tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52212110046580341042024-03-05T10:53:08.099-08:00Indiana Young Birders ClubIndiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.comBlogger21125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-32263313196955070532015-05-12T17:26:00.002-07:002015-05-12T17:29:33.789-07:00The Inaugural Indiana Dunes Birding Festival<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px; margin-bottom: 1.35em;">
<span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">By Alexandra Forsythe</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">Since it was the first year for the Dunes Birding Festival, I am sure people expected a lot of hiccups, low attendance and holes in the schedule. However, Brad Bumgardner was the Festival Chair, and he had assembled a fantastic group of people to help him organize the Festival, so it was fantastic! More people than anticipated signed up for the festival, with more streaming in every day hoping to squeeze in to sold-out events.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcvbns4jW8uF7N58AW_0LhfGaXGdO6eFqiVFCTN4kOIzRrnxptRNrKcb3mQNwiy6IUZ1OgT98DkORigZyQDeaLx4vmcznfUwH2Tff3sxMkP83y_KIKXk_gtIJm2k9j3xiatgW3x4_zjGM/s1600/Yellow+Warbler+by+Alexandra+Forsythe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjGcvbns4jW8uF7N58AW_0LhfGaXGdO6eFqiVFCTN4kOIzRrnxptRNrKcb3mQNwiy6IUZ1OgT98DkORigZyQDeaLx4vmcznfUwH2Tff3sxMkP83y_KIKXk_gtIJm2k9j3xiatgW3x4_zjGM/s320/Yellow+Warbler+by+Alexandra+Forsythe.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">From the moment I arrived, there was a sense of excitement. Big, beautiful banners were everywhere greeting the birders. The welcome station was staffed during the entire Festival by friendly, helpful people, and the goody bag had so many wonderful things including a really cool bird whistle. The Program Guide looked professional and contained a lot of information in a neat package.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">There was a full slate of events Thursday through Sunday: field trips, talks, activities and social events. There was something for everyone from beginning birder hikes to advanced instructions on the identification of difficult birds. You would have to attend the Festival several years to see and do everything!</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">The night before the Festival began, I was given the job of running the Festival’s official live Twitter feed to report on interesting sightings, let people know about upcoming talks and activities, post photos of birds and the presenters, and tell people when and where events were occurring. Although I could not always stay for the entire activity (I had to drive back and forth to different events which were often scheduled at the same time, sometimes a half hour away), I had the unique opportunity to catch pieces of almost all of the Festival. It gave me a wonderful overview of the depth of activities provided. The variety was astounding, and I was impressed at the amount of thought the organizers put in to plan the Festival.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">Each field trip was unique. The Dunes area has one of the most diverse collections of habitat in the country, so it attracts an incredible variety of birds from Whooping Crane to Mourning Warbler. You want warblers? We had places dripping with them! You want a Black Vulture? We’ve got that! How about ducks? No problem! No matter what field trip you went on, you were sure to see something you hadn’t seen before. Better yet, every morning before the field trip you were greeted with coffee, pastries and smiling faces. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">I was lucky to both lead and attend field trips, and I was thrilled with each group! The other people leading the field trips were excellent! They were able to find rarities for the experts in the group, and help beginners feel more confident. On the tour I led, I had a mixture of beginners, experts and photographers. It was wonderful! We connected over the birds in a way that felt as though we had known each other for a long time. We spotted some good birds (Sora walking along the road, Golden-winged Warbler, Orchard Oriole, Sandhill Cranes and more), and several members of the group got lifers! </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">The presentations were all professionally done by some of the most respected people in birding. We heard about conservation and restoration projects, Sandhills, migrant traps, the use of radar to track bird movements, the unique geology of the area, the importance of right-of-ways to birds, big years, Brazilian flora and fauna, Gene Stratton-Porter, feeding and attracting birds, and birdscaping. We learned how to identify difficult birds like warblers and gulls. I got to combine two of my favorite subjects - birds and technology - and speak about them. </span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">There were workshops for bird photography, wildflower photography and Flying WILD. The younger attendees had special programming sponsored by the Indiana Young Birders Club, from bilingual hikes to building Bluebird boxes. </span></div>
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Birds of prey were in abundance and up close thanks to several organizations, and visitors had the chance to see songbirds closely at banding programs. The Whip Walk was heart-stopping, with Whip-poor-wills flying close to our heads and landing in the walkway a few feet in front of us.</div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">Incredibly, almost all of the talks, field trips and activities were free with a one-time reasonable admission charge. Since we had to pay so little for admission, we had plenty to spend on specially priced items from optics to bird supplies. Plus, we could bid on wonderful silent auction items including signed Peterson prints, optics, gift baskets, bird houses, sculptures, and even a refrigerator! The money raised by the auction went to a good cause: half of the proceeds were given to the Indiana Young Birders Club.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">The evening social events were cleverly designed to force everyone to get to know one another in easy conversation starters. There was no way to attend the event without getting to know someone new! Plus, there were a multitude of prizes, so you gained a new friend and a gift each night.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">The keynote speech was one of the best I have ever heard. James Currie, author and star of Nikon’s Birding Adventures, was an incredible story teller! He made everyone in the room alternately laugh, gasp and sigh. The food at the keynote dinner was like something from a 4-star restaurant, with prime rib cut to order and luscious, chocolate-covered strawberries.</span></div>
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Every venue was very nice, both inside and out. Birds surrounded each building and once you stepped inside, you were sure to learn quite a bit just by looking at the exhibits in the lobbies.<br />
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I’ve been to several birding conferences, and there is no question that the Dunes Birding Festival was one of the best. I cannot wait until next year!</div>
Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-48145445056377888862014-12-26T09:14:00.001-08:002014-12-26T09:14:42.190-08:00Sand, Sand, and More Sand: Birding the Indiana Dunes<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Matthias Benko</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;"> Late autumn in Indiana is a
beautiful season for many reasons. </span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; text-indent: 0.5in;">The
multicolored leaves of the deciduous trees are finishing up their descent to
the ground, pumpkins are being carved, and, of course, the waterfowl are
starting to move. That is why, on November 2, the IYBC went on a joint field
trip with the birders of the Illinois Young Birders Club (ILYB) to the
lakefront.</span><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">IYBC and ILYB members checking out some Pine Siskins</td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The day of fall birding began at
the lake watch in Marquette Park. It was bit of a slow morning, but there were
definitely some highlights. We saw a Peregrine Falcon chase a Snow Bunting high
into the sky, a few Great Black-backed Gulls (the largest gulls in the world,)
Horned Grebes close to the beach line, flyover Common Goldeneyes, and a single
Red-breasted Merganser. After a while, the birds stopped moving through;
therefore, we decided to move on to a new destination—West Beach.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> West Beach also
had its notable moments. In the evergreen area, we saw a mixed flock of winter
birds that included Pine Siskin, Dark-eyed Junco, and Red-breasted Nuthatch. We
tried our best to find a Northern Saw-whet Owl hidden in the pine trees, but
our search was to no avail. Since there weren’t any more birds to find, the
group leaders decided to walk back to the main parking lot. At the parking lot,
we had a highlight of the trip: a Sharp-shinned Hawk! We (the IYBC and ILYB)
decided to part ways after that high note. However, before we headed back home,
the remaining IYBC members decided to give the Ogden Dunes Pinery a
chance. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The main area of the dunes was
somewhat flooded, and, unfortunately, we couldn’t find a Saw-whet. We soon discovered
why we couldn’t find an owl; a Cooper’s Ha<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a>wk was in the
vicinity! Even though we didn’t find what we were looking for at this location,
it was still fun to walk the beautiful, rugged property. </span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZ1_8HZp9k4OvHi7MZDCqqfUVMoJTj0qBmHd6Nf7Auyx5_oKF3eWw6EPW95pES07WSGxxx9VusipMfLD6UTrAqKRacWSYxQqPi8H1JtHFkcxgOHUGCWZvjqIiWg2NyoMrLsGRRb90SYpv/s1600/DSCF6172.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrZ1_8HZp9k4OvHi7MZDCqqfUVMoJTj0qBmHd6Nf7Auyx5_oKF3eWw6EPW95pES07WSGxxx9VusipMfLD6UTrAqKRacWSYxQqPi8H1JtHFkcxgOHUGCWZvjqIiWg2NyoMrLsGRRb90SYpv/s1600/DSCF6172.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matthias Benko and Landon Neumann </td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Since it
was getting a little late, my mom and I decided to head back to Indianapolis. I
had a great day birding; in fact, it yielded four lifers: Peregrine Falcon,
Snow Bunting, Great Black-backed Gull, and Sharp-shinned Hawk! On the drive
home, there was another highlight; I spotted a Bald Eagle soaring over the
interstate. Hopefully, the IYBC will be able to go back and experience the
Dunes’ marvelous avifauna once again. </span></div>
Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-57488049150945931662014-11-30T17:51:00.001-08:002014-11-30T17:53:01.858-08:00Audubon's Christmas Bird CountBy Alexandra Forsythe<br />
