Join me on April 27th at 7:30 a.m. to see what birds we can find at our Wildlife Sanctuary. A total of 147 species of birds have been recorded at our Wildlife Sanctuary. Here is a link to the Sanctuary’s eBird illustrated checklist: EBird

Dress for the weather. Wear sturdy shoes. Some trails may be muddy, and some trails are hilly. Our Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 59395 Clover Rd., Mishawaka, Indiana, south of George Wilson Park.

The date of the sale is Saturday, April 20th; the time is 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. This sale supports our operating account to provide funds for education programs, sanctuary maintenance, newsletter publication, and other ongoing expenses.

The ways you can help:

(1) Donate. As you put away the holiday decorations and begin or continue your spring cleaning, set aside those unneeded, unused, unwanted items for our sale. Donations can be delivered to St. Patrick’s County Park on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (April 17th to 19th).

(2) Work on the setup. Volunteers are needed to help unload cars as donations arrive, carry items from the pricing area to sale tables, and tidy up as we go. One or two hours of energy by 30 people goes further than 30 hours by 2 people. No experience necessary – we train!

(3) This way to help requires no energy… spread the word. Tell your friends, relatives, and neighbors; the more shoppers, the merrier! And, we welcome donations from nonmembers as well.

(4) The Bake Sale. Alice Bentley runs a terrific bake sale with donations of breads, brownies, cookies, pies, and other pastries from our members.

More details will be coming next month. For now, just plan, collect, and spread the word. If you need more information, email treasurer@sbeaudubon.org

Our April 2024 membership meeting will be held on Sunday, April 14 th at 2:00 p.m. at the Rum Village Park Nature Center in South Bend. Our speaker will be Janet McGowan. She is a well-known local naturalist and former Audubon Leaves editor. Her program is titled, “How Native Plants Bring Your Garden (and the Birds) to LIFE!” This is the same program she was scheduled o present at our January 2024 membership meeting, which unfortunately was canceled due to inclement weather. For more details on the specifics of her program, one can review the article about it from the December 2023-January 2024 Audubon Leaves.

As always, the general public is welcome to attend our membership meetings. Bring a friend, enjoy some refreshments, view through the center’s floor-to-ceiling windows a variety of woodland birds feasting on the park’s many feeders, and learn from Ms. McGowan how to incorporate native plants in your landscape to attract more birds. Hope to see you there!

Woodcock Walk, Timberdoodle Trek, Bogsucker Bonanza!

This fascinating shorebird has several names, and on Saturday, April 1st at 8:00 p.m. we will meet at Potato Creek State Park to observe its mating display. The American Woodcock’s mating display is called a "sky dance." The male walks around the ground emitting a nasal "peent" call then rises 250 to 300 feet in the air, descending in a spiral while making a twittering sound with his wings.

Where to meet: turn left at the fork past the gate house then take the first right off the main road at the sign for Deer Meadows. Continue straight past the restroom to where the road dead ends. We will park in the lot that is west of the playground.

For those of you using Google Maps, here is a pin drop for the parking location:

North Liberty 41.543924, -86.363847 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/DqC48XGtDzLrKaEg7).

There is a gate fee to get into the park. Dress for the weather. The short walk we take may be muddy. Any questions, contact Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

We will resume our Wednesday evening walks at our wildlife sanctuary this month.

Join us for a relaxing stroll on March 27th at 6:00 p.m. to see what interesting things we can find. Perhaps we will find some very early spring migrants or some winter hangers-on. Some spring ephemerals may be blooming.

Wear sturdy shoes. The trails may be muddy. Dress for the weather.
Our wildlife sanctuary is located at 59395 Clover Rd., Mishawaka, Indiana (dropped pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ELfUApBeyhnjNzwC6).

On March 23rd we will head to the Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area’s Grande Marsh in LaPorte County. The Grande Marsh is host to large flocks of waterfowl.

For those of you wanting to carpool or caravan, meet at the north end of the Kohl's parking lot on Ireland Road at 7:45 a.m. It is about a half-hour drive to Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area from there.

For anyone wishing to meet at Kingsbury, we will be here: 41.509192,-86.581797, https://maps.app.goo.gl/oss62RtBr8zjHtcJ7. We should arrive there from South Bend at approximately 8:15-8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time).

 Dress for the weather. I will have a spotting scope, but if you have your own, you may want to bring it. I will also have binoculars but bring your own if you have them. There are no restroom facilities readily available at the Grande Marsh.

 Any questions, contact Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org 

Our March 2024 membership meeting will be held on Sunday, March 10th at 2:00 p.m. at the Elkhart Conservation Club at 5515 Riviera Drive in Elkhart, Indiana.

