Issue 4, November 2018
Stockbridge
Audubon
www.stockbridgeaudubon.org
Representing Northeast Indiana
President’s Words
By Cynthia Powers
I just finished the annual report that our
chapter needs to send to National
Audubon. New this year was an emphasis
on promoting diversity in our membership.
I think we (and birders in general) are
welcoming to all, and generous in sharing
our sightings. Looking back several years,
my attention was called to the religious
diversity in our group. At that time, our
field trips were likely to include a Catholic
nun, several lay Catholics, an Amish
family, a Muslim professor, a Jew,
Unitarians, Methodists, and other
Protestants.
Birding brought us together. I think it has
the potential to do so again. Don’t you
agree: the world needs MORE BIRDERS!
Upcoming Program
Sunday, March 3, 2:00 p.m.: our own
Terri Gorney will present “Stockbridge
Audubon Society – Celebrating 120th
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P.O. Box 13131, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46867
Anniversary” as part of the George R.
Mather Sunday Lecture Series at the
History Center, 302 East Berry Street.
Stockbridge History:
Christmas Bird Count 1938
By Terri Gorney
These are statistics from the Fort Wayne
Christmas Bird Count of 1938. The
statistics were in Bird Lore.
The CBC took place on December 24 from
8:00 am to 4:00 pm. There was heavy fog,
ground bare, moderate southwest winds,
temperatures 32-39 degrees.
The group started at Lake Everett; the lake
frozen over, on foot east and north of the
lake, following a small creek, also three
miles west of lake along Eel River; water
open along the river.
About ten miles covered on foot. Observers
were together for the count.
Report: Duck Hawk (peregrine falcon) - 1,
Bob-white - 13, Herring gull – 1, Flicker –
1, Hairy Woodpecker -12, Downy
woodpecker – 19, Horned lark – 11, Blue
jay – 31, American crow – 13, Black-
capped chickadee – 24, Tufted titmouse –
49, White-breasted nuthatch – 16, Brown
creeper – 9, Carolina wren – 2, Catbird – 1,
Golden-crowned kinglet – 1, Starling – 6,
House sparrow - 250, Cardinal – 76,
Goldfinch – 9, Slate-colored junco – 126,
Tree sparrow – 217, Song sparrow – 9.
Total: 23 species, 897 individuals.
Howard Michaud
Frank Johnson
Frank Ebersole
Source: Bird Lore, Thirty-eighth
Christmas Bird Count Statistics
Note: Howard Michaud was a biology teacher who
became a professor of Conservation at Purdue
University (1946-1971). He was the first Chief
Naturalist for the Indiana State Parks. An award
was created in his honor. The Howard Michaud of
Environmental Excellence Award was given to
Fred Wooley of Pokagon State Park in 2015.
Will this be a “Winter Finch
Year?”
By Cynthia Powers
Stuff I learned recently at the Indiana
Audubon Fall Festival at Pokagon State
Park:
“Winter finches” refers to several
“irruptive” species. “Irruptive” has
nothing to do with volcanoes! It means
“now you see them, now you don’t.” Brad
Bumgardner predicted that this might be a
“winter finch” year, and gave this
timetable for their approximate arrival
dates:
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Red-breasted nuthatches---Sept. 1
(already sighted here)
Purple finches------------Sept. 30
(already sighted here)
Pine siskins----------------Oct. 15
Evening grosbeaks------Oct. 31 (good
luck with that)
Redpolls--------------------Nov. 7
Crossbills-------------------very erratic;
look in Lindenwood Cemetery
Bohemian waxwings-----if you’re
lucky
Keep looking up!
Eagle Marsh Bird Species List
By Ed Powers
When Little River Wetlands Project began
the conversion of a large cornfield into
Eagle Marsh in 2006, I took it upon myself
to record bird sightings there. With nearly
13 years of accumulated data, I thought it
would be worthwhile to share some of the
data with LRWP.
I did this in the form of bar graphs
showing average bird frequency by month.
LRWP has made this available to everyone
through their web site.
To access the data, go to the web site,
lrwp.org. Fly over Visit, and click on
Eagle Marsh. Under Species Lists, click
on Bird Frequency.
If you have questions, additions or
corrections, you can contact me at
zzedpowers@aol.com.
The Little Auglaize Wildlife
Reserve
By Terri Gorney
Rob Krain, the Executive Director of the In three visits, we totaled 48 species on the
Black Swamp Conservancy, asked me if I property with a dickcissel just off property.
would do a bird survey on 226 acre
property in Paulding County. It had to be Cheers to the Black Swamp Conservancy
completed by the end of July. Rob sent me for saving this land. In September, they
a map and permission to be on the were able to negotiate a purchase
property. It is a property with grasslands, agreement with the landowner. With grant
woods, wetlands and the Little Auglaize funding from the Clean Ohio program and
River, making it a great habitat for birds. the Conservation Fund they secured the
purchase. It could have become part of the
On June 15, Randy Lehman and I went out confined animal feeding operation of a
to the property. We walked the land behind neighboring landowner. As Rob writes,
the home on the property to the tree line “this is a big win – for wildlife, for water
along the river. It was a hot and humid quality, and for those of us who enjoy
morning but bird sounds were around us. access to the natural world.” There are
We had Baltimore and orchard orioles, plans for land management on the property
yellow warblers, common yellowthroats, in 2019.
red-headed woodpeckers and a willow
flycatcher among other birds, butterflies Bird Survey
and evidence of deer. By the river, we had Black Swamp Conservancy
northern rough-winged swallows and a Little Auglaize River property
