Guidebook (final version - 4/25)
Dr. Francie Cuthbert
Keynote Presentation: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Sand Creek Country Club - Chesterton, IN
Dr. Francie Cuthbert is the world’s foremost expert on the endangered Great Lakes population of Piping Plovers. When she noticed that no one was studying this near-extinct population in the 1980s, she said "well, I better get going".
Since then, she has led the recovery of the Piping Plover population through decades of intensive fieldwork, research, and conservation planning. Her efforts—including nest protection, banding, and captive rearing—have driven a significant rebound in plover numbers across all five Great Lakes. With numerous volunteers, researchers, and organizations help, the Plovers have rebounded and there's an entire team dedicated to their continued success.
Many of our attendees may know the story of the Great Lakes Piping Plovers but in 2026, you hear the story of the incredible woman who started it all!
Read About the Piping Plover Story Now!
The Indiana Dunes Birding Festival is thrilled to welcome Francie to Indiana and to celebrate Dunes birding with us!
Keynote Presentation: Saturday, May 16, 2026
Sand Creek Country Club - Chesterton, IN
Dr. Francie Cuthbert is the world’s foremost expert on the endangered Great Lakes population of Piping Plovers. When she noticed that no one was studying this near-extinct population in the 1980s, she said "well, I better get going".
Since then, she has led the recovery of the Piping Plover population through decades of intensive fieldwork, research, and conservation planning. Her efforts—including nest protection, banding, and captive rearing—have driven a significant rebound in plover numbers across all five Great Lakes. With numerous volunteers, researchers, and organizations help, the Plovers have rebounded and there's an entire team dedicated to their continued success.
Many of our attendees may know the story of the Great Lakes Piping Plovers but in 2026, you hear the story of the incredible woman who started it all!
Read About the Piping Plover Story Now!
The Indiana Dunes Birding Festival is thrilled to welcome Francie to Indiana and to celebrate Dunes birding with us!