Our speaker will be Ms. Whitney Yoerger, Communications and Outreach Manager for Indiana Audubon. Ms. Yoerger has a special interest in bird songs and will be doing a program exploring bird songs and how birders can incorporate sound into their birding adventures, including recording options and the ever-growing use of the Merlin app. She will also discuss Indiana Audubon’s “Chasing Melody Wood Thrush” project, an effort to help keep that particular bird’s renowned vocalizations in our woodlands for all to enjoy. 

Ms. Yoerger will be traveling to Elkhart from Indianapolis to present her program. She is excited to share her love of bird songs, and Wood Thrushes, with our members! In advance of our membership meeting, one can find an excellent article online written by Whitney, titled “On Listening and Field Recordings,” at www.abrushwithbirds.com, dated July 13, 2021.

As always, the general public is welcome to attend our membership meetings, so bring a friend and learn how to enhance your birding experiences as you listen to Ms. Yoerger’s program all about bird songs. Hope to see you there!

Join us on February 17th at 9:00 a.m. (Eastern Time) at Lydick Bog Nature Preserve, where we will collaborate with Shirley Heinze Land Trust to count the birds at this property for the Great Backyard Bird Count. Lydick Bog is located at 25898 US-20 in South Bend, Indiana. You need not be an expert birder to participate in this event. Everyone is welcome. Dress for the weather. Wear sturdy shoes.

Google map link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/gC6gZvAiWj524S4d8

Questions: fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

For more information about the Great Backyard Bird Count, visit www.birdcount.org

Our February membership meeting will be held on Sunday, February 11th at 2:00 p.m. at the Rum Village Park Nature Center in South Bend. Our speaker will be Wayne Richard Pope. Mr. Pope is an adjunct associate professor of photography at Lansing Community College. A self-described “avid bird photographer,” he teaches a variety of classes, one of the most popular being “Nature Photography with a Smartphone." He lives with his wife, Donna, in Okemos, Michigan, near Michigan State University. 

Mr. Pope recently published a book entitled Birds of Michigan. He will be sharing photos from his book, as well as bird pictures he has taken in Indiana’s St. Joseph and Marshall counties, for the program he is calling “Birds of Michiana.” Copies of his book will be available for purchase at our meeting. The price will be $60.00, cash or credit card only, for an autographed copy.

Please join us to see some beautiful, colorful photos of birds from our area by this author, teacher, and professional photographer. Maybe he’ll even give us some tips on how to better use our own smartphone cameras!

Join us on February 10th at 9:00 a.m. when we walk around the lakes at Notre Dame in search of waterfowl. Dress for the weather. Some trails may be slippery or muddy.

We will meet in the northeast corner of Lot D6. This lot is the north lot off Dorr Rd.
Google map link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PzyqayhQd3yagf296

Questions: fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org

Note: Our January meeting has been cancelled due to the cold temperatures, wind chill, and lingering snow.

Our January membership meeting will be held on Sunday, January 14th at 2:00 p.m. at the Rum Village Park Nature Center in South Bend.

Our speaker will be local naturalist Janet McGowan, appearing on behalf of the local non-profit organization, Wild Ones. Her program is titled “How Native Plants Bring Your Garden (and the Birds) to LIFE!". She will explain the many benefits of using native plants in our yards and gardens. She will discuss the ways native plants support healthy soils, climate, pollinators, and humans, while giving special attention to how critical they are for our precious birds. She will also share how and why native plants save gardeners time, money, and effort as they join a grassroots effort to support native ecosystems. She will also provide some tips on finding native plants for your landscape, and resources for garden planning and design.

Ms. McGowan is excited to share her knowledge with our members. We have personally seen her doing programs at the Wild Birds Unlimited store in Granger and can attest that she is an excellent speaker. Please join us!

Join us for a nice break from the winter doldrums! On January 13, 2024 at 9:00 a.m. we will have a Big Sit at our wildlife sanctuary. We will have a fire in the woodstove and watch the feeder birds. There are already Red-breasted Nuthatch & Pine Siskin at the sanctuary. The finch network has predicted a good winter for winter finches in our area. There will be hot chocolate and snacks available. Please dress for the weather and bring a chair.

 Our wildlife sanctuary is located at 59395 Clover Rd., Mishawaka, IN. Questions, please contact:
fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

The South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Society and the Elkhart County Parks are calling upon volunteers for the annual Elkhart County Christmas Bird Count, which will be held on Saturday, December 30, 2023.

