On November 1st we will see what birds we can find at Cobus Creek County Park in Elkhart. Cobus Creek has a nice, relatively flat, woodland trail and some prairie.

 Meet at Cobus Creek County Park at 9:00 a.m. The park is located at 30680 County Road 8, Elkhart, IN 46514. Google Maps link for pin drop: https://maps.app.goo.gl/iMks5padHsiW55uM9.

 Dress for the weather. Bring binoculars if you have them. If not, I can supply them.

Any questions, email fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

Treat yourself to a mid-week nature break.

Let’s take a walk and see what interesting things we can find. Join me October 15th at 5:30 p.m. at the South Bend-Elkhart Bird Alliance Wildlife Sanctuary. 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. That’s why we will start this month's walk at 5:30 p.m. to give us a little time before dark.

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

On October 4th, meet at 9:00 a.m. at Boot Lake Nature Preserve. Boot Lake is located at 51430 County Road 3 in Elkhart, Indiana. Boot Lake hosts a nice variety of habitat which includes woodland, marsh, and prairie.

Wear sturdy shoes. Bring insect repellent, water, and binoculars, if you have them. I will have extra binoculars if you do not have your own.

You need not be a member to attend our field trips. All are welcome.
Questions, email fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

Take a mid-week nature break! Join me on September 17th 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.

Join us on September 6th at 8:00 a.m. at Potato Creek State Park, 25601 IN-4 in North Liberty, Indiana to look for fall migrants. There is a gate fee to get into the park. 

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. When you enter the picnic area, you will take the first road to the right, then park in the first lot on the left (north side of the road).

We will meet here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/cNQaTx6mSrsvVU9F9

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.

Join us for a relaxing mid-week nature break at 6:00 p.m. We will take a stroll around our wildlife sanctuary to see what interesting things we can find. The trails can often be muddy so wear appropriate shoes. Insect repellent is recommended. Our wildlife sanctuary is located at 59395 Clover Rd., Mishawaka, Indiana.

 All our events are open to members and non-members and all ages are welcome.
Questions, contact Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

We need your help to cover this educational event!

If you are interested in helping, please contact Melissa at education@sbebirdalliance.org or (574) 371-6282. Please indicate the name of the festival you would like to help with as well as the number of hours you are willing to volunteer. Even if you can only volunteer one or two hours of your time, we would still greatly appreciate it!

Riverfest: August 23rd, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. at Riverbend Park, 511 E. Warren St., Middlebury, IN 46540

We will have a booth with informational materials about birds and our organization as well as a bird related activity for the kids to do. Your job is to simply talk to people that visit our booth about birds! If you haven't helped at an event before because you think you don't know enough about birds, do not fear! None of us are bird experts, and it is always acceptable to tell someone you don't know the answer to their very random bird question! Also, you will almost always have another volunteer at the booth with you! 

As always, thank you to everyone that helps to educate and inspire our community about birds.

On August 16th 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. After Michigan City we will most likely head west along the lakeshore with possible stops at Miller Beach and Marquette Park. We will discuss things as we go. This will be a longer day. It should be a wonderful time to be at the lake during fall migration.

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.

We need your help to cover this educational event!

If you are interested in helping, please contact Melissa at education@sbebirdalliance.org or (574) 371-6282. Please indicate the name of the festival you would like to help with as well as the number of hours you are willing to volunteer. Even if you can only volunteer one or two hours of your time, we would still greatly appreciate it!

Envirofest: August 8th, 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at Island Park, 200 E. Sycamore St., Elkhart, IN 46516

We will have a booth with informational materials about birds and our organization as well as a bird related activity for the kids to do. Your job is to simply talk to people that visit our booth about birds! If you haven't helped at an event before because you think you don't know enough about birds, do not fear! None of us are bird experts, and it is always acceptable to tell someone you don't know the answer to their very random bird question! Also, you will almost always have another volunteer at the booth with you! 

As always, thank you to everyone that helps to educate and inspire our community about birds.

Join us for a relaxing mid-week nature break at 6:00 p.m. We will take a stroll around our wildlife sanctuary to see what interesting things we can find. The trails can often be muddy so wear appropriate shoes. Insect repellent is recommended. Our wildlife sanctuary is located at 59395 Clover Rd., Mishawaka, Indiana.

 All our events are open to members and non-members and all ages are welcome.
Questions, contact Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

On July 5th we'll be taking our annual 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. The 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.

Questions, contact Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

On June 28th join us at 8:30 p.m. for a mothing night at our wildlife sanctuary. We will set up a light and a mothing sheet to see what variety of moths and other insects call our wildlife sanctuary home.