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<span class="" style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">The holidays are here! It’s time for feasting, visiting with friends and family, and honoring traditions. For a birder, one of the those traditions is the annual Christmas Bird Count.</span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">Where did this tradition originate? What does it entail? Why do we do it?</span><b><span class="" style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;"></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqPDLZFEkLvEvSoLNY_ZsNh9itjibv5HSI4r2cncXKfGlRBaI-C4xyaaKOqxLVti38bOZ5KE7Bp6XKbzOYva9pPzcHvo7_AoMK-9SIKDE12LfcMe0G9cjv4BngctgupymO6-S9wH8GHBF/s1600/AlexwithOwl+(2).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgSqPDLZFEkLvEvSoLNY_ZsNh9itjibv5HSI4r2cncXKfGlRBaI-C4xyaaKOqxLVti38bOZ5KE7Bp6XKbzOYva9pPzcHvo7_AoMK-9SIKDE12LfcMe0G9cjv4BngctgupymO6-S9wH8GHBF/s1600/AlexwithOwl+(2).jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a><span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">The Christmas Bird Count (“CBC”) replaced the tradition of the Christmas Side Hunt in 1900. During the Side Hunt, teams would compete to see who could kill the most prey, both feathered and furred. Frank Chapman, an officer in the Audubon Society, suggested conducting a census of birds, rather than a slaughter of them. That first year, 27 people participated in 25 bird counts and reported about 90 species.</span><span class="" style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;"></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">Over a century later, the CBC has continued to be an important form of citizen science. The data collected helps researchers study bird populations and how those populations have changed. Armed with this information, additional studies and conservation measures can be taken to help the birds overcome the issues which affect them. For example, in the 1980’s it became apparent that wintering populations of the American Black Duck were in decline. Strict harvest regulations were put in place which has helped slow the decline.</span><span class="" style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;"></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">There are specific rules governing CBCs. The count runs from December 14 to January 5. Each count is conducted in one calendar day and covers a 15-mile diameter circle. Participants are organized into groups or field parties by the compiler of each count, and the field party covers a specific area of the 15-mile circle. All individual birds are identified by sight or sound and counted. This provides a census of the total number of birds in the circle.</span><span class="" style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;"></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">Last year, about 2,400 counts took place from the Arctic to the Andes. A record number of 71,659 people participated, tallying 66,243,371 birds from 2403 species! Two new species were recorded for the U.S.: Sinaloa Wren in Arizona and Red-throated Pipit in California. This year marks our 115th CBC. Perhaps we’ll break even more records!</span><span class="" style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;"></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">Be sure to join a CBC near you. You’ll be conducting important research, you’ll get to spend time with your birding friends, and it’s a great way to spend the holidays! </span><span class="" style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;"></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">To see a 20-minute video by the National Audubon Society about CBCs, go to:</span><span style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;"> </span><a href="http://birds.audubon.org/videos/audubons-christmas-bird-count-tallying-birds-americas-over-century" saprocessedanchor="true" style="color: #0068cf; cursor: pointer; font-weight: inherit; line-height: 21.2999992370605px;" target="_blank"><span class="" style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;">http://birds.audubon.org/videos/audubons-christmas-bird-count-tallying-birds-americas-over-century</span></a><span class="" style="line-height: 21.2999992370605px;"></span></div>
Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-46175005781963381062014-06-21T10:19:00.001-07:002014-06-21T10:19:21.415-07:00Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary: Remote Yet Beautiful! <div class="MsoNormal">
By Matthias Benko</div>
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Last month, during the IAS Spring Festival, I was given the
wonderful opportunity to see Indiana Audubon Society’s Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary
for the first time. I had heard
marvelous things about the sanctuary, but I definitely wanted to formulate my
own opinion of the property. Did Mary Gray disappoint? Not in any manner whatsoever. </div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Matthias (far right) birding with other young birders <br />
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The
sanctuary’s framework consists of a medium-sized sepia creek, with leafy
deciduous forests surrounding the water and covering the majority of the acreage. Some parts of the property vary in elevation
since glaciers moved through the area millions of years ago. Along with
forested areas and hills, there are also three or four retention ponds near the
three main edifices of the land. Mary
Gray is, quite literally, a breath of fresh air compared to urban areas such as
Indianapolis and Connersville.</div>
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Throughout
the six or seven hours I spent at the property, the birds delivered! I was
fortunate to increase my life list by a sum of three birds. A Blue-winged
Warbler materialized from the forest onto a tree overlooking Mary Gray’s creek,
a nice surprise considering I was perched on a bridge, enjoying the magnificent
weather. After a calming lunch break, I discovered a Wood Thrush that was
peacefully posed off of a trail behind the main presentation hall. Finally, the last lifer of the day, by no
means the least, was none other than a Cerulean Warbler. The Cerulean imposed an arduous
challenge---trying to get a pleasing, concrete glimpse. After a good half hour of attempting a
glance, I thankfully found the bird at a lower level of the woods, working his
way up to the </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCph37KjShDbMrEF4IyJN5wv7nBk-SYmzzDf4hZXGWLj1eS6o2nKbuUVpKVswBq_A2TILn-7CXY-3nKuBHyOIV0ymhs4rCWuGp705wZEpiqURwqMWqJwJvDXRD75eTKPlQWZJ5E9WETv-F/s1600/Blue-winged+Warbler+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCph37KjShDbMrEF4IyJN5wv7nBk-SYmzzDf4hZXGWLj1eS6o2nKbuUVpKVswBq_A2TILn-7CXY-3nKuBHyOIV0ymhs4rCWuGp705wZEpiqURwqMWqJwJvDXRD75eTKPlQWZJ5E9WETv-F/s1600/Blue-winged+Warbler+2014.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue-winged Warbler at Mary Gray. By Chad Williams</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
canopy. Other highlights
of the day included a male Common Yellowthroat, a male Northern Parula, a pair
of Canada Geese with six goslings, and a Common Moorhen (officially known as
the Common Gallinule). The Moorhen was quite a find, as it was in the small
portion of reeds that one of the retention ponds had. I remember my mom saying,
“There’s a bird that’s been popping in and out of the reeds. It has the most
gorgeous red bill.” Our group, who was birding with Joel Greenberg, coaxed the
bird out of the plant life by clapping repeatedly. The bird acted bizarrely for
a member of the rail family, climbing up a tree and flashing its odd greenish
legs. It even posed well enough for birders around the area to observe the bird
for a lengthy time period. My day at
Mary Gray was full of pleasing and surprising moments, so much so that I never
wanted to leave! <br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOC72JQFo0EFuENIwqBgLoEOnPA8dVahYUJ0zVzkHpWNosn3H9igT_-8BRvbBnZXQ2Z-0ZDrWAhhFyAOm42lM_KacBz925aTKAw_w66O2tn3bdcb6jtC-vhyDSlN-3ryO8JIksLzShJ6X/s1600/Creek+Walk+Mary+Gray+2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjSOC72JQFo0EFuENIwqBgLoEOnPA8dVahYUJ0zVzkHpWNosn3H9igT_-8BRvbBnZXQ2Z-0ZDrWAhhFyAOm42lM_KacBz925aTKAw_w66O2tn3bdcb6jtC-vhyDSlN-3ryO8JIksLzShJ6X/s1600/Creek+Walk+Mary+Gray+2014.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Young nature lovers during a creek walk at the <br />
Spring 2014 Festival. By Chad Williams</td></tr>
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Any member
of the Indiana Audubon Society can visit Mary Gray Bird Sanctuary at any time of year. If you ever need a
weekend escape to, as Kenn Kaufman says, reality, this sanctuary is the place
to travel to. In retrospect, this experience was one of the most satisfying<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack"></a> I have ever had. </div>
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Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-54173400764370191132014-05-13T17:49:00.001-07:002014-05-13T17:49:19.581-07:00Is the Biggest Week Really the Biggest Week?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Alexandra Forsythe</span><br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxa0eSS1sETAw-WQuI1uBPa9QFWNP89wkPXOaBSgOE6_R33Nxfm0O2D7yMpE0nMyYQZ3LGcVFLu3csB0-pnzLCkZAc8G-9_U392-dtn3B1TIythcegduHEB_ORU-MBNxPOpDtDwHwL1tWU/s1600/Blackburnian+5-14+Alex+F..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxa0eSS1sETAw-WQuI1uBPa9QFWNP89wkPXOaBSgOE6_R33Nxfm0O2D7yMpE0nMyYQZ3LGcVFLu3csB0-pnzLCkZAc8G-9_U392-dtn3B1TIythcegduHEB_ORU-MBNxPOpDtDwHwL1tWU/s1600/Blackburnian+5-14+Alex+F..jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blackburnian Warbler by Alexandra Forsythe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">I attended the Biggest Week in American Birding this year in northwest Ohio. It takes place at a stopover point for migratory birds that are attempting to cross the Great Lakes, so there are a wide variety of birds. But is it the "biggest week"? Yes! In many ways it is!<br style="line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" />You will see a lot of bird species in a very short period of time, and most of those species will be in a small, easily accessible area. Often the birds will be at or near eye level and they will be close enough to easily identify. However, the number and proximity of birds is not what makes this the biggest week in my opinion. It is the biggest week because of the people.<br style="line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /><br style="line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" />Kim and Kenn Kaufman and the people at Black Swamp Bird Observatory have created an event that includes something for everyone. There are educational presentations, guided bus tours, auto tours, boat tours, bird hikes, and a large number of expert birders on hand in most locations to help you. When you attend the event, you'll be surrounded by enthusiastic birders of all levels from beginner to expert. There's an instant feeling of family as you run into old friends and make new ones.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br style="line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmLYrd0KKqzb8yD9Olym9P3U3IweeSx9RiNAaI20Ky27WQvp5r-PbQSF5RveIhETJrDGmF2ws4JQ08PoYlKnYYYoddj0xDZod6U-VqSw6ZLYqSsGOicX4b4aDL1-waXZvuQgyninRHyhI/s1600/Bittern+Alex+5-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvmLYrd0KKqzb8yD9Olym9P3U3IweeSx9RiNAaI20Ky27WQvp5r-PbQSF5RveIhETJrDGmF2ws4JQ08PoYlKnYYYoddj0xDZod6U-VqSw6ZLYqSsGOicX4b4aDL1-waXZvuQgyninRHyhI/s1600/Bittern+Alex+5-14.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Bittern by Alexandra Forsythe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #444444; line-height: 21.299999237060547px;">
