Want to see some of Indiana's best wildlife? Take this expert advice and go west.
When Terre Haute Tribune-Star columnist Mike Lunsford is looking to capture a great photograph of birds, he hikes through the Wabashiki wetlands.
Ginger Murphy, the deputy director for stewardship for Indiana State Parks, recommends the viewing window inside the nature center at Turkey Run State Park.
And Marilyn Culler, a Greencastle photographer who blogs about nature on visitindiana.com, simply cruises the backroads of Putnam County as she searches for the perfect sunset, wildflower or animal.
No matter whether someone is seeking established parkland or open wilderness, the three have a suggestion for Hoosiers seeking a deeper connection with nature: Go west.
They highlighted nine particular areas that were deemed perfect for photographing — or simply observing — some of the best of Indiana's wildlife.
"Not many people think about west central Indiana as being an exciting place to go and explore," Culler said, "but it's beautiful."
For the purposes of this article, the region is bound by Celery Bog Nature Area to the north and Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area to the south. All told, it spans a two-and-a-half hour drive from West Lafayette to Linton. Aside from Celery Bog, every location is within an hour's drive from Terre Haute.
One reason to visit the western part of Indiana, Murphy said, is because of the range in habitats, wildlife and recreational opportunities.
"There's a diversity based on what you want to do and want to see," Murphy said. "You'll find out where your niche is that you're most interested in."
'You're never too old to pick up a hobby'
Lunsford retired from his job as a high school teacher in 2018. When he's not penning newspaper columns or writing books, Lunsford now finds himself carrying his Canon EOS 6D into the woods or wetlands near his home in rural Parke County.
It wasn't until a few years ago that he started considering himself a photographer. At the time, his newspaper editor asked Lunsford if he would consider taking pictures to run with his columns. So Lunsford bought a camera.
It became an obsession, Lunsford said.
"I think I'm living proof that you're never too old to pick up a hobby," Lunsford said. "I'm 65, and I feel like it's just become a passion for me in the last five or six years."
It helps that Lunsford tends to spend his time hiking in the woods. Now when he witnesses a memorable moment in nature, he can record the photo and bring it home with him.
While some friends prefer raptors, such as hawks, eagles and ospreys, Lunsford said he most enjoys looking for small birds, such as warblers, chickadees and tufted titmice.
One of his favorite spots is Big Raccoon Creek, which abuts Cecil M. Harden Lake.
He also ventures south of his home into Vigo County. He noted that Terre Haute is one of 15 cities to be labeled a "Bird Town" by the Indiana Audubon Society.
And in West Terre Haute, right off U.S. 40, is a trailhead that leads hikers along the Wabashiki Trail. That area, near the Wabash River, is great for observing a variety of birds and other wildlife, Lunsford said.
'We live in a beautiful world'
Culler's day job is at DePauw University, where she teaches photojournalism to honors students and helps them pursue internships in media careers.
But her first job out of college in the 1980s was working as a photographer for Indiana DNR. Now she publishes her nature photography on Indiana's tourism website while hitting Indiana's backroads.
One day last winter, while wandering Montgomery County for a blog about historic basketball gymnasiums, Culler caught a glimpse of color on the side of the road.
She pulled over to discover three pairs of wood ducks gathered in a flooded field. She was captivated by the scene.
"That iridescence of the color of the wood ducks in the late afternoon light was just so gorgeous," Culler said. "There's real depth to just driving down the road and just paying attention."
Like Lunsford, Culler most enjoys photographing birds, but she's also taken pictures of other Indiana wildlife.
She has photographed white-tailed deer, and she once watched a mink bound along a creek close to her.
Culler stumbled upon another unique sight while while exploring Turtle Bend, a nature preserve in Parke County. Peeking over a hill and down into a creek, she spotted about 10 softshell turtles, including some that were beginning to burrow into the ground.
Each of the moments reminds Culler about the joy brought on by any trip into Indiana wilderness. It's also what motivates her to carry along her Nikon D750 and post her photos online.