Bring a chair and insect repellent. We will provide soft drinks. This is a family event so bring the kids. You need not be a member to attend our events.

Our wildlife sanctuary is located at 59395 Clover Road in Mishawaka, Indiana.
Questions, contact Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

Join us for a relaxing mid-week nature break at 6:00 p.m. We will take a stroll around our wildlife sanctuary to see what interesting things we can find. The trails can often be muddy so wear appropriate shoes. Insect repellent is recommended. Our wildlife sanctuary is located at 59395 Clover Rd., Mishawaka, Indiana.

 All our events are open to members and non-members and all ages are welcome.
Questions, contact Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

On June 21st we will head to Michigan to Mud Lake Bog. Migration has passed and we have reached the summer birding doldrums so this will be more of a botany trip. We may see a few birds. Our main goal on this trip is to see carnivorous plants. Mud Lake Bog is the best place in our area to see these plants because the boardwalk sits right on top of the bog. We will see pitcher plants and both sundews (round-leaved and spatulate-leaved). We may find some orchids blooming. Last year we got lucky, and the orchids were blooming.

 I strongly suggest wearing long sleeves and long pants because poison sumac may overhang the boardwalk in some places, but we will keep a careful eye out for it. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent. There are no restrooms at the bog.

 Meet at Mud Lake Bog, located at 905 E. Elm Valley Road in Buchanan, Michigan at 8:30 a.m. This preserve is only about a 30–45-minute drive from South Bend.

 https://maps.app.goo.gl/JDoCxgd4mXCWunZG6

 You need not be a member to attend our field trips. Questions, contact Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

Memorial Day is upon us so that means pancakes! Come out to the Sanctuary on Monday, May 26th from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. and get some breakfast. We will be serving plain, blueberry, and walnut pancakes with syrup and will have hot coffee, tea, and water. Please remember to bring your own tablewares (plate, mug/cup, silverware).
Donations will be accepted to help fund future projects and manage the Sanctuary. After your bellies are filled, you can walk off the pancakes on our trails with our newest map!
To volunteer, email sanctuary@sbeaudubon.org.

Take a mid-week nature break! Join me on May 21st at 6:00 p.m. for a relaxing walk around our Wildlife Sanctuary. We always hope to see some birds, but you never know what other interesting things we might find.

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

This is open to members and non-members and is free.

On May 10th we will go to Potato Creek State Park in North Liberty, Indiana on another search for neotropical migrants. We will walk the bike trail from the West Lot to Potato Creek. This is a lengthy, somewhat hilly walk but the trail is paved so it makes the trekking easier. Plan to be out most of the morning. Meet at the West Lot at 7:00 a.m. This is the lot at the west end of the lake near the west Osprey nest. It is located here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/eYcgqKeVk9UBWvh7A

Dress for the weather. Wear comfortable shoes. Bring binoculars (if you have them), insect repellent, water, and snacks (if you wish).

This date is also Global Big Day so we will be recording all the birds we see (and hear) to submit to eBird.

As always, our field trips are open to members and non-members and are free, but there is a gate fee to enter the park.

We need your help to cover this educational event!

If you are interested in helping, please contact Melissa at education@sbebirdalliance.org or (574) 371-6282. Please indicate the name of the festival you would like to help with as well as the number of hours you are willing to volunteer. Even if you can only volunteer one or two hours of your time, we would still greatly appreciate it!

Wild Ones Native Plant Sale: May 3rd, 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Pinhook Park, 2801 Riverside Dr., South Bend, IN 46616

We will have a booth with informational materials about birds and our organization as well as a bird related activity for the kids to do. Your job is to simply talk to people that visit our booth about birds! If you haven't helped at an event before because you think you don't know enough about birds, do not fear! None of us are bird experts, and it is always acceptable to tell someone you don't know the answer to their very random bird question! Also, you will almost always have another volunteer at the booth with you! 

As always, thank you to everyone that helps to educate and inspire our community about birds.

On May 3rd we will bird the St. Mary’s Nature Area at St. Mary’s College in Notre Dame, Indiana. The Nature Area trail is a wonderful place to see neotropical migrants in the spring. This will be a lengthy walk, but most of the terrain is flat. The trail along the river can be a little precarious so wear sturdy shoes. Plan to be out most of the morning.
We will meet at 7:30 a.m. in the northwest corner of the parking lot at the end of Madeleva Drive. To get there, turn west off US-31 on Brother Andre Drive (this is the road to the south of The Inn at St. Mary’s). Turn at the first right, which is Madeleva Drive. Madeleva Drive curves around and dead ends near our meetup location. Our meetup place is located here:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/GWfi5eJTE7CRCQiZA

Dress for the weather. Bring binoculars (if you have them), insect repellent, water, and snacks (if you wish).