<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">You'll meet some extremely talented birders. For example, I met Deb Neidert, a guide who makes birding fun and exciting. I also got to go birding by ear with Mr. Michael O'Brien, co-author of the Shorebird Guide and the Larkwire app. He's an outstanding teacher and an unbelievably talented birder.</span></div>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;"><br style="line-height: 21.299999237060547px;" /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uRntOwaEd5HKp_gotByJnAjBUPGBoMtQ0bbxK7kzWwAklR0_zJptWtqdMPJkJaj6xjCvUBRkhJQEs6kfkRGgHE6K8_Ge1qsdnh_TyjefPOonvkK1RmL4ILl105xOzDQhsCqNhyphenhyphen3aD1Ex/s1600/Mr.+O'Brien+5-14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uRntOwaEd5HKp_gotByJnAjBUPGBoMtQ0bbxK7kzWwAklR0_zJptWtqdMPJkJaj6xjCvUBRkhJQEs6kfkRGgHE6K8_Ge1qsdnh_TyjefPOonvkK1RmL4ILl105xOzDQhsCqNhyphenhyphen3aD1Ex/s1600/Mr.+O'Brien+5-14.jpg" height="320" width="180" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Michael O'Brien and Alexandra</td></tr>
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<span style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal;">The entire event is designed to increase each attendee's love and appreciation of birds, and it certainly succeeds! The activities and enthusiasm continue to grow each year, making this the undeniable Biggest Week in American Birding!</span></div>
Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-9296038327865464532014-03-06T18:15:00.002-08:002014-03-06T18:15:51.536-08:00Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz 2014<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Landon Neumann</span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywPZXouIJKRoIDLP1UEtrQfSqmldx5F-uZNy4hhSO-dAz-R4HTxr-5jAJOvVafridE_aZyqZHJZ_R3PBAS_RfeD08n53Iau6V4YlPyKuMrNZyCZhGk5DBP6IgdBVFLzhcdqF2sfj6Wtbf/s1600/Rusty+Blackbird+by+Ryan+Sanderson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgywPZXouIJKRoIDLP1UEtrQfSqmldx5F-uZNy4hhSO-dAz-R4HTxr-5jAJOvVafridE_aZyqZHJZ_R3PBAS_RfeD08n53Iau6V4YlPyKuMrNZyCZhGk5DBP6IgdBVFLzhcdqF2sfj6Wtbf/s1600/Rusty+Blackbird+by+Ryan+Sanderson.jpg" height="213" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Rusty Blackbird Photo by Ryan Sanderson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Many of you probably have heard
about the Rusty Blackbird. It’s often a bird that birders will search for in
blackbird flocks during the spring and fall. What you may not know is that this
bird is under a serious decline. According to Ebird in the last fifty years
this bird has declined by 85-95%! What can be done to stop this decline? Well,
one way for birders is for them to go out this spring, when these birds are
migrating through, to specifically look for and report Rusty Blackbirds through
the Rusty Blackbird Spring Migration Blitz that Ebird and the International
Rusty Blackbird Working Group are sponsoring. The goal through the blitz is to
understand better what the actual population number looks like, so that
researchers will be </span><a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="_GoBack" style="text-indent: 0.5in;"></a><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">able to stop the decline of this
species.</span></span><br />
<span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">So how can you help with the blitz?
Well, it’s pretty easy. </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">All you have to
do is go birding and look for Rusty Blackbirds this March through mid-April.
Then, when you get home, go on ebird.org to submit your birding list. When you
submit your list be sure to list the Rusty Blackbird Blitz under the
observation type tab.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">Pretty simple
isn’t it? Just for a tip Rusty Blackbirds tend to like water so look for them
around any body of water just as a lake, river, or marsh. There are still some
places that you can see large flocks of Rusty Blackbirds in Indiana. Below is a
list of those locations.</span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="text-indent: 0.5in;">However, it’s
just as helpful for the Blitz if you look for them at your patch, so don’t
forget that too!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Kankakee FWA<br />
Muscatatuck NWR<br />
Willow Slough FWA<br />
Gibson Lake / Cane Ridge<br />
Eagle Slough, Vanderburgh Co.<br />
Pine Creek GHA<br />
Indiana Dunes Area (West Beach, Green Tower, Heron Rookery)<br />
Kingsbury FWA<br />
Stillwater Marsh<br />
Big Oaks NWR<br />
Pigeon River FWA<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Good luck finding Rusty
Blackbirds this spring! </span></span>Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-49224207946644024062014-02-09T09:27:00.000-08:002014-02-09T09:27:23.431-08:00Birding in Northeast Indiana<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Alexandra Forsythe</span><div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpsadsBMmuu7cq-UV4E0sYETFBHiTP3GVwbReAoovetp-lXUFkrE__ULvSD3f9mcZvnGw9onqLaKtiC2FnFeV4b9qxIHD4HNK61gPWxH4r_cl1IeNwXCCr0gJsyIgPegBCoN7OHdU_WJN/s1600/DSC_0213.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRpsadsBMmuu7cq-UV4E0sYETFBHiTP3GVwbReAoovetp-lXUFkrE__ULvSD3f9mcZvnGw9onqLaKtiC2FnFeV4b9qxIHD4HNK61gPWxH4r_cl1IeNwXCCr0gJsyIgPegBCoN7OHdU_WJN/s1600/DSC_0213.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Alexandra F. photo by Kristena Lynn Photography</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It’s no secret that Goose Pond and the Indiana Dunes are
some of Indiana’s birding treasures. What people may not realize is that the
northeastern corner of Indiana is also a treasure. We have forests, lakes and
prairies that are ideal for attracting a wide variety of birds. Just a few of
the birding hotspots are Pokagon State Park, Trine State Recreation Area,
Salamonie (State Park, State Forest and Reservoir), J. Edward Roush Fish and Wildlife
Area, Hurshtown Reservoir, Eagle Marsh Nature Preserve, Fox Island County Park,
Franke Park, and Arrowhead Marsh and Prairie. Acres Land Trust owns and manages
over 4,000 acres of preserves in northeast Indiana that include just about
every imaginable habitat: old growth forests, prairies, bogs, wetlands, lakes,
natural springs, rivers and waterfalls. As further demonstration of northeast
Indiana’s abundance of birds and our commitment to helping them, two of the
first three Bird Towns are in northeast Indiana: Geneva and Rome City.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">At many of these locations, it’s not unusual to see 80
different species in the span of just four hours. Some of the highlights of
2013 include nesting Merlins, nesting Sandhill Cranes, nesting Bald Eagles, Rufous
Hummingbird, Rock Wren, Henslow’s Sparrows, Sedge Wrens, White-Winged
Crossbills and Surf Scoter.<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stockbridge Audubon hosts regular weekly field
trips to these and other fantastic birding locations. IYBC will also host an
event in northeast Indiana this year that will allow young birders to bird at
two of these locations: Eagle Marsh and Fox Island. I hope you join us!</span></span></div>
Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-72611204339542043172013-12-31T08:00:00.000-08:002013-12-31T08:00:00.344-08:00Cass County Spotted TowheeBy Landon Neumann<br />
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<br /></div>
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
It’s not every day
that a birder finds a statewide rarity on his home turf. But, it happened to me
during the first Cass County Christmas Bird Count on December 19, 2013. Here’s a short
story about how I found the bird. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngOOxQcOFlaa5H1MgBcW8ZqBCw0DaEGsCvBvnA-PLEJ7Ii6THWYm3ID6DZMpCWUgzvJah_p-2_82mCLyEfBnA_ZFZlOQJGBqNyikvTQ_a5xxOI6CjkPRqPFOAykTYP1BtT_8YPtRRom-G/s1600/Spotted+Towhee+by+Eric+Ripma+12-31-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhngOOxQcOFlaa5H1MgBcW8ZqBCw0DaEGsCvBvnA-PLEJ7Ii6THWYm3ID6DZMpCWUgzvJah_p-2_82mCLyEfBnA_ZFZlOQJGBqNyikvTQ_a5xxOI6CjkPRqPFOAykTYP1BtT_8YPtRRom-G/s320/Spotted+Towhee+by+Eric+Ripma+12-31-13.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Spotted Towhee by Eric Ripma</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%; text-indent: .5in;">
Before the CBC I
had assigned myself a local trail that was in the circle called the River Bluff
Trail and some county roads. This spot usually isn't very good in winter but, I
was hoping for at least a Yellow-bellied Sapsucker to add to the count. So on count day I was at the trail bright and
early ready to find some birds. The birding started out pretty good, I got the
adult male sapsucker right off that I had hoped for. There were a lot of White-throated and
American Tree Sparrows out along the trail and meadows. Right along the trail, where a river runs
parallel, I scored an American Black Duck with a flock of Mallards, which I
usually don’t see on that section of the river. Since the trail is 5 miles round-trip
and there was 6 inches of snow on the trail the ground, walking was tough going
but, I didn't mind. Once I had birded the entire trail, I headed back through the
trail again since it is one way. As I was walking, I noticed two female Eastern
Towhees sitting in a bush. I was pretty excited about adding them to the count
since that species is hard to get in the winter this far north. After I had
looked at them, I noticed an adult male towhee nearby that had white spots on
his back. I thought to myself that it looked
good for Spotted Towhee - which is a western towhee that occurs in Indiana only
on rare occasions. I studied the bird
for a little while before it flew off. Pretty sure that I was correct on my ID,
I ran down the trail to my car (which was half a mile away) to check a guide
and sure enough the guide confirmed that I had just seen a Spotted Towhee in Indiana!!! I was pretty excited but, because I knew I
needed to finish birding the rest of my area, I left the trail to bird more and
then get the word out at lunch.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
During
the CBC lunch I was able to get the word out and after lunch some of the
birders came with me to re-find the towhee and to document my finding. Luckily we were able to find it within a few
minutes and we were able to get some decent shots of it. The bird stayed for a
few more days before it moved on, allowing more birders from around the state
to come and see it. Hopefully next year’s Cass County CBC will be as memorable
as this one.<a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5221211004658034104" name="_GoBack"></a></div>
</div>
Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-45840675424063357172013-10-13T15:36:00.000-07:002013-10-13T15:36:17.368-07:00Green JayBy Alexandria Simpson<div>
<br /></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjog3BPj6kY1UIN5jNVVRO5m20qQ2TYQhGVcJlddH1YX0hXhA1B3LSjN_a89yixWisL9WV3wtAr5YvnE-bMF6UXPVeFdNUCfzRQbicYAI1FCvkOALMfcCUSPaz_lpyDuyiQaFDKH6njFs/s1600/blue+varient+alone+Alexandria+Simpson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipjog3BPj6kY1UIN5jNVVRO5m20qQ2TYQhGVcJlddH1YX0hXhA1B3LSjN_a89yixWisL9WV3wtAr5YvnE-bMF6UXPVeFdNUCfzRQbicYAI1FCvkOALMfcCUSPaz_lpyDuyiQaFDKH6njFs/s320/blue+varient+alone+Alexandria+Simpson.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Jay "blue-variant". Courtesy of A. Simpson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
When thinking of jays, the color that most often comes to mind is
blue. Most people are familiar with the
Blue Jay or another blue-colored jay.
