Events and Field Trips
Upcoming Programs
Sunday, August 11: Juan Velasquez will be at the Fox Island nature center at 2 p.m. to speak about a winter birding trip he took with his father. Please see a complete description of the program on page 2 of the August 2019 newsletter.
Sunday, October 13: Join us for the annual Big Sit at the Fox Island nature center. Come for a little while or all afternoon. There will be treats to eat and great companionship. ALSO – at 2 p.m., Stockbridge member Eric Helfrich will present a program about a professionally-led birding tour in Eastern Europe. Starting from Bucharest, Romania to 2 the Danube Delta at the Black Sea, and traversing through the Carpathian Mountains to Transylvania (no Dracula, but lots of Vlad the Impaler), we will move through the Hungarian Plains to end in Budapest. Lots of birds, many of which are rare in the rest of Europe, and some of which one must go to Alaska to get in North America!
Save the date! Saturday, December 14, 2019: Fort Wayne Christmas Bird Count
.
Sunday, August 11: Juan Velasquez will be at the Fox Island nature center at 2 p.m. to speak about a winter birding trip he took with his father. Please see a complete description of the program on page 2 of the August 2019 newsletter.
Sunday, October 13: Join us for the annual Big Sit at the Fox Island nature center. Come for a little while or all afternoon. There will be treats to eat and great companionship. ALSO – at 2 p.m., Stockbridge member Eric Helfrich will present a program about a professionally-led birding tour in Eastern Europe. Starting from Bucharest, Romania to 2 the Danube Delta at the Black Sea, and traversing through the Carpathian Mountains to Transylvania (no Dracula, but lots of Vlad the Impaler), we will move through the Hungarian Plains to end in Budapest. Lots of birds, many of which are rare in the rest of Europe, and some of which one must go to Alaska to get in North America!
Save the date! Saturday, December 14, 2019: Fort Wayne Christmas Bird Count
.
Field Trips (Click here to see a list of birds from each of 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 the relevant trip leader or email Ed Powers at zzedpowers@aol.com
The list of birds that we spotted on some of the past field trips are available (click here to see the past 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 the relevant trip leader or email Ed Powers at zzedpowers@aol.com
The list of birds that we spotted on some of the past field trips are available (click here to see the past field trips).
Fall Field Trips 2019
Sat Aug 31 Eagle Marsh. Meet at 7:30 AM at the BSA Scout parking lot at the end of Olde Canal Place (opposite Lutheran Hospital campus). Shorebirds, herons, swallows, etc. Up to two miles on flat trails; boots recommended. Finish by noon. Leader: Ed Powers
Sat Sep 7 Lake Michigan lakefront. Leave at 6:00 AM from north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69). Waterfowl, late shorebirds, gulls and terns. Travel mostly by car, with frequent stops and short walks. Return about 6:00-6:30 PM. Leaders: Ed Powers, Stephanie Wagner
Sat Sep 14 Franke Park, 3411 Sherman Blvd. Meet at 8:00 AM at the BMX track. Migrant songbirds. Up to two miles on somewhat hilly trails. For those wanting a shorter, family and beginner friendly trip, meet us at 10:30 at the Shoaff Lake parking lot. Done by noon. Leader: Greg Majewski
Sat Sep 21 Salamonie Reservoir. Leave at 7:30 AM from NE corner of Rural King parking lot, 8801 US 24 just W of I-69, or meet us at 8:00 AM at Forks of the Wabash, SW corner of US 24 and IN 9, Huntington. Hawks, songbirds. Largely birding by car, but up to three miles on foot; some hills, may be muddy spots. Return around 5:00 PM. Leaders: Sandy Schacht, Andrew Wolfe
Sat Sep 28 Fox Island County Park. Meet at 8:00 AM at the Vera Dulin Bldg parking lot at Fox Island, 7324 Yohne Rd. Woodpeckers, woodland songbirds, including migrant warblers. Three or four miles on easy trails; may be some wet spots. Finish by noon. Leaders: Eric Helfrich, Stephanie Wagner. Park entrance fee of $2 payable at self-serve post just inside gate or at the Nature Center.
Sat Oct 5 Howard Marsh, Ottawa NWR. Meet at 6:30 at the southeast side of the Meijer lot on Maysville Rd. just W of I-469 at IN 37. Waterfowl, herons, shorebirds. Return around 6-7 PM. Leaders: John Winebrenner, Margit Codispoti
Sat Oct 12 Eagle Marsh. Meet at 8:30 AM at the BSA Scout parking lot at the end of Olde Canal Place (opposite Lutheran Hospital campus). Waterfowl, some shorebirds, sparrows, etc. Up to two miles on flat trails. Finish by noon. Leaders: Ed Powers, John Winebrenner
Sun Oct 13 BIG SIT BIRD COUNT on the back deck of Fox Island Nature Center, 7324 Yohne Rd. All afternoon; come when you can! No walking, snacks and rest rooms close at hand. BONUS: Eric and Mary Helfrich talk about their trip to Romania and Hungary.
Sat Oct 26 Pigeon River FWA. Leave at 7:00 AM from north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69), or meet us at FWA Hq, about 1/2 mile east of Mongo. Hawks, woodpeckers, songbirds, Sandhill Cranes, maybe owls. Some easy walking. Return around 5:00 PM. Leaders: Sam Plew, Margit Codispoti
Sun Oct 27 Hurshtown Reservoir. Meet at the reservoir,16000 Roth Rd, 1 mi S of SR 1 (1.5 mi N of Grabill Rd) at 3 PM. Loons, grebes, ducks, gulls, maybe Snow Buntings. We circle the reservoir by car, stopping occasionally to get out and scope the water. Finish by 5:00 PM. Leader: Ed Powers
Sun Nov 10 Hurshtown Reservoir. Same as Oct 27.
