Apr
20
to Jul 20

Bendix Meadows Bird Monitoring – Monitoreo de Aves en Bendix Meadows

Volunteers are needed to help count birds at Bendix Meadows starting April 20th through July 20th. Volunteers can monitor the birds weekly, every other week, or whenever they want to help.  

Bendix Meadows is a recognized Important Bird Area (IBA). It is located on the northwest airport property and is a private area. It is about a one mile walk from the parking area to the airport fence and back to your car. It takes about one hour to walk or however long you want to stay there. It has many different habitats, including wooded, prairie-like, and wet areas, so many types of birds can be found. 

If you are interested or have any questions, please send me an email at marjokow@comcast.net

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Necesitamos voluntarios para ayudar a contar aves en Bendix Meadows empezando el 20 de abril hasta el 20 de julio. Los voluntarios pueden observar las aves semanalmente, cada quincena o cuando les sea posible ayudar. 

Bendix Meadows es una reconocida Área Importante de Aves (IBA sigla en inglés). Está ubicada en la propiedad noroeste del aeropuerto y es una zona privada. Hay aproximadamente una milla de distancia entre el estacionamiento y la valla del aeropuerto y lo mismo de regreso a tu auto. Toma cerca de una hora recorrerla o el tiempo que quieras permanecer allí. Tiene muchos hábitats diferentes, entre estos zonas boscosas, praderas y zonas húmedas, por lo que se pueden encontrar muchos tipos de aves. 

Si estás interesado o tienes alguna pregunta, por favor envíame un correo electrónico a marjokow@comcast.net.

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Apr
25
8:00 AM08:00

Red Barn Rummage Sale

  • St Patrick's County Park, South Bend, Indiana (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

When?    Saturday, April 25th, 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Where?  St. Patrick’s County Park, Laurel Road, the Big Red Barn and Pavilion

Who?     Everybody – the sale is open to the public.

Why?   

(1) The 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 deadline to start spring-cleaning and/or downsizing.

Consider Volunteering: You can help with the sale in many ways, no special skills needed. Come and go on your time – no sign up – drop in and stay a while when you drop off donations. Even an hour or two is very helpful. And it is fun. SBEBA volunteers who work three hours are eligible for early shopping on Friday.

During setup on Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday (8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. all days), we need helpers to unload cars as donations arrive. 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. We need pricers to tag items with best guesstimates. On Saturday, we need people at the sale to add up (tally) the customers’ items and give them a total, bag their stash, carry heavier items to their cars, and keep track of items they put in holding. We need bakers to supply items for the Bake Sale. We need helpers to pack up after the sale (12:00 to 2:00 p.m. Saturday). Any amount of time on any day is helpful. We have put together a guide for volunteering for this event; pick one up at the April 12th membership meeting or email martha.kummerer@sbeaudubon.org to get a copy.

Bake Sale Chair Needed: We need someone to take charge of this event, mostly on Saturday during the sale. Alice Bentley has written up detailed information to guide the next chair and there will be an assistant to help. Email Martha at the above address if you can take this job.

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, houseplants, 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. We cannot take sofabeds, large kitchen appliances, cribs, or child carseats. If you need help with larger items, call/text (574) 360-7983 and we will try to arrange pickup.

Times for Donations (dropoff – south door – straight ahead from the entry gate)
Wednesday:    April 22nd, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Thursday:       April 23rd, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Friday:           April 24th, 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 and go home to rest for 7:00 a.m. on Saturday morning.

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¿Cuándo? Sábado, abril 25, de 8:00 a.m. a 1:00 p.m.

¿Dónde? Parque del condado de Saint Patrick, Laurel Road, Big Red Barn y Pavilion

¿Quién? Todos – la venta está abierta al público.

¿Por qué?

(1) El dinero apoya nuestras operaciones;

(2) estamos ayudando a reutilizar, reaprovechar y reciclar;

(3)  los voluntarios pasan un tiempo agradable conociendo gente nueva y reencontrándose con conocidos;

(4) ofertas, ofertas, ofertas;

(5) tú tienes una fecha límite para comenzar la limpieza de primavera y/o reducir tus pertenencias.