"I'm putting the stuff out there because we live in a beautiful world, and I want to share my view," Culler said, "and hopefully make people smile or bring them some kind of happiness."
Places to visit in west central Indiana
Note: All of these places are contained in a Google Map created by IndyStar.
Cecil M. Harden Lake
Cecil M. Harden Lake, at 1588 S. Raccoon Parkway in Rockville, emerged after the damming of Big Raccoon Creek.
Now the location, which contains Raccoon State Recreation Area, is full of opportunities for observing wildlife. Culler photographed pelicans migrating through, and said she's seen them stick around as late as February. Lunsford has taken pictures of bald eagles, beavers and butterflies alongside Big Raccoon Creek.
Celery Bog Nature Area
Celery Bog, at 1620 Lindberg Road in West Lafayette, sits on the northern edge of this list. It's home to big bodies of water and more than 100 types of birds. Anyone who joins the various Indiana wildlife groups on Facebook will be greeted with several action shots captured somewhere along Celery Bog's almost 200 acres.
Chinook Fish and Wildlife Area
Chinook Fish and Wildlife Area, on North Cory Staunton Road in Brazil, once served as an area for coal mining. Now it has been reclaimed. Culler said she has driven along gravel roads to spot wildlife, including great blue herons, snowy egrets and even a yellow-billed cuckoo. "I'm always learning what's in Indiana and what's in my backyard by just getting on the back roads," she said.
Deer Creek Fish and Wildlife Area
Deer Creek, at 2001 W. County Road 600 South in Greencastle, is a newer recreation area, which means it tends to be less busy. "I'm constantly surprised at how few people are down around Deer Creek," Culler said. "Fish and wildlife areas are our undiscovered gems for wildlife watching."
Culler noted that she chooses to go to other areas during a particular hunting season, because Deer Creek can be popular for hunters. Indiana DNR's website contains details about hunting seasons.
Goose Pond Fish and Wildlife Area
Goose Pond, at 13540 W. County Road 400 South in Linton, is the southern-most location on this list. Containing more than 9,000 acres, Goose Pond is one of the most popular destinations for birders. One of the best-known visitors is the sandhill crane, which has an especially expressive courtship ritual that appears as if the bird is dancing. Visitors to Goose Pond can stop by the nature center to ask for tips on spotting the cranes during their migrations through the area.
J.I. Case Wetland Wildlife Refuge
J.I. Case Wetland Wildlife Refuge, on East Old Pale Avenue in Terre Haute, is a favorite spot for Lunsford when he's looking for birds, turtles and frogs. Trails are attached to Hawthorn Park.
Shades State Park
Shades State Park, at 7751 S. 890 West in Waveland, contains the Pine Hills Nature Preserve. It was the first preserve established in Indiana, said Murphy, who works for the state parks division. "That's the best of the best of Indiana's resources," Murphy said. Shades is also home to one of the state's best campgrounds.
Turkey Run State Park
Turkey Run, at 8121 E. Park Road in Marshall, is where Hoosier wilderness-lovers visit to see natural beauty, particularly the sandstone canyons.
The park's nature center also contains a separate room designed to observe wildlife through a viewing window. Culler is a fan of the park's Eagles in Flight Weekend every January, when guides help visitors observe bald eagle nests from a distance.
Wabashiki Fish and Wildlife Area
Wabashiki, at 110 E. National Ave. in Terre Haute, amounts to 2,600 acres of floodplains along the Wabash River. Culler has spotted turtles sunning in the water and watched snowy egrets take flight. The Dewey Point Trailhead in West Terre Haute is a good starting point, with access to a new boardwalk that borders the wetlands and connects to Terre Haute.
"Wandering anywhere along the Wabash is a great opportunity for bird photography and wildlife," Culler said.
Contact IndyStar investigative reporter Ryan Martin at [email protected] or by phone, Signal or WhatsApp at 317-500-4897. Follow him on Facebook or Twitter: @ryanmartin.
This article originally appeared on Indianapolis Star: Indiana parks and nature: Some of the best wildlife is in the west