Events
'Tis the season for Christmas Bird Counts!
When participating in each of these events, please pre-register, be sure to dress for the weather, and bring along your own snacks, hot cocoa/coffee, lunch, binoculars and other items you may need.
Sunday, December 14: Pigeon River Christmas Bird Count (To view the list of birds we saw, click here)
A change this year is that there will be no meeting at Halls Restaurant on the morning of the count; instead I will get the paperwork to the count leaders before the count. If you plan on attending, please notify Mark Weldon at mark@kidzoo.org or at 427-6086 (work) or 493-2005 (home, before 8:30 p.m.) by December 8. Wear warm clothing and boots for wet or snowy conditions. Bring a sack lunch, thermos, and snacks, along with your birding gear. Because deer season for archery and muzzleloaders will be in progress, you need to wear an article of clothing of hunter orange.
A change this year is that there will be no meeting at Halls Restaurant on the morning of the count; instead I will get the paperwork to the count leaders before the count. If you plan on attending, please notify Mark Weldon at mark@kidzoo.org or at 427-6086 (work) or 493-2005 (home, before 8:30 p.m.) by December 8. Wear warm clothing and boots for wet or snowy conditions. Bring a sack lunch, thermos, and snacks, along with your birding gear. Because deer season for archery and muzzleloaders will be in progress, you need to wear an article of clothing of hunter orange.
Wednesday, December 17: 2nd Annual Gene Stratton-Porter Christmas Bird Count, Rome City and Noble County
Gene Stratton-Porter’s lifelong love of the birds of Northeastern Indiana is the perfect match for a Christmas Bird Count in Noble County.
The GSP CBC encompasses a number of wonderful properties including Detering and Lonidaw ACRES Nature Preserves, The Gene Stratton-State Historic Site, Bixler Lake Park in Kendallville, and a large portion of Chain o’ Lakes State Park. Our CBC will maintain a static date – 12/17, so you can mark your calendar for years to come! Last year, we had a very soggy day, but the birding was still good and the fellowship was wonderful. We’ll have lunch again this year for our brave participants in the Carriage House Visitor’s Center at 12 noon in order to do a preliminary species count and warm up. You may participate early with owling, feeder watching, or visiting the many wetlands or preserves in our count circle. Please contact Dave Fox at dfox@indianamuseum.org for more information and for your designated birding location. Pre-register before 12/14 in order to get the area you’re most interested in! It’s always fun to bird ahead of time to get to know the lay of the land and what birds you might see that day.Please dress warmly with appropriate apparel. If you need any field guides or binoculars, just let Dave know – He’s got extras of most anything you might need.
Gene Stratton-Porter’s lifelong love of the birds of Northeastern Indiana is the perfect match for a Christmas Bird Count in Noble County.
The GSP CBC encompasses a number of wonderful properties including Detering and Lonidaw ACRES Nature Preserves, The Gene Stratton-State Historic Site, Bixler Lake Park in Kendallville, and a large portion of Chain o’ Lakes State Park. Our CBC will maintain a static date – 12/17, so you can mark your calendar for years to come! Last year, we had a very soggy day, but the birding was still good and the fellowship was wonderful. We’ll have lunch again this year for our brave participants in the Carriage House Visitor’s Center at 12 noon in order to do a preliminary species count and warm up. You may participate early with owling, feeder watching, or visiting the many wetlands or preserves in our count circle. Please contact Dave Fox at dfox@indianamuseum.org for more information and for your designated birding location. Pre-register before 12/14 in order to get the area you’re most interested in! It’s always fun to bird ahead of time to get to know the lay of the land and what birds you might see that day.Please dress warmly with appropriate apparel. If you need any field guides or binoculars, just let Dave know – He’s got extras of most anything you might need.