great blue heron. We had two very June 15 – July 6 2018
cooperative turkey vultures who appeared 48 total species
Compiled by Terri Gorney
to enjoy having their picture taken.
Terri Gorney, David Reichlinger, Randy
On June 29 and July 6, Dave Reichlinger Lehman – members of Stockbridge Audubon
Society
and I went out to the property. Those of
you who know Dave, know that he has an Master List
ear for the birds. We spent both mornings
Canada Goose
at the edge of the woods, grasslands and
Wood Duck
around the river. On the second visit, we Mallard
went to the Mellinger Cemetery, which Great Blue Heron
placed us on the western side of the Turkey Vulture
property. We wanted to see what could be Red-tailed Hawk
in the foliage by the river. Some of our Killdeer
Mourning Dove
highlights were a yellow-billed cuckoo, 4
Yellow-billed cuckoo
brown thrashers, wood pewee, great- Red-headed Woodpecker
crested flycatcher, blue-gray gnatcatcher, Red-bellied Woodpecker
and Eastern phoebe. One oddity was a Downy Woodpecker
great blue heron that flew onto the road Eastern Wood-Pewee
and stood looking around. Northern Flicker
Willow Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
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Great Crested Flycatcher Cedar Waxwing – one seen perched in an
Blue-headed Vireo evergreen tree
Red-eyed Vireo Baltimore Oriole – several seen
Blue Jay Orchard Oriole – several seen
Northern Rough-winged Swallow Red-winged black bird – a number seen and heard
Barn Swallow Northern rough-winged swallows – 3 seen going
Tufted Titmouse in and out of banks along river
White-breasted Nuthatch Mourning Doves
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher Grackle - 1
Eastern Bluebird Northern Parula
Wood Thrush Willow Flycatcher - one
American Robin Cowbird – pair
Gray Catbird Common Yellowthroat – several heard
Brown Thrasher Yellow warblers – number of them seen and heard
Cedar Waxwing Field sparrow – several calling
Northern Parula Chipping sparrow
Yellow Warbler Gold Finch – a number of them
Yellow-throated Warbler House Finch - one
Common Yellowthroat
Chipping Sparrow Monarchs, Deer tracks, damsel and dragonflies
Field Sparrow
29 June 2018
Song Sparrow
Dave Reichlinger and Terri Gorney
Northern Cardinal
Temperatures 68 – 82 F, sunny, warm, little
Indigo Bunting
breeze
Red-winged Blackbird
Focus was on the birds of the shrubby area and
Eastern Meadowlark
the woods
Common Grackle
7:45 am – 10:20 am
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole Great blue heron – in the river 2
Baltimore Oriole Eastern Phoebe 1
House Finch Wood Pewee 4+ Singing, perching 2 – catching
American Goldfinch bugs
Song sparrow 3
Dickcissel seen and heard about ½ mile from
Yellow warbler
property
Common yellow-throat
15 June 2018 Red-winged blackbirds numerous
Randy Lehman and Terri Gorney Baltimore Oriole 2 males
Temperatures 69-78 F sunny and warm Red-bellied woodpecker
9:00 am – 11:40 am Mourning dove 3
We walked the field and back into the woods Indigo bunting
Drove down to Co Rd 48 and to the river from Northern Rough-winged swallows 4
the south Field sparrows several
Yellow-throated warbler
Red-tailed hawk in woods Robin 3
Turkey Vultures – three perched and flying Thrasher with worms in beak, plus 3 singing
Red-headed woodpeckers – 3-4 seen Willow flycatcher 3-4
Red-bellied woodpecker - 1 Goldfinch
Killdeer – two seen in flight over field Cowbird – pair
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Turkey vulture across the road Mourning doves
Mallard flying over Wood Pewee
Tufted Titmouse Gray Catbird
Gray Catbird Blue birds
White-breasted nuthatch Wood duck
Red-eyed vireo 2 Cowbirds
Chipping sparrow 2 Meadowlark
Flicker Rough-winged swallow
Grackle Indigo bunting
Yellow-billed cuckoo
Canada goose – flyover Locusts, Monarch, Dragonflies, Damselflies
Blue-headed vireo
Downy Woodpecker
Killdeer 3 Free birding software available!!
Blue-gray gnatcatcher Students in pre-K through high school may
Barn swallow 1 juvenile go to www.ThayerBirding.com, click the
Cardinal 1 male Windows or Mac download button, and use
Swamp milkweed & milkweed – blooming, the code StockbridgeAudubonYoungBirder
yarrow to download a copy of this highly-
Black saddlebags dragonfly acclaimed software at no charge.
6 July 2018 College and grad students can get a 50%
David Reichlinger and Terri Gorney discount by entering the code STUDENT;
Temperatures 73-75 F, partial sun, light teachers can get a 50% discount by using
breeze, pleasant
7:35 am – 10:20 am the code TEACHER; wildlife professionals
Focus on west side of river and wooded areas can get a 50% discount by entering the code
WILDLIFE.
Blue Jay
Song sparrow If you would like to learn more about the
Goldfinch Thayer Young Birder Program, check out
Downy Woodpecker this video:
Common Yellowthroat https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uuryabHrPYQ
Cardinal
Great Crested Flycatcher
Red-bellied woodpecker If you recently joined National Audubon
Red-winged blackbirds Society, you’re receiving this complimentary
Phoebe newsletter because you are automatically
Red-headed woodpecker granted membership in the local Stockbridge
Willow flycatcher chapter when you join National. If you would
White-breasted nuthatch like to continue receiving the letter, which is
Chipping sparrow produced four times a year, please call Ed
Field Sparrow Powers at 260-638-4291 or email him at
Robins zzedpowers@aol.com and let him know
Red-eyed vireo whether you would prefer a paper or emailed
Great blue heron version. If you don’t wish to continue receiving
Killdeer this newsletter, don’t do anything and no
Yellow-throated warbler further issues will be sent to you.