Our field trips are open to members and non-members and are free.

What: Red Barn Rummage Sale
When: Saturday, April 26th, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Where: St. Patrick’s County Park, Laurel Road, in the Big Red Barn
Who: Everybody - the sale is open to the public
Why: (1) The sale dollars support our operations; (2) We’re helping reuse, repurpose, and recycle; (3) Volunteers have a great time meeting new folks and renewing acquaintances; (4) Bargains, bargains, bargains; (5) You have a good reason to spring-clean and/or downsize. 

Those with good memories will note that this article is very similar to the April article of last year. Why is that? Well, not much changes, except that we get different donations and we add new volunteers to our cadre of repeaters. 

So, Consider Volunteering: You can help with the sale in many ways. On Wednesday morning at 8:00 a.m., we need three to four people to unfold and set up the tables. During setup, on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. all days), we need helpers to unload donors’ cars as they come. We need pricers to tag items with good guesstimates. If you’d like to get your 10,000 steps in (or even just 1,000), we can use your help to take priced items to the appropriate tables. On Saturday, we need people at the sale to add up (tally) the customers’ items and give them a total, bag their stash, and carry heavier items to their cars. We need two cashiers who can make change without the help of a cash register. We need bakers to supply items for the bake sale and an assistant to help the Bake Sale Manager. We need helpers to pack up after the sale (12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.). Any amount of time is helpful, even an hour. We have put together a guide for volunteering for this event. Pick up one at the April 13th membership meeting or email martha.kummerer@sbeaudubon.org to get a copy in PDF. 

And/Or Consider Donating Items: Our sales in the past have seen almost everything; we always are surprised. We have tables assigned for about every category: dishes, glassware, pans, home décor, small appliances, holiday decorations, craft supplies, fabric, towels, curtains, draperies, blankets, bedspreads, toys, books, CDs, DVDs, vinyl records, games, puzzles, sports equipment, yard décor, office supplies, pet items, bird items, candles, framed pictures, luggage, purses, tote bags, shoes, boots, adult clothing, child/baby clothing and equipment, jewelry, clocks, lamps, tools, and more. Many rummage sale shoppers are particularly interested in vintage items; currently, that is anything older than the 1980s. If you need help delivering larger items, call/text (574) 360-7983 and we’ll try to arrange pickup. 

Times for Bringing Donations to the Red Barn South Door:
Wednesday: April 23rd, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday: April 24th, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday: April 25th, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

NOTE FRIDAY TIME: We will close off donations at 1:00 p.m. Friday to allow workers to finish the setup on time.

We will have our first field trip of spring migration at our wildlife sanctuary on April 26th at 7:30 a.m. Unlike the evening “Meet the Naturalist” walks, the main focus of this walk will be birds. Birds are always more active in the early morning hours so we can hope to find a few more species than we do during our evening walks.  

150 species of birds have been recorded at our 34.5-acre wildlife sanctuary. Here is a link to the sanctuary’s eBird illustrated checklist: https://ebird.org/hotspot/L551558/illustrated-checklist.  

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, IN, south of George Wilson Park.

Join me for a relaxing mid-week nature break on April 23rd at 6:00 p.m. We will take a stroll to see what interesting things we can find. We may see some spring migrants. Spring ephemerals should 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.

Our next membership meeting will be Sunday, April 13th at 2:00 p.m. in the Rum Village Park nature center in South Bend. Our speaker will be Amanda Brunson-Cruz, Education Curator from the Conservation Education Department at the Potawatomi Zoo. For her animal ambassador program, she will be bringing wild birds that are either currently being rehabilitated by the zoo or can never be released into the wild due to injuries or having been hand-raised by humans.

The public is always welcome to attend our membership meetings. Invite a friend to join you, meet new people, and enjoy some hot refreshments and delicious treats as you learn about these fascinating creatures. Will Amanda bring a Red-Tailed Hawk, a Barred Owl, an Eastern Screech-Owl, or an American Kestrel? Perhaps a Pied Raven or a member of the parrot family such as a Lesser Sulphur-crested Cockatoo? Only one way to find out, so hope to see you there!

Woodcock Walk, Timberdoodle Trek, Bogsucker Bonanza! This fascinating shorebird has several names, and on Saturday, April 5th 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 (do not turn) 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:
41.543924, -86.363847
https://maps.app.goo.gl/DqC48XGtDzLrKaEg7

 There may be a gate fee to get into the park. Dress for the weather because you never know what kind of weather we may have in April. The short walk we take may be muddy. Any questions, contact Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.  