Volunteer bird counters can participate two ways: 

Field Observers will be assigned an area and given maps to count birds within a designated part of Elkhart County. Teams will bird by car and foot from dawn to dusk. Participants should dress for the weather and bring binoculars and field guides. Field observers will meet at Ox Bow House Shelter in Ox Bow County Park on Saturday, December 30th at 7:30 a.m. Ox Bow County Park is located at 23033 County Road 45 in Dunlap. Field sections can also be assigned prior to the date.

Feeder Counters can count birds in their yards. Participants must count the highest number of each species seen at once in their yard on that day. Feeder counts can take place during any amount of time and counters are welcome to count all birds seen from their yard, especially along waterways.

The Elkhart County count circle extends from the state line on the north end to Waterford Mills on the south end, and includes the towns of Bristol, Middlebury, Goshen, and the eastern portion of Elkhart. The center of the 7.5-mile radius for the count circle is the intersection of County Roads 18 and 23.

Bird watchers are encouraged to contact Ronda DeCaire with the Elkhart County Parks at (574) 535-6458 or rdecaire@elkhartcounty.com to register their name, address, phone number, and email to receive further directions for the bird count.

Help wanted!

We need both feeder counters and field observers for the South Bend Christmas Bird Count, to be held on Saturday, December 16th. This circle is centered on downtown South Bend and extends out 7.5 miles in each direction covering a variety of habitat.

Please contact Lindsay Grossmann at lindsay.grossmann@sbeaudubon.org or (574) 807-4443 to sign up! Volunteers of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to take part in this traditional event.

You can also go to the following page for more information and to sign up:
https://www.sbeaudubon.org/christmas-bird-count.

Our annual holiday potluck dinner will be Sunday, December 10th at 1:00 p.m. at the Elkhart Conservation Club. Please bring a dish to share prior to 1:30 p.m. Roasted turkey will be provided; the cost of this is shared. Beverages will also be provided. After food and conversation, we will have a slide show of our members' nature photographs from the past year. Please bring your photos on a flash drive. Next year's budget will also be presented to the membership for a vote. 

The Elkhart Conservation Club is located at 55515 Riviera Drive in Elkhart. If anyone is interested in helping to set up tables and chairs and decorate the tables, please join us at 12:00 p.m. Hope to see you there!

The Jasper-Pulaski Fish and Wildlife Area (JPFWA) field trip has normally been our November field trip, but the peak Sandhill Crane count has been a couple weeks later for the last couple of years. On December 2, 2023 we will be traveling to JPFWA to witness the gathering of thousands of Sandhill Cranes. This is one of Indiana's greatest natural spectacles. Approximately an hour before sunset large flocks of Sandhill Cranes kite into JPFWA's Goose Pasture to gab and socialize.

We will start our afternoon at Kiwani Marsh in Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area to look for waterfowl. From there it is approximately 30 minutes to JPFWA. We may make a brief stop along the way to look for a Golden Eagle.

 After viewing the Sandhills we will possibly head for dinner and socializing in North Judson. You may join us for all or any part of our trip. Dress for the weather (layers are best) and bring your binoculars. It is often cold and windy on the Sandhill Crane viewing stand. You may also wish to pack a lunch or snacks. It is a moderate walk from the parking area to the Sandhill Crane viewing area. There is also limited handicapped parking closer to the viewing stand and the viewing stand is handicapped accessible.

Here is our itinerary (all times are EST):

12:30 p.m. – Meet at the north end of Kohl’s parking lot on Ireland and Miami in South Bend for carpooling or to caravan.

1:45 p.m. – Arrive at Kankakee Fish and Wildlife Area Kiwani Marsh, 4320 Toto Rd., North Judson, IN. Here is a pindrop for Kiwani Marsh:
41°15'36.0"N 86°47'24.7"W https://maps.app.goo.gl/rQVSNUuDGTrLfomj8

3:00-3:15 p.m. – Leave Kiwani Marsh for approximately 30-minute drive to JPFWA Sandhill Crane Viewing Area.

3:45-4:00 p.m. – Arrive at JPFWA, 5353 County Road 1650 W., Medaryville, IN.

We will stay at JPFWA until dusk. Sunset is approximately 5:30 p.m. We will then depart for North Judson for possible dinner. Dinner arrangements will be decided the day of the field trip.

Any questions, call, text (text is best), or email me, Carol Goodall: (574) 276-7249, fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

Our November membership meeting will take place on Sunday, November 12th at 2:00 p.m. at the Elkhart Conservation Club (ECC), 55515 Riviera Drive, Elkhart, Indiana 46514.