Therefore, you can imagine my surprise when I saw my first Green Jay on
a birding trip to Laguna Atascosa NWR in South Texas. They are certainly green, a beautiful lime
green reminiscent of parrots.<br />
<div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">In case you still prefer some blue on your jay, the Green Jay does not
disappoint: the crown and nape are bright blue.
Add some yellow-green to the bellies, and a black bib, eye line, and
throat and you've created a Green Jay.
They seem very colorful but when viewed in their native semi-tropical
habitat, they blend in amazingly well with the dappled sunshine and shade. Males, females, and immatures look identical.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVekd8d0CuzxVYYGNTlZt8SS08nijJ2IkhlAC3f_aCOO77C99H-QwK6pBdHSclGSPC8_-Xwt6sbHvTEEj71D1grWg9ruRu19PanCfFMzIpWsCBtRrrxpwq9o8sWCKG9oOPiE5Cf_sFWUZr/s1600/Blue+varient+and+regular+together+Alexandria+Simpson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVekd8d0CuzxVYYGNTlZt8SS08nijJ2IkhlAC3f_aCOO77C99H-QwK6pBdHSclGSPC8_-Xwt6sbHvTEEj71D1grWg9ruRu19PanCfFMzIpWsCBtRrrxpwq9o8sWCKG9oOPiE5Cf_sFWUZr/s320/Blue+varient+and+regular+together+Alexandria+Simpson.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Jay and a "blue-variant". Courtesy of A. Simpson.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span lang="EN"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">A few years ago, the Atascosa refuge had a very special jay. Called the "blue variant" of the Green
Jay", it was missing its yellow pigmentation and instead of being bright
green, was a dull gray-blue. When it
stood next to a regular jay, the difference was stunning. It was famous and highly photographed until
it disappeared, presumably predated.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Interestingly, the Green Jay is the only common jay species in the Rio
Grande Valley. Nowhere else in the US or
Canada can you find these birds; there are also populations in Mexico and South
America. The South Texas subspecies are
colored somewhat differently from their South American relations, which are
sometimes called Inca Jays.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><br /></span></div>
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYiALeERMdEbH3kGnB0mYRNmAMa93LxJZhtQonPic3u7cQI36Y3VfWtDIIoNr_X2aNgBnp8Tl7X1G16saLxOKH-gRPnOcS8XYLHLQt7jYL5gJeQ10Smx6b2pcul3MOtQS0wuE3N9E7wiw/s1600/feeding+jays+Alexandria+Simpson.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgJYiALeERMdEbH3kGnB0mYRNmAMa93LxJZhtQonPic3u7cQI36Y3VfWtDIIoNr_X2aNgBnp8Tl7X1G16saLxOKH-gRPnOcS8XYLHLQt7jYL5gJeQ10Smx6b2pcul3MOtQS0wuE3N9E7wiw/s320/feeding+jays+Alexandria+Simpson.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Jays feeding. Courtesy of A. Simpson.</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Like other members of the Corvidae family, which includes jays, ravens, and
crows, they are loud, aggressive, and curious birds. The dinner table certainly never suffers from
lack of conversation while the Green Jays are feeding! A common spectacle, and one that proves their
courage, is to see one or more perched atop a javelina, enjoying a free ride. Studies have shown that Corvids are some of
the most intelligent birds. Green Jays
are no exception to this and have been seen using sticks to poke insects out of
tree bark.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Groups of Green Jays are called bands, parties, or scolds. They are mostly family groups with the young
from the previous year help out with this year's chicks. Once the chicks are two years old, they are
forced to leave and start a family of their own.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTBKBlPSEEGft6aOCm_OAA-0jAUoiHCdg8QLNMV4j7tM6Z89o-nLRKZznbGWSp71decGFd-PGIsBTw-v-HdWYoWgzjV_YBlGIa4I2jlREtEQI9UFrbMX4i6hecEJn-diug5JvV8ArYUyK/s1600/Jay+riding+on+Javelina+back.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgpTBKBlPSEEGft6aOCm_OAA-0jAUoiHCdg8QLNMV4j7tM6Z89o-nLRKZznbGWSp71decGFd-PGIsBTw-v-HdWYoWgzjV_YBlGIa4I2jlREtEQI9UFrbMX4i6hecEJn-diug5JvV8ArYUyK/s320/Jay+riding+on+Javelina+back.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Green Jay perched on a Javelina. Courtesy of A. Simpson</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span lang="EN">Green Jays are some of the most interesting birds to watch, especially when
they cock their heads at you inquiringly.
Their beautiful plumage and loud, aggressive behavior provide plenty of
entertainment. If you've never had been
able to view these birds in action, I hope you get the chance to someday. They may not be blue, but they certainly are
amazing birds!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span lang="EN"><br /></span></div>
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Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-89798677117335740322013-10-03T16:37:00.000-07:002013-10-03T16:37:58.659-07:00Birds of the Border<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">By Matthias Benko</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">For millions of years, birds have been oblivious to
national, state, provincial, and county borders. That was the case this past
Saturday when the IYBC headed up to the Indiana/Illinois Lakefront to do a
“little birding.” Actually, a “little birding” is quite an understatement.
There was quite a lot to keep us busy------for seven straight hours.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">The IYBC crew met up at Miller Beach outside of Gary, IN, at 9 o’clock eastern time last Saturday.
There was a reported Red Knot there, but before most of us could get there, it
was spooked by a Cooper’s Hawk. However, the missing Red Knot was made up by a
fly-by Whimbrel. After some of us had regained our breathing from the Whimbrel
sighting, we decided to head over to the Whiting Park to look for migrant
warblers. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">We were rewarded very quickly at Whiting Park when we found
a group of Nashville, Blackpoll, and Bay-breasted Warblers trying to scare off
a perched Red-tailed Hawk. Some other highlights at Whiting Park after the
small flock included a couple of Wilson’s Warblers, an Ovenbird,
some American Redstarts, and a black squirrel. We finished up there and
decided to go to what would be a life-changing destination for me. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">The Migrant Trap is located next to the infamous Horseshoe
Casino. Since the birds are very fatigued from the flight across Lake Michigan,
they come here in numbers to rest. We
started at a bird feeder area with species like American Goldfinch, Gray
Catbird, Mourning Dove, House Sparrow,
and Black-capped (not Indianapolis’s Carolina) Chickadee. After looking at the
feeder birds for a few minutes, we started to head down the park’s only trail.
Almost immediately we saw one Black-throated Green Warbler and numerous Tennessee
Warblers. After the Tennessees, we started seeing lots of Blackpolls. It was
getting a bit repetitive, but then I got my first life bird of the trip--------
a male Magnolia Warbler in vibrant fall plumage. It felt like there was some
sort of unbreakable bond between the two of us, and I knew for a fact right
then and there that the Magnolia Warbler was one of my favorite warblers. Just
when it </span></span><span style="line-height: 18px;">couldn't</span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="line-height: 115%;"> it get any better, it did. A male Black-throated Blue Warbler
showed up. I don’t exactly know how to explain the feeling when I saw him, but
I am sure that is what it must feel like to be star-struck. The only two new
warblers that I saw on the trip became part of my top three favorite warblers.
It is kind of strange how it ended up that way, but I don’t think it was a
coincidence.....<o:p></o:p></span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;"> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif;">At the
end of The Migrant Trap, there is a little mudflat area. I saw new two lifers
here------- Semipalmated Plover and Sanderling. By that time, we were all
hungry, thirsty, and fatigued, so we took a lunch break. After our quick
refueling, we headed back to Miller Beach. I ended the day there after I saw my
first American Golden Plover (in full plumage!) and my first Black-bellied
Plover. All in all, it was a wonderful day for not only us, but the birds who
survived their brutal flight across Lake Michigan.</span></span>Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-71321662224114118422013-06-27T19:21:00.002-07:002013-06-27T19:21:54.806-07:00Jewels in the Countryside of Indiana<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Matthias Benko</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
gnats and mosquitoes are swarming all around me. I try to ignore the annoying
buzzes and the forming bites. As I keep walking around the parking lot with the
group, I catch my first glance at a gargantuan nest box. The next thing I feast
my eyes on stops me in my tracks. I have just seen my first Purple Martin.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
Purple Martin colony I have described is located at Willow Slough FWA in
Morocco, IN. This is where the Indiana and Illinois Young Birders met up for
some birding this past Saturday. Getting there was no easy task for my mom and
me. It required waking at 5:30 in the morning, getting everything together, and
traveling 250 miles by car. However,
once we got there, I could tell the birds were worth a long road trip. As we
gathered at a central point in Willow Slough, we found a Red-headed Woodpecker
nest. It was definitely amazing to see such a beautiful creature feeding young.
