Events and Field Trips
Upcoming Programs
Discontinuation of the Big May Day Bird Count
It was announced recently by the Indiana Audubon Society. The following appears on their website.
“ After careful thought and discussion, the Indiana Audubon Society (IAS) has decided to end the annual Big May Day Bird Count, held formally on the second Saturday in May. Over the last 27 years, the count has averaged less than 50% participation of the counties submitting data and individual participation has seen a study decline over the years; averaging over a hundred less counters from the first 14 years to the last 13 years through 2019. However, the BMDBC will merge with the popular Global Big Day to continue counting the birds the first weekend of May. Learn more about the changes and what’s in store.”
Sunday, June 7 at 2 p.m.
Mark your calendars for this event at the Fox Island County Park nature center. Jeff Ormiston will give a presentation on dragonflies -- hear about these fascinating insects and then try to net some behind the nature center! This promises to be a good program for families.
.
Discontinuation of the Big May Day Bird Count
It was announced recently by the Indiana Audubon Society. The following appears on their website.
“ After careful thought and discussion, the Indiana Audubon Society (IAS) has decided to end the annual Big May Day Bird Count, held formally on the second Saturday in May. Over the last 27 years, the count has averaged less than 50% participation of the counties submitting data and individual participation has seen a study decline over the years; averaging over a hundred less counters from the first 14 years to the last 13 years through 2019. However, the BMDBC will merge with the popular Global Big Day to continue counting the birds the first weekend of May. Learn more about the changes and what’s in store.”
Sunday, June 7 at 2 p.m.
Mark your calendars for this event at the Fox Island County Park nature center. Jeff Ormiston will give a presentation on dragonflies -- hear about these fascinating insects and then try to net some behind the nature center! This promises to be a good program for families.
.
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).
Spring Field Trips 2020
Sat Mar 14 Kankakee FWA; meet at 8:00 AM EDT at north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69). Waterfowl (up to five goose species possible), songbirds. Travel mostly by car. Return around 5 PM. Leaders: Margit Codispoti, Stephanie Wagner.
Sat Mar 21 Pigeon River FWA; meet at 8:00 AM at north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69). Waterfowl, Sandhill Cranes, songbirds, maybe owls. Return around 5:00 PM. Leaders: Sam Plew, Ed Powers.
Sun Mar 22 Hurshtown Reservoir. Meet at the reservoir,16000 Roth Rd, 1 mi S of hwy 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.
Sat Mar 28 Pisgah Marsh and Tri-County FWA; meet at 8:00 AM at north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69). Waterfowl, herons, songbirds. Return around 4-4:30 PM. Leaders: John Winebrenner, Ed Powers.
Sat Apr 4 Chain O’ Lakes State Park; meet at 7:30 AM at north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69), or at the Youth Campground at Chain O’ Lakes at 8:15. Hawks, woodpeckers, migrant songbirds. Up to five miles on mostly flat trails; may be some wet spots. Return about 4:00 PM. Leader: John Winebrenner.
Sun Apr 5 Hurshtown Reservoir. Details same as Mar 22.
Sat Apr 18 Fox Island County Park; meet at the Vera Dulin Building parking lot at Fox Island, 7324 Yohne Rd., at 8:00 AM; Woodpeckers, woodland songbirds, including migrant warblers. Three or four miles on easy trails; may be some wet spots. Finish by noon. Leaders: Eric Helfrich, John Winebrenner. We will be joined mid-way by members of the Indiana Master Naturalist class. Park entrance fee of $2 payable at self-serve post just inside gate or at the Nature Center.
Sat Apr 25 Eagle Marsh. Meet at 4:30 PM at the Engle Road parking lot near the gate to the barn. Shorebirds, herons, swallows, etc. Up to two miles on flat trails; boots or waterproof shoes recommended. Finish by 8:30. Leader: David Ward.
Sat Apr 25 Promenade and Headwaters Park; Meet at the Lawton Park trailhead (just east of the skate park) at 10:00 for an all-ages, all-skill levels bird walk. Families and beginners are welcome on this walk that will last until about 11:30. We will walk paved trails along the river downtown through Promenade and Headwaters Parks and cover up to two miles. We will look for migrating species as well as some of the more visible resident urban birds. Binoculars are not necessary, but please bring a pair to have the best chance of seeing smaller birds like warblers. Contact Greg Majewski at gamajewski@gmail.com if you would like additional information.
Sat May 2 Brennan Woods and Badger Barrens Nature Preserves. Meet at north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd at 7:30, or at the Fremont Elementary School Parking Lot at 8:30. We will carpool to nearby Clear Lake to first bird the Brennan Woods Nature Preserve, a unit of the Clear Lake Township Land Conservancy. Brennan Woods is a mostly open, rolling woodland featuring large oaks and healthy woodpecker populations. There is also a small wooded swamp along the preserve’s edge and a large open area being restored to prairie. From there, our tour will continue east of the lake to visit the Blue Heron Ministries’ Badger Barrens Nature Preserve. This open, sandy, prairie features great stands of lupine that should just be starting to bloom. That show alone is worth a visit. Following this, we will visit other Steuben sites. Leader: Fred Wooley, Stephanie Wagner.
Sat May 9 Fox Island County Park; meet at the Vera Dulin Building parking lot at Fox Island, 7324 Yohne Rd., at 8:00 AM; like April 18, but no IMN class. Finish by noon. Leaders: Margit Codispoti, Stephanie Wagner. Entrance fee of $2 payable at self-serve post just inside gate or at the Nature Center.