Our speakers will be Dennis and Andrea Badke from Foxwood Raptor and Wildlife Rehabilitation Center, located in Bristol, Indiana. If Dennis and Andrea’s names seem familiar, that’s because they also presented a program at our April 2023 membership meeting at the ECC. That program was all about owls. A special part of that program were the two live owls that Dennis and Andrea brought as “education ambassadors,” birds that could not be returned to the wild due to injuries sustained prior to their arrival at Foxwood. November’s program will feature some furry, not feathered, “education ambassadors” that Dennis and Andrea will bring and talk all about.

Remember the big, new sign on Riviera Drive that the ECC put up to help guide visitors to their facility. We hope you can make it!

This month will be our final walk for this year. It is already beginning to get dark sooner and once the time changes it will be dark by 6:00 p.m. We will start this month's walk at 5:30 p.m. to give us a little time before dark. 

Join us on October 18th at 5:30 p.m. for a relaxing walk around our wildlife sanctuary. Hopefully we will enjoy some fall color but you never know what interesting things we might find. 

Our wildlife sanctuary is located at 59395 Clover Rd., Mishawaka, Indiana.

SBEAS is teaming up with Indiana Audubon Society and Indiana Land Protection Alliance to host October Big Day walk on October 14th at Ambler Flatwoods in Michigan City, a State Dedicated Nature Preserves. Hikes are also being held at various other locations around the state on the same day. 

Lindsay Grossmann of our chapter will be leading the walk around Ambler Flatwoods, managed by Shirley Heinze Land Trust. The terrain is flat but it may be muddy, especially if there has been a recent rain; come prepared. Birds to be expected include our resident and recently landed winter visitor forest dwellers as well as some late-season migrants such as kinglets, possibly a late warbler or two, and Lindsay’s personal favorite, the Yellow-bellied Sapsucker (a special effort will be made for them)!  

Registration for the hike is free but required at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2023-october-big-day-hikes-with-ilpa-tickets-704875460477. Please be sure to select the right location! Alternatively, you can email Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org and she will make a reservation for you. Space is limited.

Ambler Flatwoods is located on Meer Road/N600W, which is the first road on your right immediately after the I-94 interchange as you travel on US-20 towards Michigan City. The parking lot will be on the left-hand side of the road approximately 2 miles down.
Dropped pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/TUkxNMGEKrvqwEU16

The walk will begin promptly around 9:00 a.m. CST (that’s 10:00 a.m. for us EST folk).

SBEAS is teaming up with Indiana Audubon Society and Indiana Land Protection Alliance to host October Big Day walk on October 14th at Lydick Bog in St. Joseph County, a State Dedicated Nature Preserves. Hikes are also being held at various other locations around the state on the same day. 

Evie Kirkwood of our chapter will be leading the hike at Lydick Bog, where the terrain is slightly hilly.

Registration for the hike is free but required at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2023-october-big-day-hikes-with-ilpa-tickets-704875460477. Please be sure to select the right location! Alternatively, you can email Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org and she will make a reservation for you. Space is limited.

Lydick Bog is located on US-20/West Lincolnway, just over a mile west of the US-20/US-31 Bypass. The parking lot is on the south side of the road.
Dropped pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/tsgNrguLJgzxkQCj6

The walk will begin promptly at 9:00 a.m. EST.

Please join us for our October membership meeting on Sunday, October 8th at 2:00 p.m. at Rum Village Park’s nature center in South Bend.

Our program speakers will be Linda and Gene Matzat. The Matzats live on 158 acres in St. Joseph County, south of Potato Creek State Park. Linda and Gene met while attending Purdue University. Linda majored in Wildlife Science. Gene studied Agronomy and Agricultural Economics. Their combined work history has involved the Lake County Parks Dept., forestry, Indiana DNR, family farming, Purdue Extension Service, 4-H, and education.

Take a mid-week nature break! Join our naturalist on September 13th at 6:00 p.m. for a relaxing walk around our wildlife sanctuary. You never know what interesting things we might find.

Our wildlife sanctuary is located at 59395 Clover Rd., Mishawaka, Indiana.
Wear sturdy shoes. Dress for the weather. Questions: fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

Join us on September 9th at 8:00 a.m. at Potato Creek State Park, 25601 IN 4 in North Liberty, Indiana to look for fall migrants. 

Where to meet:
After entering the park, take a left past the gatehouse and continue on the main road to the first right at the sign for Deer Meadows Picnic Area. Go straight on this road past the restroom and we will gather in this parking area. There is a gate fee to get into the park. 

Dropped pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/DqC48XGtDzLrKaEg7 

Wear appropriate clothing for the weather and comfortable shoes. Walking will be flat but we may walk in some wet grass. Bring insect repellent, water, and binoculars (if you have them). I will have extra binoculars if you don't have your own. 