We then walked around the parking lot, looking for species. We saw American
Robins, Common Grackles, Cedar Waxwings, and Chipping Sparrows. Once we reached
the lakeside, I saw my first Purple Martin. It was so mind-boggling to me that
a bird could be bright purple. After I had looked at the nesting colony for a
few minutes, our group heard thunder. Since the main attraction of this trip
was Kankakee Sands, we decided to drive over there before the rain struck. </span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
drive to Kankakee was actually quite productive. On the way there we saw Indigo
Buntings, a Red-tailed Hawk, a Dickcissel (a new species for me), and an
Eastern Meadowlark. We arrived at our
destination, the headquarters, and I had my first amazing look at a Dickcissel
(the first one was obscured by brush). Then, a Henslow’s Sparrow was sighted,
and I got my first look at this species. I was so happy to see this bird
because, unfortunately, it is endangered in the state of Indiana. After the Henslow’s Sparrow, I got my first
look at a Grasshopper Sparrow. The other highlight at the headquarters was a
Common Yellowthroat. After that, our group decided to head to another area of
Kankakee. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The
first sighting in the area we arrived at was a Bobolink; however, only one
person saw it. Besides that, we also saw an Orchard Oriole, a Baltimore Oriole,
and a Lark Sparrow. We ran out of luck after the Lark Sparrow. It had begun to
pour so heavily that we decided to end the field trip a few hours early. It
would have been awesome to stay longer, but it would have been no fun to bird
in the pouring rain.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">This
was truly an amazing field trip. I would like to thank the IYBC team for
planning such a marvelous trip. I can’t wait to go back to Kankakee on a <b><i>sunny
</i></b>day. </span><span style="font-family: Times New Roman, serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-33015089189570134352013-04-16T06:24:00.003-07:002013-04-16T06:24:24.201-07:00Birding Basics and Beyond! <span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Alexandra Forsythe</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtp-eG-OPAByYe7sQjhosittgMbK_qH4DJK19FzK1emH56ydfzux1skcXd5-3L6FQeFiDZmGx84PavWi9p6W3BzSXGZypq_IyHW63m3eBd-8SL0Wc_-3TW1XOn7bxxoHQi4NPQ8BmM3sb/s1600/Red-headed+Woodpecker+April+2013+Pokagon.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvtp-eG-OPAByYe7sQjhosittgMbK_qH4DJK19FzK1emH56ydfzux1skcXd5-3L6FQeFiDZmGx84PavWi9p6W3BzSXGZypq_IyHW63m3eBd-8SL0Wc_-3TW1XOn7bxxoHQi4NPQ8BmM3sb/s320/Red-headed+Woodpecker+April+2013+Pokagon.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Red-headed Woodpecker by Alex F.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<br />
<br />
<div style="background: white; margin-bottom: 16.2pt; margin-left: 0in; margin-right: 0in; margin-top: 0in; mso-line-height-alt: 8.3pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We had a great crowd at Pokagon
for the "Birding Basics and Beyond!" program! There were dozens of
children and teens who were interested in birds, so hopefully we'll have
several new members in the IYBC soon.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 16.2pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Mr. Velasquez gave an interesting presentation about the birds
and other animals he's encountered on his adventures. He inspired
everyone to grab their passport and binoculars and head for the tropics!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp66zv_-BH0fWxJjrVkWZKiafZ50Z_O2XhP1_JFQwDtuFkPjH8AJOHn23sry1iIE2OFVXhAifrfEhogKY0Xfh8QclScRYy8FY8lmabb8O0XnKobgAG-PqfKDKA4ZyIfIcFVTdfj3g73B7S/s1600/Yellow-rumped+Warbler+April+2013.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="235" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhp66zv_-BH0fWxJjrVkWZKiafZ50Z_O2XhP1_JFQwDtuFkPjH8AJOHn23sry1iIE2OFVXhAifrfEhogKY0Xfh8QclScRYy8FY8lmabb8O0XnKobgAG-PqfKDKA4ZyIfIcFVTdfj3g73B7S/s320/Yellow-rumped+Warbler+April+2013.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Yellow-rumped Warbler by Alex F.</span></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 16.2pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We took the attendees on a birding hike, and even though the
weather was not ideal, we spotted a number of species, including Yellow-Bellied
Sapsucker, Red-Headed Woodpecker, Yellow-rumped Warbler, and Golden-crowned
Kinglet.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; margin: 0in 0in 16.2pt;">
<span style="color: #444444; font-size: 11pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm certain everyone had fun and learned a lot - with Fred
Wooley, Lauren Loffer, and John Velasquez, it was sure to be a hit!</span><span style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-43041198080697078712013-04-01T18:51:00.000-07:002013-04-01T18:51:34.955-07:00Spotted Redshank at Goose Pond, IN<div style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">By Landon Neumann</span></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: justify;">
</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlmqQqY2izrQZ39R4Az2aWf4gNzbnm_gW3_yq50S1phOSjAATxk_AltXjJ-BUX3eKPneVwdKpYaiExp-im1ZCsfpsqvjFVHchbOnA1HSVbQPoYZrCyQqqGs6S6TNAp-sBfK8CxhBZVByK/s1600/Spotted+Redshank+2+Ryan+Sanderson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmlmqQqY2izrQZ39R4Az2aWf4gNzbnm_gW3_yq50S1phOSjAATxk_AltXjJ-BUX3eKPneVwdKpYaiExp-im1ZCsfpsqvjFVHchbOnA1HSVbQPoYZrCyQqqGs6S6TNAp-sBfK8CxhBZVByK/s320/Spotted+Redshank+2+Ryan+Sanderson.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Spotted Redshank, Goose Pond, IN. Photo by Ryan Sanderson</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">A Spotted Redshank in
Indiana was definitely not what I was expecting to happen this past week, but I
guess there is never the impossible in the birding world. After hearing about the Redshank on Thursday
I quickly went into action to find a ride to be able to see this bird. Well,
after finding a ride with Chicago young birders, Ethan and Aaron Gyllenhaal,
and Ted Wolfe I was able to chase this mega-rarity on Saturday.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlNGMjHWzwAhOSWm46ejV_c4tEdzadyXAV9HLHRtrJC-Wwi1J2uMLdidg7yjhpSryk0aCUOUo6OIDCgDAemLt-_wBa7jLlsY-391uKLdkbldQR0Zp1BRTbWCocL01_cy4WYCxPcSAbyh7/s1600/Spotted+Redshank+1+Ryan+Sanderson.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhSlNGMjHWzwAhOSWm46ejV_c4tEdzadyXAV9HLHRtrJC-Wwi1J2uMLdidg7yjhpSryk0aCUOUo6OIDCgDAemLt-_wBa7jLlsY-391uKLdkbldQR0Zp1BRTbWCocL01_cy4WYCxPcSAbyh7/s320/Spotted+Redshank+1+Ryan+Sanderson.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Spotted Redshank (right) at Goose Pond. Photo by Ryan Sanderson</span></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">After a very long three hour
drive through the great Indiana corn desert we arrived at Goose Pond FWA. Right, as we pulled in the bird was actually
viewable from the car! However, right as we were getting our stuff out the bird
flew to the other field that it was feeding at, so we had to walk the ½ hike
down the levee to get better look at it since we had only see it flying
away. During the walk we encountered over
100 birders along the levee. Some people were as far away as Massachusetts! After a fifteen minute hike we reached where
the bird was, so we set our scopes up to see the bird. Within a minute of
searching we had found the bird in our scopes!
We were all overjoyed to get such great look at this bird.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">After we had found the bird
we observed the bird for the next hour or two.
It was neat to see the bird’s red legs, but also its red base that it
had on its bill. While we were watching the redshank, it called for us a couple
times and it was frequently chasing away Lesser Yellowlegs, who were feeding
close to it. The field that it was in
was also filled with other birds. Some of the highlights that were in the field
apart from Redshank were 23 American Golden Plovers, a Long Billed Dowitcher,
and 3 Black Necked Stilts. The field was also jammed back with Green-winged and
Blue-winged Teal, Pectoral Sandpipers, and both species of yellowlegs. Overall,
it was a lot of fun birding along the levee.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 200%;">I’m very thankful to see <a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>such a rare bird. It was one of the rarest birds I’ve ever
seen in North America. If you haven’t seen it yet I would strongly recommend
you go see it. It will be a while, if ever, before one shows up again in
Indiana.</span></div>
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<br />
Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-63949369608137225552013-03-24T09:56:00.000-07:002013-03-24T09:56:09.280-07:00Herons, Loons, Grebes, Ducks, Towhees- Oh my!<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">By <span style="line-height: 115%;">Matthias
Benko</span></span><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzZjD8jGlS3HovLsZz2S2TY5qgqSrojHed29z5hyphenhyphenUPt9F9nO-OjFokPHMmglJVY-7AW9y2BkIXhaDrH0WXJwAGnqfdGUH6omWBL5lMD4Mwzqtd4-s9Yfp-39hyGB6_ujW_rKeVaMOJ4Zt/s1600/IYBC+3-23-13+3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhNzZjD8jGlS3HovLsZz2S2TY5qgqSrojHed29z5hyphenhyphenUPt9F9nO-OjFokPHMmglJVY-7AW9y2BkIXhaDrH0WXJwAGnqfdGUH6omWBL5lMD4Mwzqtd4-s9Yfp-39hyGB6_ujW_rKeVaMOJ4Zt/s320/IYBC+3-23-13+3.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Matthias (on-scope) with other IYB's checking out a Ruddy Duck!</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">Yesterday,
The IYBC took an amazing field trip to the Heron Rookery in Hamilton County. All
who participated in the event are now experts on Great Blue Herons. A few facts about herons include that they have something called
nuptial plumes connected to their head during breeding season (February-July),
there is almost no way to tell males and females apart, and they nest in trees!