Considera ser voluntario: tú puedes ayudar con la venta de varias maneras, no necesitas habilidades especiales. Puedes ir y venir cuando quieras, no es necesario inscribirse, solo pasa y quédate un rato cuando traigas tus donaciones. Una o dos horas ayuda mucho y es divertido. Los voluntarios de SBEBA que trabajen tres horas tienen derecho a comprar con antelación el viernes. 

Durante la preparación en los días miércoles, jueves y viernes (de 8:00 a.m. a 6:00 p.m. cada día), necesitamos ayudantes para descargar los carros con donaciones. Si quieres completar tus 10.000 pasos (o incluso 1.000), puedes ayudarnos a llevar los artículos con precio a las mesas correspondientes. Además, necesitamos personas que etiqueten los artículos con las mejores estimaciones de sus precios. El sábado, necesitamos personas que lleven la cuenta de las compras de los clientes y les den el total, les empaquen sus cosas, lleven artículos pesados a sus carros y tengan en cuenta   los artículos que han sido apartados. Necesitamos panaderos para suministrar productos para la venta de repostería. También requerimos ayudantes para empacar todo después de la venta (el sábado de 12:00 a 2:00 p.m.). Cualquier cantidad de tiempo que puedas ofrecernos es de gran ayuda. Hemos preparado una guía para voluntarios para este evento; recógela en la reunión de membresía del 12 de abril o envía un correo electrónico a martha.kummerer@sbeaudubon.org para obtener una copia. 

Se busca coordinador de la venta de repostería: necesitamos a alguien que se encargue de esta actividad, principalmente el sábado durante la venta. Alice Bentley ha escrito información detallada para guiar al próximo encargado, además habrá un asistente. Si puedes hacerte cargo de esta labor, contacta a Martha al correo electrónico mencionado anteriormente.

Considera donar artículos: anteriormente en nuestras ventas se ha visto casi de todo; siempre nos hemos sorprendido. Nosotros tendremos mesas asignadas para cada categoría de artículos como: vajillas, cristalería, sartenes, decoraciones del hogar, pequeños electrodomésticos, decoraciones festivas, materiales para manualidades, telas, toallas, cortinas, mantas, cubrelechos, juguetes, libros, CDs, DVDs, discos de vinilo, juegos, rompecabezas, equipo de deportes, decoraciones de jardín, plantas de casa, materiales de oficina, artículos para mascotas, artículos para aves, velas, cuadros, maletas, bolsas, bolsos de lona, zapatos, botas, ropa para adultos, equipaje y ropa para bebés/niños, joyería, relojes, lámparas, herramientas y más. Muchos compradores están especialmente interesados en artículos vintage; realmente, eso incluye cualquier cosa anterior a los años 1980. No podemos aceptar sofás cama, electrodomésticos de cocina, cunas ni asientos de automóvil para niños. Si necesitas ayuda con artículos más grandes, llama o envía un mensaje de texto al (574) 360-7983 y trataremos de coordinar la recogida. 

Horario para donaciones (punto de entrega – puerta sur – justo al frente de la entrada principal) 
Miércoles:        22 de abril, de 8:00 a.m. a 6:00 p.m.
Jueves:              23 de abril, de 8:00 a.m. a 6:00 p.m.
Viernes:            24 de abril, de 8:00 a.m. a 1:00 p.m.

NOTA SOBRE EL HORARIO DEL VIERNES: cerraremos la recepción de donaciones a la 1:00 p.m. del viernes para permitir que los trabajadores terminen la preparación a tiempo y puedan irse a casa a descansar para las 7:00 a.m. del sábado.

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Sep
19
to Sep 20

Michiana Bonsai Show

  • Wellfield Botanic Gardens (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The Michiana Bonsai Show will be held at Wellfield Botanic Gardens in Elkhart on September 19th and 20th. There will be no cost, other than entry to the gardens, to attend. More information will be available in the future. You might want to check out the club’s website: Michianabonsai.club.