Saturday, December 20: Fort Wayne Christmas Bird Count (To view the list of birds we saw, click here)
Christmas Bird Counts are held internationally each year to collect data on wintering bird populations, and for the enjoyment of participants. The Fort Wayne count is held in a 15-mile diameter circle (an internationally standard rule) in northern Allen and southern DeKalb Counties. Participants divide into field parties of two to four, each with at least one experienced leader, to count all birds identified by sight or voice in a designated section of the circle. Parties drive county roads slowly and walk where public lands or permission from landowners permit.You can participate in a field party for the day, or for half a day, morning or afternoon. All-day and morning participants meet inside Hall’s Restaurant, corner of Coliseum Blvd. and Lima Rd., by 7 a.m. Some of us arrive in time to have breakfast at Hall’s before 7. Many parties depart by 7 a.m. to find owls at daybreak. Afternoon-only participants will join their parties at lunch at a time and location designated by each party leader. Be sure to dress for the weather, including waterproof, warm boots for wet or snowy conditions. Pack a thermos and snacks. Some parties will need to bring a sack lunch. Persons who live in the count circle can also participate by counting birds at their feeders and in the yard. There is no fee for participating, either as a field observer or feeder watcher. A chili supper follows the count at 6:00 p.m. at the Learning Center at Salomon Farm Park, on the south side of Dupont Road between Lima and Coldwater Roads. The Learning Center is the first building you come to after entering the park. All participants are invited to eat, share the day’s experiences, and join in compiling the day’s list. If you plan to join in the count as a field observer or feeder watcher, or if you would like further information, please contact the compiler, Jim Haw, by phone at 485-7802, or e-mail jhawillet@aol.com, by December 15. Jim will also take reservations for the chili supper.
Christmas Bird Counts are held internationally each year to collect data on wintering bird populations, and for the enjoyment of participants. The Fort Wayne count is held in a 15-mile diameter circle (an internationally standard rule) in northern Allen and southern DeKalb Counties. Participants divide into field parties of two to four, each with at least one experienced leader, to count all birds identified by sight or voice in a designated section of the circle. Parties drive county roads slowly and walk where public lands or permission from landowners permit.You can participate in a field party for the day, or for half a day, morning or afternoon. All-day and morning participants meet inside Hall’s Restaurant, corner of Coliseum Blvd. and Lima Rd., by 7 a.m. Some of us arrive in time to have breakfast at Hall’s before 7. Many parties depart by 7 a.m. to find owls at daybreak. Afternoon-only participants will join their parties at lunch at a time and location designated by each party leader. Be sure to dress for the weather, including waterproof, warm boots for wet or snowy conditions. Pack a thermos and snacks. Some parties will need to bring a sack lunch. Persons who live in the count circle can also participate by counting birds at their feeders and in the yard. There is no fee for participating, either as a field observer or feeder watcher. A chili supper follows the count at 6:00 p.m. at the Learning Center at Salomon Farm Park, on the south side of Dupont Road between Lima and Coldwater Roads. The Learning Center is the first building you come to after entering the park. All participants are invited to eat, share the day’s experiences, and join in compiling the day’s list. If you plan to join in the count as a field observer or feeder watcher, or if you would like further information, please contact the compiler, Jim Haw, by phone at 485-7802, or e-mail jhawillet@aol.com, by December 15. Jim will also take reservations for the chili supper.
Monday, December 29: Pokagon Christmas Bird Count
Participants for the Pokagon count will meet at the Pokagon State Park Nature Center by 7:45 AM. If you plan on attending, please notify the Park Nature Center during business hours at 260-833-2012. Please register by Dec. 25th. Remember to bring warm clothes and boots for wet, snowy conditions, and of course, your lunch, drinks and snacks. Usually we meet back at the Nature Center at noon to eat and warm up. No fee this year, but you will need to pay the park entrance fee or use your annual pass.
Participants for the Pokagon count will meet at the Pokagon State Park Nature Center by 7:45 AM. If you plan on attending, please notify the Park Nature Center during business hours at 260-833-2012. Please register by Dec. 25th. Remember to bring warm clothes and boots for wet, snowy conditions, and of course, your lunch, drinks and snacks. Usually we meet back at the Nature Center at noon to eat and warm up. No fee this year, but you will need to pay the park entrance fee or use your annual pass.
Thursday, January 1: Limberlost Christmas Bird Count in Geneva and surrounding areas (To view the list of birds we saw, click here)
Step back in time and retrace the steps of Gene Stratton-Porter. Explore some of the best birding areas in Northeast Indiana while conducting bird counts in and around Limberlost and Loblolly Marsh. Then warm up with a delicious chili lunch at the Limberlost State Historic Site Visitor Center, take a tour of the cabin and enjoy the unique exhibits. Contact Terri Gorney bandtgorney@aol.com or 490-6725 to register.
Step back in time and retrace the steps of Gene Stratton-Porter. Explore some of the best birding areas in Northeast Indiana while conducting bird counts in and around Limberlost and Loblolly Marsh. Then warm up with a delicious chili lunch at the Limberlost State Historic Site Visitor Center, take a tour of the cabin and enjoy the unique exhibits. Contact Terri Gorney bandtgorney@aol.com or 490-6725 to register.