That’s kind of </span><span style="line-height: 24px;">counterintuitive</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> right? I thought wading birds nest on ground
near water. I was totally wrong.
However, besides seeing tons of Great Blue Herons and their nests, we saw much
more. There was a Common Loon that flew over the place where we met. Among the Loon, we also saw the following
(brace yourselves, there is a lot): European Starlings, American Robins,
Eastern Bluebirds, a Pileated
Woodpecker, a pair of Wood Ducks, a male American Kestrel, a female Northern
Flicker, and a male Eastern Towhee (a new bird for me, I had only seen a female
twice before.) Then, after someone had guessed the “secret duck” for a field
guide, we decided to head off on another adventure.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbP8eWG47XCtsv6pZMLB7p9RMAhjuIjewRpoZQiK2QuwHRj-ndJyk3TBYXi5zhCCj8JgnZ8MpAMxGqZDOuC98siGSV5cho6EmEjdWmUV18K46GQ_jX7kQNQNViip5HL-JFUJmwnj5BDNb/s1600/IYBC+3-23-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjVbP8eWG47XCtsv6pZMLB7p9RMAhjuIjewRpoZQiK2QuwHRj-ndJyk3TBYXi5zhCCj8JgnZ8MpAMxGqZDOuC98siGSV5cho6EmEjdWmUV18K46GQ_jX7kQNQNViip5HL-JFUJmwnj5BDNb/s200/IYBC+3-23-13.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">IYB's on 3-23-13!! Matthias (left)</span></i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPokCZHDD-XQ1OgBdGrD5yJKvxYvtzo5BdmlnFgThfKMvticxXm3mxXYuNzoG6MBfhTRtOp7GsmO9UY3CdIYVvGwstNYoN_r57tU4QnOgrs4Ph6Uh8heO4SQOYS36cmHAUgHgTM0SgBoaK/s1600/GB+Heron+3-23-13+by+Ceth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPokCZHDD-XQ1OgBdGrD5yJKvxYvtzo5BdmlnFgThfKMvticxXm3mxXYuNzoG6MBfhTRtOp7GsmO9UY3CdIYVvGwstNYoN_r57tU4QnOgrs4Ph6Uh8heO4SQOYS36cmHAUgHgTM0SgBoaK/s320/GB+Heron+3-23-13+by+Ceth.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: xx-small;">The Star of the Show! A Great Blue Heron. Photo by Ceth Williams</span></i></td></tr>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Morse
Reservoir is a place I had never visited before. I honestly had no idea what I
was missing out on! There were Common Loons in full plumage (a lifer for me),
Horned Grebes in mid-molt (another lifer), Mute Swans, American Coots,
Mallards, and Ruddy Ducks (yet another lifer). I also found out by talking to
Rob Ripma that one of my spark birds was a Harris’s Sparrow! (At that time, I
was not a very seasoned birder.) All in all, this trip was worth it in so many
varied ways. I am proud to call myself a part of the Indiana Young Birders’
Club. </span><span style="font-size: 16pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-65003268174596226842013-03-03T06:36:00.001-08:002013-03-03T06:36:15.406-08:00IYBC Field Guide Giveaway!<br />
By Chad Williams<br />
<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmSVkavnePs_C2MqmOQe4YylX3RYTORtGkb94ZAZ5GOHqHPaerOrPdb_7liyFMhgP3wJJ4oQciuoo_fxS-6Vd0Q91vr8V_JdCTNSNG7QExU0vsIBxc4GkNM1rkmqn8wpwrabq_YvEgt4K/s1600/Carlynn+Berners+Benji+Berners.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvmSVkavnePs_C2MqmOQe4YylX3RYTORtGkb94ZAZ5GOHqHPaerOrPdb_7liyFMhgP3wJJ4oQciuoo_fxS-6Vd0Q91vr8V_JdCTNSNG7QExU0vsIBxc4GkNM1rkmqn8wpwrabq_YvEgt4K/s200/Carlynn+Berners+Benji+Berners.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0byDIHFzuixMIZLd3gk_ksnADKCzX7tXeQ2SJv2bd0OPUJNNDe5lASkbiCtuoydjIhfOYYyIUQ1U3gDiyYaMNyuK_CkSOJnEnXsMtlWyjL3J-ZR9uhg5jKjeVLzBwAWlfpOlBuqdfZnJ/s1600/Kamden+McCollum+12-30-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgT0byDIHFzuixMIZLd3gk_ksnADKCzX7tXeQ2SJv2bd0OPUJNNDe5lASkbiCtuoydjIhfOYYyIUQ1U3gDiyYaMNyuK_CkSOJnEnXsMtlWyjL3J-ZR9uhg5jKjeVLzBwAWlfpOlBuqdfZnJ/s200/Kamden+McCollum+12-30-12.jpg" width="150" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">I can remember how excited I was
when I turned the pages of my first field guide! I knew there were a lot of birds out there
and, I knew that there were a lot of different birds out there but, I didn't have a clue that there TONS more all around!
I also didn't know that they came in so many shapes and sizes! When
looking at the first pages, I realized immediately I had to learn as much as I
could about as many birds as I could and then find a way to go see them – in
real life. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PYugwKIU6TfX1sWqgBUjn29Qxjh1SOh7Q2CAlPzW3p9Ec-K5GCZxGAMLCzSPjCQXCNz4LqkS3A4x0PikivvAlozTkNRnqNeFQDRzV-h6FHuW5A6ZOGZG4pGDrq0YppbYmZAbnNDMG6Af/s1600/Lorena+and+Serena+packing+guides.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2PYugwKIU6TfX1sWqgBUjn29Qxjh1SOh7Q2CAlPzW3p9Ec-K5GCZxGAMLCzSPjCQXCNz4LqkS3A4x0PikivvAlozTkNRnqNeFQDRzV-h6FHuW5A6ZOGZG4pGDrq0YppbYmZAbnNDMG6Af/s200/Lorena+and+Serena+packing+guides.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">It’s been many years since my
first Peterson’s Guide but, still today I am not sure the sun has ever set
before I have opened the pages to one of my many field guides. Whether I’m using a guide to identify a
specific of bird or simply using it to fantasize about my next adventure – I incessantly
have my nose buried in a field guide. An
entirely new world opened the day I turned the pages of my first guide and I
haven’t looked back since.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkPfonbzeTyApszNwkbg5E6Bp-9HWbo2pWXB8wy6YqBX6IDR1arfCZdLKXrLIhrqPpibnnYRo5FAt9zcoUnctBVr5xZsrwq35Wlz4I-79yB8qbLZUu4q1drvT7rVmCOn4TIIzCYJqlvuT/s1600/Joshua+and+Mary+Renshaw.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizkPfonbzeTyApszNwkbg5E6Bp-9HWbo2pWXB8wy6YqBX6IDR1arfCZdLKXrLIhrqPpibnnYRo5FAt9zcoUnctBVr5xZsrwq35Wlz4I-79yB8qbLZUu4q1drvT7rVmCOn4TIIzCYJqlvuT/s200/Joshua+and+Mary+Renshaw.jpg" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGGYWmMqTT1u6JJqzbzU2qzrI7ict9opnxYbrWUJQdE61iD4jEHWUXW5SuN3LK2kdLhI2Lxg09x1UcGb4izcXK0-ghN9fe75lWXhoJyPFfP54xSQa3J8KOnCUzcHYMEWh-0P-ocAxE65u/s1600/Naomi+and+Kiana+Vincenti+with+Grandma.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgDGGYWmMqTT1u6JJqzbzU2qzrI7ict9opnxYbrWUJQdE61iD4jEHWUXW5SuN3LK2kdLhI2Lxg09x1UcGb4izcXK0-ghN9fe75lWXhoJyPFfP54xSQa3J8KOnCUzcHYMEWh-0P-ocAxE65u/s200/Naomi+and+Kiana+Vincenti+with+Grandma.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">The </span><b style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;">Indiana Young Birders Club</b><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"> is on a mission to get new field guides
into the hands of any young birder that has a passion for birds and that needs
a field guide to help expand on his/her passion. To date, we've given over 100 field guides
away (free of charge) to young birders/naturalists with a fiery desire to learn
more about birds and we want that number to grow! So, throughout 2013 we will be giving away
field guides at IYBC programs and via our website simply by submitting a short
online essay about birds, a birding adventure, or a favorite bird species. Our only request in return is that each
recipient sends us a picture of themselves showing off their new guide. Simple!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">To learn more about the IYBC 100
Guide Giveaway, to apply for a field guide, or to donate to our field guide
mission, please check us out at <a href="http://www.indianayoungbirders.org/">www.indianayoungbirders.org</a>.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Please help spread the message
about this amazing opportunity!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Happy Birding!!!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"><i>Pictures left to right and top to bottom: Carlynn and Benji B. (top left), Kamden M. (top right), Lorena and Serena W. (middle), Naomi and Kiana V. and Grandma (bottom left), Joshua and Mary R. (bottom right)</i></span></div>
Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-56976382032341436732013-02-08T18:35:00.002-08:002013-02-08T18:35:07.112-08:00Salamonie Eagle Watch<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Dypa8tUvKTYOAzTPgomKrKZe4sh2lF86NV4C_B81wyXMPy4al3ufic1pV2OjfQCSYdEgbQeVhkvOgX1wvIt3nmQcgKiVPeMxg4ADakz26CHcmCdUKVp1UC4_OchkBtk8-hJHgtoN3TMD/s1600/Eagle+Watch+Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Dypa8tUvKTYOAzTPgomKrKZe4sh2lF86NV4C_B81wyXMPy4al3ufic1pV2OjfQCSYdEgbQeVhkvOgX1wvIt3nmQcgKiVPeMxg4ADakz26CHcmCdUKVp1UC4_OchkBtk8-hJHgtoN3TMD/s1600/Eagle+Watch+Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Dypa8tUvKTYOAzTPgomKrKZe4sh2lF86NV4C_B81wyXMPy4al3ufic1pV2OjfQCSYdEgbQeVhkvOgX1wvIt3nmQcgKiVPeMxg4ADakz26CHcmCdUKVp1UC4_OchkBtk8-hJHgtoN3TMD/s1600/Eagle+Watch+Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: Segoe UI, sans-serif;">By Alexandra Forsythe</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Dypa8tUvKTYOAzTPgomKrKZe4sh2lF86NV4C_B81wyXMPy4al3ufic1pV2OjfQCSYdEgbQeVhkvOgX1wvIt3nmQcgKiVPeMxg4ADakz26CHcmCdUKVp1UC4_OchkBtk8-hJHgtoN3TMD/s1600/Eagle+Watch+Picture.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2Dypa8tUvKTYOAzTPgomKrKZe4sh2lF86NV4C_B81wyXMPy4al3ufic1pV2OjfQCSYdEgbQeVhkvOgX1wvIt3nmQcgKiVPeMxg4ADakz26CHcmCdUKVp1UC4_OchkBtk8-hJHgtoN3TMD/s320/Eagle+Watch+Picture.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Alexandra (left), Lynnanne Fager (center)</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
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<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
If you've never attended an Eagle Watch, you’re really missing
out! In Indiana, we are fortunate to have several Eagle Watch locations
across the state from Turkey Run to Mississinewa. During these events,
you learn more about eagles, visit roosting sites, and if the conditions are
right, you may see dozens of eagles in one location.</div>