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 2018-2019 Christmas Bird Counts
FORT WAYNE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
Saturday, December 15, 2018
(Sunrise will be at 7:58am and Sunset at 5:12pm)
Christmas Bird Counts are held 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. Beginner
birders are welcome. In general birds are counted between sunrise and sunset.
You can participate in a field party for the day, or for half a day, morning or afternoon. There is no fee for
participation. Most all-day and morning participants meet inside Hall’s Restaurant, corner of Coliseum Blvd.
and Lima Rd. by 8:00 a.m. Some of us arrive in time to have breakfast at Hall’s before 8:00. Some parties
meet at a location designated by the leader and some parties go out before sunrise 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. Your party leader will inform you if you need to bring a sack lunch or if your group will
meet with others at a fast food restaurant for lunch.
Persons who live in the count circle can also participate by counting birds at their feeders and in the yard but
must make arrangements beforehand with the count compilers.
You are encouraged to attend a wrap-up session held at Wendy’s just off Lima Rd on Northland Blvd. It is a fun
gathering where we 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 compilers, Margit Codispoti: magpii2@yahoo.com (260-456-1996) or Eric Helfrich:
conqur1066@gmail.com (260-693-3246) by December 8th but sooner is better.

Gene Stratton-Porter Christmas Bird Count

Monday, December 17, 8 a.m., registration required by December 14
Join GSP Staff and volunteers as we participate in one of the oldest citizen science projects. The annual
Christmas Bird Count has been happening for 118 years and we are thrilled to participate in this annual project.
If you are interested in helping, birdwatchers of all skill levels are welcome as we team up to hit the field. This
is a great chance to see some beautiful birds, enjoy nature and be a citizen scientist for Cornell Lab of
Ornithology. For more information contact the Site at 260.854.3790 or Tiffany at
tmparker@indianamuseum.org .

PIGEON RIVER CBC

The Pigeon River Christmas Bird Count will take place on Sunday, December 16, 2018. If interested in
participating, please contact Joe Smith. His email is Joe.smith@kidszoo.org ; phone numbers are as follows --
Office: 260-427-6246 Cell: 260-515-0928
Because hunting season will still be in progress, all participants are strongly advised to wear something that is
hunter orange in color.