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El Michiana Bonsai Show se llevará a cabo en Wellfield Botanic Gardens en Elkhart, el 19 y 20 de septiembre. No tendrá ningún costo, salvo la entrada a Wellfield. Más información estará disponible en el futuro. Quizá te interese visitar la página web del club: Michianabonsai.club.

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Mar
29
4:30 PM16:30

April Field Trip - Excursión De Abril

April 25, 2026

Location to be determined.
Check our social media pages (Facebook and Instagram): South Bend-Elkhart Bird Alliance
Our webpage: https://www.sbeaudubon.org/events
Or contact Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org for details.

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25 de abril, 2026

Ubicación por determinar
Revisa nuestras páginas de redes sociales (Facebook e Instagram): South Bend-Elkhart Bird Alliance
Nuestra pagina web: https://www.sbeaudubon.org/events
O puedes contactar a Carol Goodall para más detalles en fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org

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Mar
29
4:30 PM16:30

Meet The Naturalist - Conoce A La Naturalista

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.

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Acompáñame para disfrutar de un descanso relajante en la naturaleza a mitad de la semana, el 23 de abril a las 6:00 p.m. Nosotros vamos a dar un paseo para ver qué cosas interesantes podemos encontrar. A lo mejor veremos aves migrantes de primavera. Las efímeras de primavera pueden estar floreciendo. Ponte zapatos resistentes. Los caminos pueden estar fangosos. Vístete acorde al clima. Nuestro santuario de vida silvestre está ubicado en 59395 Clover Rd., Mishawaka Indiana.

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Mar
29
4:00 PM16:00

Woodcock Walk - Paseo de la Agachadiza

Woodcock Walk, Timberdoodle Trek, Bogsucker Bonanza! This fascinating shorebird has several names, and on Saturday, April 4th 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 ft. 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. Take the first right (east) and you will come to a parking area on the left (north). Here is the pin for Google Maps:
https://goo.gl/maps/mwY123Tg2gMxjicj9
41°32'36.7"N 86°21'42.7"W

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.

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¡El paseo de la agachadiza, la caminata sobre la chocha perdiz, la bonanza de agachadizas! Esta fascinante ave costera tiene muchos nombres.  El sábado, 4 de abril, a las ocho de la tarde, nos encontraremos en Potato Creek State Park para observar su cortejo nupcial,​ el cual recibe el nombre de danza del cielo. El macho anda por el suelo emitiendo un llamado nasal, del tipo “peent”, se eleva entre 250 a 300 pies de altura, para luego descender en espiral produciendo un sonido trinado con sus alas. 

Donde reunirse: gira a la izquierda en la bifurcación, más allá de la caseta de la portería. Luego toma la primera salida a la derecha de la carretera principal, a la altura de la señal de Deer Meadows.  Toma la primera a la derecha (hacia el este) y llegarás a una zona de estacionamiento a la izquierda (hacia el norte). El siguiente es el link de Google Maps:
https://goo.gl/maps/mwY123Tg2gMxjicj9
41°32'36.7"N 86°21'42.7"W

Es posible que cobren la entrada para ingresar al parque. Vístete acorde al clima porque nunca se sabe qué tipo de tiempo podemos tener en abril. El corto camino que tomemos podría estar embarrado.

Cualquier pregunta, contacta a Carol Goodall en fieldtrips@sbeudubon.org.

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Mar
21
7:45 AM07:45

March Field Trip - Excursión de Marzo

On March 21st we will head to Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area’s Grande Marsh in LaPorte County. 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 in South Bend 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 Grande Marsh. Any questions, contact Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

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El 21 de marzo iremos a Kingsbury Fish and Wildlife Area’s Grand Marsh en el condado de Laporte. Grande Marsh alberga una gran bandada de aves acuáticas.

Si deseas compartir un vehículo, puedes dirigirte al lado norte del estacionamiento de Kohl’s, ubicado en la calle Ireland Road, a las 7:45 a.m. Desde ahí tomará treinta minutos llegar a Kingsbury Fish y Wildlife Area. Si alguien desea vernos en Kingsbury Fish and Wildlife Area, estaremos a 41.509192, -86.581797 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/oss62RtBr8zjHtcJ7). Llegaremos allí aproximadamente entre las 8:15 a 8:30 a.m.  (hora del este).