Sat May 16 Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Ohio; meet at 6:30 AM from the southeast side of the Meijer lot on Maysville Rd. just W of I-469 at IN 37. Waterfowl, herons, shorebirds, warblers and other songbirds. Return around 6-7 PM. Leaders: Margit Codispoti, Stephanie Wagner.
Sat May 23 Salamonie Lake; meet at 7:30 AM from northeast corner of Rural King parking lot, Village at Coventry, US 24 just west of I-69, or meet us at 8:00 AM at Forks of the Wabash, southwest corner of US 24 and IN 9, Huntington. Waterfowl, woodpeckers, songbirds. Half birding by car, but up to four miles on foot; some hills, may be muddy spots. Return around 5:00 PM. Leader: Andrew Wolfe.
Sat May 30 Willow Slough FWA/Kankakee Sands; leave at 6:30 AM from Kroger’s, northwest side of jct. IN 14 west and Scott Rd. Grassland birds and others, some at eastern extreme of their ranges. Return about 7 PM. Leaders: Dave Reichlinger, Eric Helfrich.
Sat Mar 21 Pigeon River FWA; meet at 8:00 AM at north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69). Waterfowl, Sandhill Cranes, songbirds, maybe owls. Return around 5:00 PM. Leaders: Sam Plew, Ed Powers.
Sun Mar 22 Hurshtown Reservoir. Meet at the reservoir,16000 Roth Rd, 1 mi S of hwy 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.
Sat Mar 28 Pisgah Marsh and Tri-County FWA; meet at 8:00 AM at north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69). Waterfowl, herons, songbirds. Return around 4-4:30 PM. Leaders: John Winebrenner, Ed Powers.
Sat Apr 4 Chain O’ Lakes State Park; meet at 7:30 AM at north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69), or at the Youth Campground at Chain O’ Lakes at 8:15. Hawks, woodpeckers, migrant songbirds. Up to five miles on mostly flat trails; may be some wet spots. Return about 4:00 PM. Leader: John Winebrenner.
Sun Apr 5 Hurshtown Reservoir. Details same as Mar 22.
Sat Apr 18 Fox Island County Park; meet at the Vera Dulin Building parking lot at Fox Island, 7324 Yohne Rd., at 8:00 AM; Woodpeckers, woodland songbirds, including migrant warblers. Three or four miles on easy trails; may be some wet spots. Finish by noon. Leaders: Eric Helfrich, John Winebrenner. We will be joined mid-way by members of the Indiana Master Naturalist class. Park entrance fee of $2 payable at self-serve post just inside gate or at the Nature Center.
Sat Apr 25 Eagle Marsh. Meet at 4:30 PM at the Engle Road parking lot near the gate to the barn. Shorebirds, herons, swallows, etc. Up to two miles on flat trails; boots or waterproof shoes recommended. Finish by 8:30. Leader: David Ward.
Sat Apr 25 Promenade and Headwaters Park; Meet at the Lawton Park trailhead (just east of the skate park) at 10:00 for an all-ages, all-skill levels bird walk. Families and beginners are welcome on this walk that will last until about 11:30. We will walk paved trails along the river downtown through Promenade and Headwaters Parks and cover up to two miles. We will look for migrating species as well as some of the more visible resident urban birds. Binoculars are not necessary, but please bring a pair to have the best chance of seeing smaller birds like warblers. Contact Greg Majewski at gamajewski@gmail.com if you would like additional information.
Sat May 2 Brennan Woods and Badger Barrens Nature Preserves. Meet at north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd at 7:30, or at the Fremont Elementary School Parking Lot at 8:30. We will carpool to nearby Clear Lake to first bird the Brennan Woods Nature Preserve, a unit of the Clear Lake Township Land Conservancy. Brennan Woods is a mostly open, rolling woodland featuring large oaks and healthy woodpecker populations. There is also a small wooded swamp along the preserve’s edge and a large open area being restored to prairie. From there, our tour will continue east of the lake to visit the Blue Heron Ministries’ Badger Barrens Nature Preserve. This open, sandy, prairie features great stands of lupine that should just be starting to bloom. That show alone is worth a visit. Following this, we will visit other Steuben sites. Leader: Fred Wooley, Stephanie Wagner.
Sat May 9 Fox Island County Park; meet at the Vera Dulin Building parking lot at Fox Island, 7324 Yohne Rd., at 8:00 AM; like April 18, but no IMN class. Finish by noon. Leaders: Margit Codispoti, Stephanie Wagner. Entrance fee of $2 payable at self-serve post just inside gate or at the Nature Center.
Sat May 16 Magee Marsh Wildlife Area, Ohio; meet at 6:30 AM from the southeast side of the Meijer lot on Maysville Rd. just W of I-469 at IN 37. Waterfowl, herons, shorebirds, warblers and other songbirds. Return around 6-7 PM. Leaders: Margit Codispoti, Stephanie Wagner.
Sat May 23 Salamonie Lake; meet at 7:30 AM from northeast corner of Rural King parking lot, Village at Coventry, US 24 just west of I-69, or meet us at 8:00 AM at Forks of the Wabash, southwest corner of US 24 and IN 9, Huntington. Waterfowl, woodpeckers, songbirds. Half birding by car, but up to four miles on foot; some hills, may be muddy spots. Return around 5:00 PM. Leader: Andrew Wolfe.
Sat May 30 Willow Slough FWA/Kankakee Sands; leave at 6:30 AM from Kroger’s, northwest side of jct. IN 14 west and Scott Rd. Grassland birds and others, some at eastern extreme of their ranges. Return about 7 PM. Leaders: Dave Reichlinger, Eric Helfrich.