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POKAGON CBC
The 39th Annual Pokagon Christmas Bird Count will be held on December 28, 2018. The Pokagon CBC is a
part of the 119th Annual Christmas Bird Counts sponsored by the National Audubon Society. From December
14 to January 5, all throughout North America, birdwatchers contribute to citizen science through the
methodical process of counting and recording birds in established, predetermined 15-mile diameter circles.
On Friday, December 28, birders in predetermined teams will disperse into a 15-mile diameter circle, the center
being the center of Steuben County, to count both species and numbers of all birds.
Participants will gather at the Pokagon State Park Potawatomi Inn, Lonidaw Lounge (west end of building), by
7:45am to divide into teams and head into the field. Birders should bring their own birding optics and dress for
a day in the field. Participants should also bring a sack lunch to enjoy in the field, or their team may wish to
make other lunch arrangements on their own. All results will be returned to the count compiler and a final
report will be sent to the National Audubon Society and to all participants. There is no fee for the event.
Residents within Steuben County, within the count circle, may also participate by recording birds at their
feeders and reporting them to the count compiler.
To participate is free, but prior registration is required. To do so, contact count compiler Fred Wooley at 260-
495-3307 or 260-243-0513 or E-mail fwooley@frontier.com. Registration deadline is December 26. For
further information, contact Fred Wooley.

TIPPECANOE CBC
The Tippecanoe Audubon Society Christmas Count will be Saturday, December 29th. The 15-mile-diameter
count circle is centered at Oswego, Indiana in Kosciusko County. Birders of all skill levels are welcome.
Anyone interested in participating should get in touch with Dave Hicks, 260-982-2471,
djhicks@manchester.edu.

SANJO (Southern Adams Northern Jay and Ouabache) CBC

Everything is the same as last year for SANJO CBC on Tuesday, January 1, 2019 - this is the fourth year of the
circle which was previously the Adams County Count.
Limberlost Visitor Center
200 E. Sixth Street (at US 27)
Geneva IN
Meet at 8:00 am at the Limberlost Visitor Center if you want before going out to your territory.
Chili lunch will be at noon at the Limberlost Visitor Center for all birders in the territory and feeder counters.
Please join us. Meet members of area Audubon chapters. New birders welcome.

Terri Gorney, compiler; bandtgorney@aol.com

SOUTHWEST ALLEN CBC

The SW Allen CBC will be on Saturday, December 29. The count circle will include Fox Island, Little River
Wetlands properties, and three small ACRES properties. We will meet at the Fox Island nature center to meet
our teams, starting at 8 a.m. Again, our famous chili makers, Brett Fisher and Lori Healey, will preside over the
noontime "count" summary. If you plan to participate, please register by December 26 with the compiler,
Cynthia Powers at 638-4291 or zzedpowers@aol.com.

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P.O. Box 13131, Fort Wayne, IN 46867

Return Service Requested

|Stockbridge Directors and Officers|

Inside this issue:
Cynthia Powers, President 638-4291
President’s Words
Eric Helfrich, Vice President 260-693-3246
Margit Codispoti, Secretary 456-1996
Stockbridge History – 1938
Dave Reichlinger, Treasurer 432-9431
Christmas Bird Count Sandy Schacht, Director 260-356-3681
Julie Henricks, Newsletter Editor 638-4375
The Little Auglaize Wildlife Ed Powers, Membership 638-4291
Reserve Terri Gorney, Program Chair 490-6725
John Winebrenner, Director 260-414-4866
Area Christmas Bird Count Stephanie Wagner, Director sewsings328@gmail.com
Schedule Greg Majewski, Director_________________gamajewski@gmail.com
Phil Wixom, Webmaster_________________a28n28@yahoo.com

We welcome new members using the form below (or apply online). To speed your service and save us postage, mail renewals
directly to National Audubon, using the form that they provide. Any questions relating to membership? Ed Powers, Membership
Chair, will be glad to help!

Online new membership requests: https://action.audubon.org/donate/chapter-membership?chapter=H09

Or mail the following form:

National Audubon Society/Stockbridge Audubon Chapter Membership Application H09

I want to join Audubon! Enclosed is my check payable to the National Audubon Society.

Name YEARLY MEMBERSHIP:

Individual/$20 Family/$20
Address ________________________________

City/State/Zip________________________________

Mail to: Stockbridge Audubon Society, P. O. Box 13131, Fort Wayne, IN 46867