Viste ropa apropiada para el clima. Habrá un telescopio, pero si tienes uno considera traerlo. Además, tendremos binoculares, igualmente, si tienes los tuyos tráelos. Grande Marsh no dispone de baños. Si tienes alguna pregunta, contacta a Carol Goodall a fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org

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Mar
8
8:30 AM08:30

Waterfowl Festival – Festival de Aves Acuáticas

The Tippecanoe Audubon Society (our southeast neighboring chapter) is partnering with Chautauqua Wawasee, IDNR, and Ducks Unlimited for their first annual Waterfowl Festival on Saturday, March 28th in Syracuse, Indiana. They are excited to offer planned field trips and educational programs, snacks, beverages, and a hot lunch, all included for only $20. While activities are designed for all ages and experience levels, those with young children are encouraged to select the indoor track option which has more child-friendly activities. Register now to reserve your spot! A link to their Eventbrite registration page can be found on their website's calendar page at www.tippeaudubon.org/calendar.

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La Tippecanoe Audubon Society (nuestra sección vecina del sureste) se ha asociado con Chautauqua Wawasee, IDNR y Ducks Unlimited para celebrar su primer Festival anual de aves acuáticas el sábado 28 de marzo en Syracuse, Indiana. Están entusiasmados de ofrecer excursiones y programas educativos, pasabocas, bebidas y un almuerzo caliente, todo incluido por solo 20 dólares. Aunque las actividades están diseñadas para todas las edades y diferentes niveles de experiencia, se recomienda que las personas que tengan niños elijan la opción de la pista cubierta, la cual tiene muchas actividades aptas para los pequeños. ¡Regístrate ahora para reservar tu lugar! El link para la página de registro de Eventbrite se encuentra en su sitio web http://www.tippeaudubon.org/calendar.

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Mar
8
8:00 AM08:00

Meet the Naturalist – Conoce a la Naturalista

We will resume our Wednesday evening walks at our wildlife sanctuary this month. Join me for a relaxing stroll on March 25th 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 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/pmAv4mKqh2mpE4YR6).

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Vamos a resumir nuestras caminatas en las tardes de los miércoles de este mes en nuestro santuario de vida silvestre.  Acompáñame a un paseo relajante el 25 de marzo a las 6:00 p.m. para ver qué cosas interesantes podemos encontrar. Quizás hallaremos algunas aves migrantes madrugadoras de primavera o aves residentes de invierno. Algunas efímeras pueden estar floreciendo. Ponte zapatos resistentes, los caminos pueden estar fangosos. Vístete acorde al clima. Nuestro santuario de vida silvestre se encuentra en 59395 Clover Rd., Mishawaka, Indiana (https://maps.app.goo.gl/pmAv4mKqh2mpE4YR6).

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Feb
14
9:00 AM09:00

February Field Trip

  • D6 North Lot. Dorr Road, Notre Dame, Indiana (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

Join us on February 14th 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 so wear appropriate footwear. We will meet in the northeast corner of Lot D6. This lot is the north lot off Dorr Rd.

This is also the day of the Great Backyard Bird Count, so we will be logging all our sightings on eBird.

Google map link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/6dfa2pyfV6crC7qV7
Questions: fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org

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Feb
13
to Feb 16

Great Backyard Bird Count

The Great Backyard Bird Count is being held on February 13-16, 2026. Participating is easy, fun to do alone or with others, and can be done anywhere you find birds.

  • Step 1: Decide where you will watch birds.

  • Step 2: Watch birds for 15 minutes or more, at least once over the four days, February 13-16, 2026.

  • Step 3: Identify all the birds you see or hear within your planned time/location and use the best tool for sharing your bird sightings:

    • If you are a beginning bird admirer and new to bird identification, try using the Merlin Bird ID app to tell us what birds you are seeing or hearing.

