From the Indiana DNR website: To help birds in affected areas, DNR recommends that residents of the following counties continue to refrain from feeding: Allen, Hamilton, Hendricks, Johnson, Lake, Marion, Monroe, Porter, St. Joseph. Note that Hancock County is no longer on the list.
Birdathon Fundraising Record; Mark Welter's Top 5 Sites for Fall Migration; September Program: Bats of Indiana — and Beyond; October Program: Brown Bears of McNeil River; Field Trips to: Strawtown-Koteewi, McCloud Nature Park, Eagle Creek Park, Lye Creek Prairie Burn — Fall Sparrows, Celery Bog — Waterfowl; Local Bird Hikes and More
From the Indiana DNR website: To help birds in affected areas, DNR recommends that residents of the following counties continue to refrain from feeding: Allen, Carroll, Clark, Floyd, Hamilton, Hancock, Hendricks, Johnson, Lake, Marion, Monroe, Morgan, Porter, St. Joseph, Tippecanoe, Whitley. Residents of other counties may again put out their bird feeders if they are comfortable doing so and are not observing sick or dead birds in their yard. Seed and suet feeders should be cleaned at least once every two weeks by scrubbing feeders with soap and water, followed by a short soak in a 10% bleach solution to keep birds healthy and limit the spread of disease. Hummingbird feeders should be cleaned at least once a week with a 10% bleach solution and rinsed thoroughly.
Our first online program was a great success. 32 people enjoyed a wonderful presentation by Roger Hedge about Indiana's rare plants. Roger is an ecologist and botanist with the Indiana Natural Heritage Data Center in the Division of Nature Preserves, Department of Natural Resources. Roger covered the many reasons plants can be rare in Indiana along with beautiful pictures of many rare plants. Maps showed us where the plants can be found in Indiana and in the US. Some of the plants that are rare in Indiana are not rare elsewhere. Pictured is the prairie plant downy gentian (Gentiana puberulenta). This species is known from several counties in northwest Indiana, and at least one record from far southern Indiana in dry upland woods. As you go west into states with more prairies it becomes more common. Roger briefly discussed some reintroductions. He also shared a few of his anecdotes from time in the field to locate rare plants. Overall it was well done. The attendees saw lots of splendid photos from the bounty of nature in Indiana.
On October 31 Chuck Anderson led an ABAS field trip to Celery Bog Nature Area in West Lafayette. Fourteen birders enjoyed a clear, cool, crisp day. It was 32 degrees at the start. We began birding at a viewing platform and were able to spot and ID 11 duck species highlighted by Redhead and Northern Pintail. Also in view were 14 Tundra Swans, 1 Trumpeter Swan, 3 White-fronted Geese, and 2 Bald Eagles. The group was then taken by a local birder to an area where they were able to get great looks at a red-morph Eastern Screech Owl. Lastly, we shifted closer to the bridge and got close looks of an Eared Grebe, a life bird for several in the group. In all, it was a wonderful morning of birding.
Jeff Canada, one of our fellow Indiana birders, is roasting coffee right here in Indiana. His coffee is Bird-friendy as certified by the Smithsonian. The coffee is quite delicious and the Bird Song Blend benefits ABAS. You can purchase coffee at https://woodwarblercoffee.com/collections/conservation-partner-coffees. Jeff has been roasting coffee since 2017 and it combines his passion for coffee with his passion for birding. Grateful Dead fans might also notice his passion for that group showing up in a few of the names for his coffees. If you have a passion for birds and coffee as well, you might give just give Jeff's coffee a try. We think you'll enjoy it.