The St. Mary’s College Campus Canopy Consortium's Living Exhibition will be held on Thursday, April 3, 2025 from 1:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. in Haggar Parlor at Saint Mary's College. This work will showcase some of the South Bend-Elkhart Bird Alliance WGM-funded work from the Birdsong Soundscape last summer.  

This free event is open to everyone and will showcase interdisciplinary research collaborations among students, faculty, staff, and community members that engage with the campus as a living laboratory.  

Please join us for:
·         A series of workshops from students and alumnae
·         A presentation from a local Master Naturalist
·         A multimedia exhibit including an interactive digital map of campus
·         A walking tour
·         Multilingual poetry readings
·         Free taco truck meal tickets for participants (limited availability)!

Our research highlights the visible and invisible benefits of the campus grounds and our 70-year-old dedicated tree program dating back to Sister Madeleva Wolff. Specifically, this event will illuminate the environmental benefits of our campus trees, the birds they host, the stories behind their dedications, and the poetry they inspire.

 This event is made possible with support from a NIPSCO Environmental Awareness Grant and co-sponsorships from Digital Public Humanities, Communication Studies, Environmental Studies, Theatre, and Art.

 No registration is required. A formal schedule of events is forthcoming. If you have any questions, please contact the event organizers: Sally Geislar, sgeislar@saintmarys.edu, or Susan Mancino, smancino@saintmarys.edu.

We will resume our Wednesday evening walks at our wildlife sanctuary this month. Join me for a relaxing stroll on March 26th 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 22nd 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 Fish & Wildlife Area, 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 next membership meeting will be on Sunday, March 9th at 2:00 p.m. at the rustic Elkhart Conservation Club (ECC), 55515 Riviera Dr., Elkhart, IN 46514.

Our speaker will be Brian Flory, Indiana Associate Program Director for Solar United Neighbors. Solar United Neighbors is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (NPO) with 14 state teams, including here in Indiana. It is a community of people striving to build a new energy system with rooftop solar panels as the cornerstone. Brian’s presentation is titled Solar 101. In his program, he will share solar basics, the solar policy landscape in Indiana, and free programs that Solar United offers to help residential households, nonprofit organizations, farms, and small businesses go solar.

The general public is always welcome to attend our membership meetings. Bring a friend, meet new people, and enjoy hot refreshments and delicious treats while learning all about solar power and its benefits. Hope to see you there!

Are you interested in helping with invasive plant species removal? The Izaak Walton League (IWLA) could use your help. This activity is open to members and non-members of the IWLA. It's a great opportunity to see their property. 

This facility on the north side of South Bend is maintained as a nature preserve covering over 120-acres that include grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands; a section of Juday Creek (a unique cold-water trout stream); ponds stocked with fish; hiking trails; and both sides of the St. Joseph River between Darden Road to the north and Cleveland Road to the south. It is a great place for those that enjoy nature and outdoor recreation (for information about this IWLA Chapter facility, see its website at www.ikesb.com). As wonderful as it is, this IWLA facility has a serious problem with non-native invasive plants. Accordingly, the IWLA has commenced with a project to remove non-native invasive plants and replace them with native plants.

The IWLA work days are on Saturdays and will be from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Volunteers that would like to help on these work days will be welcomed.

The target invasive plants to be removed primarily include bush honeysuckle, Oriental bittersweet, autumn olive and multiflora rose. IWLA volunteer project leaders will use chainsaws to cut identified invasive plants and will use a glyphosate herbicide to paint on the cut stumps immediately after cutting the plants. It is expected that most volunteers will likely be needed to help drag the cut branches to designated pile areas, and also to help further cut the branches into smaller pieces in order to reduce the size of the piles. Volunteers should dress for the weather and for outdoor work, and should provide their own work gloves, eye protection, and hearing protection – and should bring their own cutting tools if they have them. Drinking water and snacks will be provided for the volunteers. Please note that volunteers will be required to sign a liability waiver form that lists a contact person in case of an emergency, and volunteers under the age of 18 will be required to have a parent or legal garden sign this form. Also note that this type of work can be physically demanding; therefore, if you have a medical condition that would prevent you from safely doing the work, please consider helping in some other way. 

The IWLA facility is located at 20400 Darden Road, on the north side of South Bend, Indiana. Enter at the main entrance gate on the south side of Darden Road (east of the St. Joseph River) and take the entrance drive over Juday Creek and up the hill to the parking lot by the IWLA lodge. Additional directions to this IWLA Chapter facility can be found on their website at www.ikesb.com.