Sat Nov 16 Limberlost Swamp and Loblolly Marsh, Adams and Jay Cos.; leave at 11:00 AM. from E side of Walmart lot (behind Wendy’s) at Southtown Centre, W side of US 27 South, just S of Tillman Rd., or meet us at Limberlost Historic Site in Geneva at noon.; return around 7 PM. Waterfowl, shorebirds, hawks; stay til dusk for Short-eared Owls. Leaders: Margit Codispoti, Stephanie Wagner
Sat Nov 23 Kingsbury FWA or Kankakee FWA (depending on conditions), and Jasper-Pulaski FWA. Leave at 11:30 AM from the north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69). Waterfowl and late shorebirds at Kingsbury or Kankakee, and thousands of Sandhill Cranes at J-P. We customarily stop for supper at a fast-food restaurant in Winamac. Return about 8:00 PM. Leaders: Eric Helfrich, John Winebrenner
Sat Sep 7 Lake Michigan lakefront. Leave at 6:00 AM from north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69). Waterfowl, late shorebirds, gulls and terns. Travel mostly by car, with frequent stops and short walks. Return about 6:00-6:30 PM. Leaders: Ed Powers, Stephanie Wagner
Sat Sep 14 Franke Park, 3411 Sherman Blvd. Meet at 8:00 AM at the BMX track. Migrant songbirds. Up to two miles on somewhat hilly trails. For those wanting a shorter, family and beginner friendly trip, meet us at 10:30 at the Shoaff Lake parking lot. Done by noon. Leader: Greg Majewski
Sat Sep 21 Salamonie Reservoir. Leave at 7:30 AM from NE corner of Rural King parking lot, 8801 US 24 just W of I-69, or meet us at 8:00 AM at Forks of the Wabash, SW corner of US 24 and IN 9, Huntington. Hawks, songbirds. Largely birding by car, but up to three miles on foot; some hills, may be muddy spots. Return around 5:00 PM. Leaders: Sandy Schacht, Andrew Wolfe
Sat Sep 28 Fox Island County Park. Meet at 8:00 AM at the Vera Dulin Bldg parking lot at Fox Island, 7324 Yohne Rd. Woodpeckers, woodland songbirds, including migrant warblers. Three or four miles on easy trails; may be some wet spots. Finish by noon. Leaders: Eric Helfrich, Stephanie Wagner. Park entrance fee of $2 payable at self-serve post just inside gate or at the Nature Center.
Sat Oct 5 Howard Marsh, Ottawa NWR. Meet at 6:30 at the southeast side of the Meijer lot on Maysville Rd. just W of I-469 at IN 37. Waterfowl, herons, shorebirds. Return around 6-7 PM. Leaders: John Winebrenner, Margit Codispoti
Sat Oct 12 Eagle Marsh. Meet at 8:30 AM at the BSA Scout parking lot at the end of Olde Canal Place (opposite Lutheran Hospital campus). Waterfowl, some shorebirds, sparrows, etc. Up to two miles on flat trails. Finish by noon. Leaders: Ed Powers, John Winebrenner
Sun Oct 13 BIG SIT BIRD COUNT on the back deck of Fox Island Nature Center, 7324 Yohne Rd. All afternoon; come when you can! No walking, snacks and rest rooms close at hand. BONUS: Eric and Mary Helfrich talk about their trip to Romania and Hungary.
Sat Oct 26 Pigeon River FWA. Leave at 7:00 AM from north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69), or meet us at FWA Hq, about 1/2 mile east of Mongo. Hawks, woodpeckers, songbirds, Sandhill Cranes, maybe owls. Some easy walking. Return around 5:00 PM. Leaders: Sam Plew, Margit Codispoti
Sun Oct 27 Hurshtown Reservoir. Meet at the reservoir,16000 Roth Rd, 1 mi S of SR 1 (1.5 mi N of Grabill Rd) at 3 PM. Loons, grebes, ducks, gulls, maybe Snow Buntings. We circle the reservoir by car, stopping occasionally to get out and scope the water. Finish by 5:00 PM. Leader: Ed Powers
Sun Nov 10 Hurshtown Reservoir. Same as Oct 27.
Sat Nov 16 Limberlost Swamp and Loblolly Marsh, Adams and Jay Cos.; leave at 11:00 AM. from E side of Walmart lot (behind Wendy’s) at Southtown Centre, W side of US 27 South, just S of Tillman Rd., or meet us at Limberlost Historic Site in Geneva at noon.; return around 7 PM. Waterfowl, shorebirds, hawks; stay til dusk for Short-eared Owls. Leaders: Margit Codispoti, Stephanie Wagner
Sat Nov 23 Kingsbury FWA or Kankakee FWA (depending on conditions), and Jasper-Pulaski FWA. Leave at 11:30 AM from the north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69). Waterfowl and late shorebirds at Kingsbury or Kankakee, and thousands of Sandhill Cranes at J-P. We customarily stop for supper at a fast-food restaurant in Winamac. Return about 8:00 PM. Leaders: Eric Helfrich, John Winebrenner