</span></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="ecx" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span class="ecx1"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">This year, I was fortunate enough to help at the Salamonie Eagle
Watch event on February 2 and 3. I created interactive display/quiz
boards about Bald Eagles to entertain and educate the visitors. </span></span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ecx" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span class="ecx1"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="ecx" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span class="ecx1"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">Despite the hazardous road conditions, we had a huge
turnout. We even had some familiar faces: Don and Terri Gorney! The
eagles did not disappoint; dozens of eagles were happy to pose for the
cameras. For up close and personal viewings of Bald Eagles, Zach Walker
from Of Wings of Eagles brought Belle (an education eagle), and Soarin’ Hawk
Raptor Rehab brought Jefferson for his debut as an education eagle.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="ecx" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="ecx" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span class="ecx1"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">Be sure to attend an Eagle Watch program. You won’t be
sorry!</span></span><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: "Segoe UI","sans-serif"; font-size: 5.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="ecx" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span class="ecx1"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="ecx" style="background-color: white; margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; text-align: left;">
<span class="ecx1"><span style="color: #2a2a2a; font-family: 'Segoe UI', sans-serif;">Photo provided by Alexandra Forsythe.</span></span></div>
<br />Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-12764645351867450582013-01-27T16:27:00.000-08:002013-01-27T16:27:27.357-08:00IYBC Saw-whet Owl Trip!By Ceth Williams<br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxeWeSgKUeuBs2RKUwqZEQC1Obx8GW1tRIzXbG4ngPzvK3m7jvZVWvhQ09olLIL9o4UQADGeoVsiiVZ_CvWAJ0yPA1u4Ma3qUFx9wADCCDtzyh2E7P-plWmkF1MNXOtrk6D_GIgb9GCAH/s1600/Saw-whet+Owl+Ceth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLxeWeSgKUeuBs2RKUwqZEQC1Obx8GW1tRIzXbG4ngPzvK3m7jvZVWvhQ09olLIL9o4UQADGeoVsiiVZ_CvWAJ0yPA1u4Ma3qUFx9wADCCDtzyh2E7P-plWmkF1MNXOtrk6D_GIgb9GCAH/s320/Saw-whet+Owl+Ceth.jpg" width="240" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">On January the 19<sup>th</sup>
the Indiana Young Birders took a trip to Lafayette, Indiana to the property of
Dr. Delano Arvin to take a couple of hikes around the woods to see Saw-whet
Owls. These owls are one of the tiniest owls in the world so we were very
excited to them. First, we hiked up to the top of a hill where an owl was
resting in a grove of pine trees. It was hard to see, but it was still cool. In
the next spot we went there was an owl right in the open making it very easy to
get pictures. There was also another owl further back in the woods.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8WNy2Ru5HYjgDeAe13Rn72QcYjaq9JDJYx7IOeGP0G4RBLsWVssAeXnDpmrJ2msYVF1EJ2h2gwa0I2_BZEsc_7aVq0tuGq0_SE-9dpEM-NcF7dy2axTVrzbUdAsBgQAroD20IjHfLu5d/s1600/Barred+Owl.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK8WNy2Ru5HYjgDeAe13Rn72QcYjaq9JDJYx7IOeGP0G4RBLsWVssAeXnDpmrJ2msYVF1EJ2h2gwa0I2_BZEsc_7aVq0tuGq0_SE-9dpEM-NcF7dy2axTVrzbUdAsBgQAroD20IjHfLu5d/s320/Barred+Owl.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Around thirty people showed
up to see the owls. There were a bunch of kids, but there were also quite a few
adults. The kids got to ride on the gator to go see the Barred Owls because
they would fly off if you walked to see them. We walked to see the Saw-whet’s.
The gator was fun! </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;"> </span><span style="font-size: 14pt;">Sadly enough, my sock
hat got taken off by a branch. But, we turned back around to get it.</span></div>
<o:p></o:p><br />
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpss4YxH_7xO9KqX_Fpai1EASrWeI2T0tefq0EXqpdHfCuPDs0Cux6KBi1Tmfjd9AbELcCkK7FdHT3Lqwrw0dV69yLxQF28dHct7pku_xZiyitgRyT59g_ncmEGOvYNRNiGCJJ3Q53e0h/s1600/Hornet+Nest.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhZpss4YxH_7xO9KqX_Fpai1EASrWeI2T0tefq0EXqpdHfCuPDs0Cux6KBi1Tmfjd9AbELcCkK7FdHT3Lqwrw0dV69yLxQF28dHct7pku_xZiyitgRyT59g_ncmEGOvYNRNiGCJJ3Q53e0h/s320/Hornet+Nest.jpg" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">The pictures of the Saw-whet
Owl at the bottom of the hill were amazing. The little thing was right in your
face. At the top of the hill it was
harder, but I still managed to find a hole and get good shots. It was dark
where the Barred Owls were, but I was still able to get a few pictures. This
property is one of the best places the IYBC visits. There are so many
opportunities to see things you can’t always see together in one place and when
we go we also learn about many other things in the woods.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">IYBC’s next trip there will
be in April. So I hope the experience is as good as it always is and maybe
better. This is really one of the best trips we have taken. I will come and
attend every event. I hope everyone else enjoys it as much as I have.</span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: 14pt;">Pictures (all by Ceth Williams on the Arvin property): (Top) Saw-whet Owl, (Middle) Barred Owl, (Bottom) Hornet Nest.</span></div>
Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-35233493733191917012013-01-11T19:16:00.000-08:002013-01-11T19:16:34.975-08:00Christmas Bird Counts and How Young Birders Can Help Your Local Teams<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sarah Sass</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqG72IE-oAb_JFjX4kECavFvxJSijd_XHEsA8GOtkW2w2YZwcE1JbwR-Tdh8e_5xwg7au_BxeoSIKDq6tzmuNi820n9HFF4QBsm4eUcTktgiRGOT1mDXfXMlKbB4JVIurXp7t_2CeqFfeU/s1600/Sarah+2009.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqG72IE-oAb_JFjX4kECavFvxJSijd_XHEsA8GOtkW2w2YZwcE1JbwR-Tdh8e_5xwg7au_BxeoSIKDq6tzmuNi820n9HFF4QBsm4eUcTktgiRGOT1mDXfXMlKbB4JVIurXp7t_2CeqFfeU/s320/Sarah+2009.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Sarah at her first CBC in 2009</i></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Have
you ever been on a Christmas bird count?
Well, if you haven’t, I highly recommend it. Not just for the sake of birding, but for the
conversation. Christmas bird counts are
a good way to meet other birders who may just be the same age as you or they
may just live near you. Being young
birders, we don’t all have a driver’s licenses.
Therefore, if you don’t have a parent into birding, it could be quite
hard to get a ride to a birding hotspot such as Goose Pond. Getting to know another birder that lives
near you could help you get out to enjoy some of the birds that you may not
have another opportunity to see.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">One
reason that young birders are needed on Christmas bird counts is </span><span style="line-height: 18px;">that we offer great eyesight and excellent hearing.</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> Having young birders like
us on the team can help to increase the number of birds that your team either
sees or hears. So don’t hesitate to find
out when a team near you will head out for a full day of birding.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtmbUGvqikevZOVVVPo2B4RJ5DJCpFnjH9U488S0VG00AxQhUmTpx7QRebVG6IWXY91fmS2bG_NS2No_7UoQENchyR26-ZZQtbZAeSDvNb24iTSSnWQ5dGCHbN8iHAvEReJ4vu9KhLvC5/s1600/Lindsey+and+Sarah+Sass.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRtmbUGvqikevZOVVVPo2B4RJ5DJCpFnjH9U488S0VG00AxQhUmTpx7QRebVG6IWXY91fmS2bG_NS2No_7UoQENchyR26-ZZQtbZAeSDvNb24iTSSnWQ5dGCHbN8iHAvEReJ4vu9KhLvC5/s320/Lindsey+and+Sarah+Sass.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<i>Lindsey and Sarah Sass in 2012</i></div>
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<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;">
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">When
you do meet a birder to hang out with while in the field, don’t be afraid to
start a conversation, whether it’s about birds, family, or even yourself. Birders love to hear birding
stories, and even how that person started birding. It’s important that you feel comfortable with
the group that you are with, because on Christmas bird counts, you need to work
as a group to spot things. In many cases,
you will need to shout out the birds that you think you see or hear so your
group can clarify and count. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Many
Christmas bird counts have what’s called a compiling party at the end. At a compiling party, all of the teams in
that particular count will get their data recorded. From what I just told you, the compiling
party may sound kind of boring, but before you get your data recorded all of
the birders get to hang out, tell stories, and eat some food. It’s kind of like a small potluck. All of the birders bring food to share at the
party. You can meet even more
birders! There are plenty out there, and
compiling parties are one of the best places to meet other birders. So never
overlook the compiling party. </span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18px;">So, when our birding mentors are no longer around, </span></span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">we young birders will need to step
in and carry on what the last generation did.