Saturday, January 3: New! Experimental Count in Southwest Allen County (To view the list of birds we saw, click here)
This count will include Fox Island Park, Eagle Marsh, the three small ACRES preserves, and Arrowhead Marsh and Prairie, part of Little River Wetlands Project. Fox Island Park and Little River Wetlands are co-sponsors, along with Stockbridge.We will meet at 8 a.m. at the Little River office off Engle Road to get our assignments and grab a light breakfast courtesy of LRWP. And there will be chili for lunch at Fox Island. You must register by Dec. 30 with Cynthia Powers, zzedpowers@aol.com or 638-4291. Feeder watchers welcome too, if you live within the count circle, mostly 46804 and 46809 zip codes.
This count will include Fox Island Park, Eagle Marsh, the three small ACRES preserves, and Arrowhead Marsh and Prairie, part of Little River Wetlands Project. Fox Island Park and Little River Wetlands are co-sponsors, along with Stockbridge.We will meet at 8 a.m. at the Little River office off Engle Road to get our assignments and grab a light breakfast courtesy of LRWP. And there will be chili for lunch at Fox Island. You must register by Dec. 30 with Cynthia Powers, zzedpowers@aol.com or 638-4291. Feeder watchers welcome too, if you live within the count circle, mostly 46804 and 46809 zip codes.
November - April: Project FeederWatch
Cornell Lab of Ornithology sponsors this “citizen science” project, starting in November and running to April. Several folks are helping with this at Fox Island, in the recently updated Bird Observation Building, renamed to honor long time volunteer Vera Dulin. Will we see “winter finches” this year? Sometimes they come this far south, depending on the food supply in Canada. These are pine siskins, redpolls, and purple finches. We’ve already seen several purple finches this fall. Not a finch, but rather unusual here, is the red-breasted nuthatch. If you’d like to volunteer in the Vera Dulin building, call Ron Zartman at Fox Island 489-3180. Of course you can do FeederWatch from home, too.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology sponsors this “citizen science” project, starting in November and running to April. Several folks are helping with this at Fox Island, in the recently updated Bird Observation Building, renamed to honor long time volunteer Vera Dulin. Will we see “winter finches” this year? Sometimes they come this far south, depending on the food supply in Canada. These are pine siskins, redpolls, and purple finches. We’ve already seen several purple finches this fall. Not a finch, but rather unusual here, is the red-breasted nuthatch. If you’d like to volunteer in the Vera Dulin building, call Ron Zartman at Fox Island 489-3180. Of course you can do FeederWatch from home, too.
President's Day Weekend: Great Backyard Bird Count
You can participate if you have as little as 15 minutes to count birds at your favorite location, which can be out your own window. Then enter the data on www.gbbc.org.
You can participate if you have as little as 15 minutes to count birds at your favorite location, which can be out your own window. Then enter the data on www.gbbc.org.
Field Trips (Click here to see our previous field trips)
Field trips are open to all; we welcome beginners! Things to keep in mind:
--Bring a picnic lunch for longer trips; pack water and snacks for all trips
--Arrive a few minutes early; we leave on time!
--We carpool for out-of-town trips; sharing gas expenses is appreciated; if you're one of the drivers, arrive with a full tank; extra drivers may be needed!
--We can meet people at our destination or on the way if arranged in advance
--Return times are estimates and are not guaranteed; you can return early if you drive yourself
--Dress for the weather; waterproof shoes or boots are often needed; be prepared for mosquitoes; dress in layers - bring warm clothes and prepare for cold winds especially along shorelines.
--For further information, contact Jim Haw at 485-7802 or JHawillet@aol.com (fall field trips), or Ed Powers at 260-628-4291 or zzedpowers@aol.com (spring field trips).
The list of birds that we spotted on some of the past field trips are available (click here to see the past field trips).
--Bring a picnic lunch for longer trips; pack water and snacks for all trips
--Arrive a few minutes early; we leave on time!
--We carpool for out-of-town trips; sharing gas expenses is appreciated; if you're one of the drivers, arrive with a full tank; extra drivers may be needed!
--We can meet people at our destination or on the way if arranged in advance
--Return times are estimates and are not guaranteed; you can return early if you drive yourself
--Dress for the weather; waterproof shoes or boots are often needed; be prepared for mosquitoes; dress in layers - bring warm clothes and prepare for cold winds especially along shorelines.
--For further information, contact Jim Haw at 485-7802 or JHawillet@aol.com (fall field trips), or Ed Powers at 260-628-4291 or zzedpowers@aol.com (spring field trips).
The list of birds that we spotted on some of the past field trips are available (click here to see the past field trips).