You need not be a member to attend our field trips and they are free. All are welcome.

The last days of summer are here and with it comes our last holiday pancake breakfast of the season. Come join us at the Sanctuary (59395 Clover Road, Mishawaka) on Monday, September 4th, from 7:30 to 10:00 a.m. for the Labor Day Pancake Breakfast. We’ll be serving plain, blueberry, and pecan pancakes. Top them off with butter and syrup. Coffee, tea, and milk will help wash them down. Afterwards, stretch your legs with a stroll along the trails. Autumn is in the air and meals taste so much better outside. So, bring your family and friends to enjoy some pancakes. Don’t forget to bring a table service for each of you. Pancakes are free, but a good will offering is appreciated.

 ***Volunteers are needed for this event. If you would like to help with set-up and/or serving pancakes, please contact Heidi or Doug at sanctuary@sbeaudubon.org.

In preparation for our Labor Day Pancake Breakfast on September 4th, we’ll have a work day at the Sanctuary to clean the summer quarters and trim the trails. We’ll meet on Saturday, September 2nd, from 8:30 a.m. to noon. If the cleaning and trimming get done early, we’ll head out and remove some invasive plants. Tools and supplies for working are available, but if you prefer to bring your own gloves or loppers, please do.

Refreshments will be provided. Dress for the weather and working outside.

On August 26th, we will head to the Lake Michigan lakefront in search of shorebirds. We will begin our morning at Washington Park Beach in Michigan City, Indiana and will explore the pier at the Michigan City Lighthouse. If we don’t find any shorebirds there, we have several more options around the lakefront we might explore. We will discuss things as we go. This will be a longer day. It should be a wonderful time to be at the lake and fall migration will have begun.

Meet at 7:30 a.m. eastern time at the far northwest corner of the parking lot in Washington Park Beach. This is the area of the parking lot closest to the lighthouse. The entrance to the park is at City Hall and 100 E. in Michigan City, Indiana.

https://goo.gl/maps/Wb5i7p16rKopKPGP6

There shouldn’t be a gate fee if we get there this early but still be prepared to pay a gate fee. We may also visit other locations which may require a gate fee.

Bring sunscreen, water, and binoculars if you have them. I will have a spotting scope and extra binoculars for us to use. You may also want to bring some snacks. We might find a place to get a bite to eat for lunch. We will decide this on the day of the field trip. Or you may prefer to pack a lunch.

You need not be a member to attend our field trips.

Any questions, feel free to contact Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

Take a mid-week nature break! Join our naturalist Carol on August 16th at 6:00 p.m. for a relaxing walk around our Wildlife Sanctuary. We may find some birds, we may see some flowers and plants, we may find an insect or two. Our main goal is always spending a little time soaking up nature.

Our Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 59395 Clover Rd., Mishawaka, Indiana.

Wear sturdy shoes. Dress for the weather.

Questions: fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

Take a mid-week nature break! Join our naturalist Carol on July 12th at 6:00 p.m. for a relaxing walk around our Wildlife Sanctuary. We may find some birds, we may see some flowers and plants, we may find an insect or two. Our main goal is always spending a little time soaking up nature.

Our Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 59395 Clover Rd., Mishawaka, Indiana.

Wear sturdy shoes. Dress for the weather.

Questions: fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

July 8th, we'll be taking a field trip to Beverly Crone Restoration Area in search of grassland birds. Our target birds on this trip will be Eastern Meadowlark, Henslow's Sparrow, Sedge Wren, Bobolink, and Dickcissel. We will need to get an early start to beat the heat of the day as there is no shade at the property. Trails are gravel and slightly hilly.

Beverly Crone Restoration Area is located at 21448 Jackson Road in South Bend. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the parking area on the corner of Jackson and Locust.

https://goo.gl/maps/tgG9cx8WpyUzkgqz5

Wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellent, and binoculars. There are no restrooms at Beverly Crone Restoration Area.

You need not be a member to attend our field trips.

Any questions, feel free to contact Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

It’s time to celebrate Independence Day!

To start the day off, how about a great breakfast of pancakes? From 7:30 to 10:00 a.m. at our Wildlife Sanctuary, 59395 Clover Rd., Mishawaka, Indiana, we’ll be serving plain, blueberry, and pecan pancakes with butter and syrup. Hot coffee and milk will help wash down those pancakes. Pancakes are free, but donations are welcome. Please bring your own table service.

After all those pancakes, you may want to stretch your legs with a walk along the trails.

Volunteers are needed. (And volunteers get breakfast first!) Please contact Heidi at (574) 339-2675 if you can help.