It is best to start birding at a young age to have more experience. I started birding when I was eight years old,
and I have been into walking and the outdoors since I was only two years
old! My life list has 251 species on it,
and my last life bird, the Merlin, I got on a Christmas bird count. I have participated in four Christmas bird
counts just this season, and I have <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=5221211004658034104" name="_GoBack"></a>enjoyed every one of
them. That’s the basic information about
Christmas bird counts and why young people like us need to get involved in Christmas
bird counts.</span><span style="font-size: large; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br />Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-78452063618324026802012-12-27T16:17:00.002-08:002012-12-27T16:17:52.822-08:00Birding Without Binoculars!By Landon Neumann<br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Have you ever birded without
binoculars?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Well, two months ago I had
the experience of birding without binoculars.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">You’re probably wondering why I didn’t bring my binoculars when I went
birding.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Well, it was actually on
accident.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">I had been gathering my gear
together for the morning before I was to meet up with a local birder to go
birding with and when we pulled into the first spot I realized I had forgotten
my binoculars. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Being already eight
o’clock I didn’t want to go back even though the other birder said we could go
back, so I birded without binoculars.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Luckily, I had my scope and camera
with me, so I wasn’t entirely without optics.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">At the spot we began at we had birds like White-throated and White-crowned
Sparrows; however, most of the birds were fairly close, so identifying these
birds was too hard of a challenge even without binoculars.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">After birding at our first stop, which was
France Park, we sent off for Georgetown Rd. Being late fall it was fairly quiet
until we came across a mixed flock that involved your basic woodland birds such
as: Carolina Chickadees, Tufted Titmouse, White-breasted Nuthatch, Downy
Woodpecker and so on. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">After
watching</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">the flock</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">for a few minutes I noticed a woodpecker
flying away from a tree about twenty feet from me, I yelled out, “ Yellow
Bellied Sapsucker.” After that I thought, “Did I really just identify that
woodpecker that was flying away from me from a distance without using binoculars?”</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Within five minutes we found the sapsucker
again, which turned out to be a nice adult.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">The moral of the story is that
sometimes birding without binoculars can make you a better birder because it
can train you to recognize subtle field marks and behavior in birds that you
might otherwise take for granted when using binoculars.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">Hopefully you will try to bird without binoculars
sometime.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 200%; text-indent: 0.5in;">It can be rewarding and fun,
but I still enjoy using binoculars when I go birding.</span>Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-81962156588205684512012-11-25T15:53:00.002-08:002012-11-25T15:53:27.197-08:00An Indiana Invasion! By Landon Neumann<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwKZoMSZoe-s6cAbeKEbeQ4diDzbnvyy69K7P2cfIcGAxUSdf9Dsrlpq2pWDWcD0BfXDPA-7LwLEolKZaE639odQmw0muyAvtKlNHLRnEI9U8b_J7f2CwRIuwM4Gny4LMzTC1afxa8KHA/s1600/Landon+Neuman.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHwKZoMSZoe-s6cAbeKEbeQ4diDzbnvyy69K7P2cfIcGAxUSdf9Dsrlpq2pWDWcD0BfXDPA-7LwLEolKZaE639odQmw0muyAvtKlNHLRnEI9U8b_J7f2CwRIuwM4Gny4LMzTC1afxa8KHA/s320/Landon+Neuman.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
Fall birding is always lot of
fun. It’s even cooler when you have the
chance to see birds that rarely come south to Indiana come down in large
numbers for the winter. Two weeks ago I had the chance to go up to the
lakefront to witness the spectacular winter finch and Bohemian Waxwing display
that has been going on this fall. It
was an amazing day of birding.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 200%;">
A friend of mine had wanted to go
up to the lakefront this November, so on November 10<sup>th</sup> we left
bright and early to drive up to the lakefront to meet up with some local
birders to bird with. We were hoping to
see Bohemian Waxwings and Evening Grosbeaks.
Both of these birds are pretty rare in Indiana except during invasion
years like this year. After meeting up
with the group our group headed over to Johnson Beach to look for Bohemian
Waxwings that had been reported there.
At the beach we didn’t have much, so we moved on to Ogden Dunes where
waxwings, crossbills, and a Townsend’s Solitaire had been reported. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5ZzP-eb2GyZlxV63Grj4zbhNm8nOUhflNsNUK7QBd_SmMosZAA0b0xo4gbYUpvMDVxExqy47FtTC-wZ5tTFvXqhsFrC5L5NnI4f7l-ZNx9Bu0rk8zKbITic7_JqRfZA_ny-hrtOOQlqV/s1600/Townsends+Solitaire.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgU5ZzP-eb2GyZlxV63Grj4zbhNm8nOUhflNsNUK7QBd_SmMosZAA0b0xo4gbYUpvMDVxExqy47FtTC-wZ5tTFvXqhsFrC5L5NnI4f7l-ZNx9Bu0rk8zKbITic7_JqRfZA_ny-hrtOOQlqV/s320/Townsends+Solitaire.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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As we arrived at Ogden Dunes a birder
had re-found the Solitaire, so our group rushed over to look at this western
thrush that shows up in Indiana every now and then. After we had gotten good looks at the
Solitaire we ascended up a dune, so that we could watch for waxwings and
crossbills fly over the pinerys<a href="" name="_GoBack"></a>. For the next half an hour we enjoyed frequent
flyover White-winged Crossbills with the occasional Red Crossbill flying right
above our heads. Then it happened. As we enjoyed our latest crossbill flock we
saw two large waxwings fly into the tree.
A quick scan revealed them to be Bohemian Waxwings! For the birders on top of the dune it felt
like Christmas day. Everyone was giving
each high-five as we celebrated. After
another fifteen minutes we went down the dune and enjoyed a Red-throated Loon swimming
on the lake. Just to top the day off we
next went to Indiana Dunes State park where there had been Evening Grosbeaks at
the feeders and within fifteen minutes we had thirty-one Evening Grosbeaks
pigging out at the park’s feeders. </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0Q8X4lW53PFRgCJ6ud789PUzhHhbS-XOJHLZys3NpYfhihbhL31R350XtFkAswFj4Qe5YxQ5FcmwREpPUA6RkvqJ98g3RFRlY6JdSMCsb12W6zo9SMIbx8c6V-lIjYHHpE-aOAfNLgy-/s1600/Evening+Grosbeak.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgD0Q8X4lW53PFRgCJ6ud789PUzhHhbS-XOJHLZys3NpYfhihbhL31R350XtFkAswFj4Qe5YxQ5FcmwREpPUA6RkvqJ98g3RFRlY6JdSMCsb12W6zo9SMIbx8c6V-lIjYHHpE-aOAfNLgy-/s320/Evening+Grosbeak.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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After a quick lunch we conducted a lakewatch
to try to find some Cave Swallows. We didn’t get any swallows or really any
birds for that matter but, it didn’t really matter because we had already seen
Bohemian Waxwings (a lifer for me), and Evening Grosbeaks in Indiana! It will be a day I will always remember.</div>
Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5221211004658034104.post-28963564418216265012012-11-04T05:46:00.003-08:002012-11-04T05:46:22.106-08:00“How Nightshade Changed My Life”<br />
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 17px;"><i>By Alexandra Forsythe</i></span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">They say every birder has
a "spark" bird - a bird that captures your heart and transforms you
from a bird watcher into a birder. My spark bird was a Northern Saw-Whet
Owl that I named "Nightshade".<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I had the honor of
meeting Nightshade during the Northern Saw-Whet Owl banding program at the
Indiana Dunes State Park last year.
Nightshade was one of the owls caught that night. Unlike the other captured owls, Nightshade fought
ferociously and managed to get herself very tangled in the net. The net had to be cut in order to free
her. I admired her spirit and asked to
adopt her. Visitors who adopt the
captured owls are kept informed of their owl's travels if they are captured
again. Plus, the adoption fees help the
Dunes continue to learn more about the owls.
It's an incredible program; you get such a feeling of satisfaction
knowing you're helping not just one owl, but an entire species!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">Nightshade, in owl
fashion, spun my head around and turned me into a birder. I started
looking for birds everywhere I went and thinking about birds almost
obsessively. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">I also realized that I
wanted to help others appreciate and learn more about owls and other
birds. I created a PowerPoint presentation about Northern Saw-Whet Owls
that I had the honor of presenting during two of the Dunes' banding
programs. I also wrote some booklets and
created pamphlets that are available as free downloads on the Resources page of
my website: MidwestBirdWatching.com.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Arial","sans-serif"; font-size: 13.0pt; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman";">In addition, I am giving
a presentation on North American Owls at Pokagon State Park's Nature Center
where I work as a volunteer helping visitors identify and learn more about
birds. I designed the owl program so that
people of all ages will enjoy it, from quizzes that test your ability to
identify the owls of North America to crafts, worksheets, and prizes for the
kids. It will be at 1:00pm on November
11.<br />
<br />
I'm hoping people will come to the programs at the Dunes and Pokagon as curious
visitors, but leave with a lifelong appreciation of birds. I think Nightshade would agree!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Indiana Young Birders Clubhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14171482652189839634noreply@blogger.com0