Frequently Asked Questions
What does the South Bend - Elkhart Audubon Society do?
The South Bend - Elkhart Audubon Society (SBEAS) is a local chapter of the National Audubon Society, which focuses on bird conservation efforts in St Joseph County and Elkhart County. Our mission is to promote stewardship of our natural resources with a special emphasis on birds. We achieve this goal through education, conservation, philanthropy and fellowship with others having similar goals. The following list is just a few of the many ways in which SBEAS meet their mission.
SBEAS owns and maintains a 30+acre wildlife sanctuary for birds and other wildlife.
SBEAS manages the local Christmas Bird Count, the May Count, and Climate Watch programs for St. Joseph County and Elkhart County.
SBEAS regularly engages with students and community members by taking part in science and environmental community events.
SBEAS provides financial support to local schools, churches, and other organizations working on environmental education or conservation efforts through the Woolman-Groet-Miller (WGM) Endowment Fund.
SBEAS provides great educational speakers at our membership meetings, publishes a newsletter for members, and organizes monthly field trips to local birding hotspots.
What are the benefits of being a member?
As a member of SBEAS, you are supporting conservation of birds right here in St. Joseph and Elkhart Counties. We spend your membership dues on conservation projects, education, and advocacy. You also receive our newsletter 8 times a year - this has news about the society and informative articles about birds and more!
In addition, you can gain access to our 30+ acre wildlife sanctuary in Mishawaka.
Should I renew with National Audubon Society or the South Bend - Elkhart Audubon Society?
When you join the SBEAS, you receive a complimentary one-year membership to the National Audubon Society. After that, you can choose to either renew with the National Audubon Society, SBEAS, or both.
If you renew with National, you will continue to receive the Audubon magazine as well as our local Leaves newsletter.
If you renew locally, you will no longer receive the magazine, but your membership dues will stay local here in the area to fund our mission. You will continue to receive the local Leaves newsletter.
Many members contribute to both organizations - the National Audubon Society does incredible work at the federal level, and that is powered by membership dues.
I don’t get around very well, are there still events for me?
Yes! Our membership meetings are lecture-style, in handicapped-accessible facilities. In addition, some of our field trips are on flat, easily hiked ground that makes it easy for anyone to join. We communicate the terrain in advance of our field trips. Finally, once a year, we do a “big sit” event at our sanctuary, where we just sit and watch the birds without moving at all!
What goes on at a meeting?
Each membership meeting begins with a message from our President, interesting bird sightings, announcements, and committee reports from committee chairs. We then break for a coffee and homemade sweets.
After our break we have a presentation from a guest speaker on an environmentally related topic, usually focused on birds. This is a great educational opportunity for members to learn and meet regional bird activists, researchers, and enthusiasts.
I found an injured bird, what should I do?
If you find an injured bird, follow Cornell Lab’s instructions here. This web page also includes instructions for what to do if you find a dead bird. As a society we are unable to accept dead or injured birds.
A list of wildlife rehabilitators in Indiana is located at the following link from Indiana DNR Fish and Wildlife. [PDF Link]
Do you know what kind of bird this is?
Spotting a new, mysterious bird is very exciting, but it can be challenging to identify. You are welcome to email pictures, audio clips, videos, and descriptions of birds to our Education Chair at education@sbeaudubon.org. There are several other great resources that can help you identify birds. See the list below:
Merlin Bird ID App. This is a FREE bird identification guide by Cornell Lab which can be used in the field on your phone. The app can be downloaded on iPhones using the Apple Store, and can be downloaded on Android phones using the Google Play Store.
How can I be more involved in the society?
We are always interested in more involvement from our members. Please see our Volunteer page for details on how you can contribute.