    • If you have participated in the count before and want to record numbers of birds, try the eBird Mobile app or enter your bird list on the eBird website. 

 

Website: https://www.birdcount.org/posters/

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Feb
7
to Mar 21

Invasive Species Work Days at Izaak Walton League of America

  • Izaak Walton League of America (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

The Izaak Walton League of America (IWLA) 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. 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 following work days in February and March 2026 have been scheduled to remove non-native invasive plants from this IWLA Facility:

  • February 7, 2026

  • February 21, 2026

  • March 7, 2026

  • March 21, 2026

These IWLA work days will be from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Volunteers are welcomed. The work days listed above are subject to possible cancelation for reasons such as severely bad weather (e.g., very cold temperatures, deep snow, heavy rain, high winds, etc.).  IWLA will try to send a notice to potential volunteers in the event that a scheduled work day is canceled.

The target invasive plants to be removed primarily include bush honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.), Oriental bittersweet (Celastrus orbiculatus), autumn olive (Elaeagnus umbellata), privet (Ligustrum spp.), and multiflora rose (Rosa multiflora). 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. 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. 

If you have any questions about these scheduled work days, please feel free to email me at jcsporleder@heartlandenv.com or text me at (574) 532-2312, or text Tim Kanczuzewski at (574) 340-0842. Thanks, and I hope to see you at the IWLA work days!

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Jan
10
9:00 AM09:00

Big Sit at the Sanctuary

Join us at 9:00 a.m. on January 10, 2026 for our "Big Sit" at the Sanctuary. We'll have the wood stove fired up, along with hot chocolate, coffee, and snacks. From the winter quarters, we'll watch the feeders and see what birds stop by. Please dress for the weather and bring a chair. This is an accessible event with no hiking or walking. Keep an eye on our Facebook page and website if the weather is snowy or very cold - we may cancel the event in certain conditions.

Our wildlife sanctuary is located at 59395 Clover Road, Mishawaka. Please contact tai.gunter@sbeaudubon.org with any questions.

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Jan
3
7:30 AM07:30

30th Annual Elkhart County Christmas Bird Count

The South Bend-Elkhart Bird Alliance and the Elkhart County Parks are calling upon volunteers for the 30th annual Elkhart County Christmas Bird Count, which will be held on Saturday, January 3, 2026.

Volunteer bird counters can participate in 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 Haus Shelter in Ox Bow County Park on Saturday, January 3rd 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 are welcome to include all birds seen from your yard, especially along waterways.

The Elkhart County count circle extends from the state line on the north 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.

Birdwatchers are encouraged to contact Ronda DeCaire with the Elkhart County Parks at (574) 535-6458 or via email at rdecaire@elkhartcounty.com to register their name, address, phone number, and email to receive further directions for the bird count. We are excited to celebrate 30 years of counting the birds in Elkhart County for this wintertime citizen science project. We especially want to thank our long-time volunteers who have joined us for several decades to make the count consistent and productive. Your dedication to science is appreciated at the local and national level.

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Dec
20
8:00 AM08:00

South Bend Christmas Bird Count - Volunteers Needed

Help wanted! We need both feeder counters and field observers for the South Bend Christmas Bird Count, to be held on Saturday, December 20th. The count circle is centered on downtown South Bend and extends out 7.5 miles in each direction.

Volunteers of all ages and skill levels are encouraged to take part in this traditional event. We will once again be having a compiler party after the event for any and all participants where refreshments will be provided as we tabulate our results. Hope you can join us!

Please contact Lindsay Grossmann at lindsay.grossmann@sbeaudubon.org or (574) 807-4443 for questions or to sign up!

Pro tip: it makes for a memorable family and/or friends gathering!

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Dec
14
1:00 PM13:00

Holiday Potluck at December Membership Meeting

Please join us Sunday, December 14th at 1:00 p.m. at the Elkhart Conservation Club (ECC) for our annual holiday potluck and slideshow! The ECC is located at 55515 Riviera Drive, Elkhart, Indiana 46514. That is approximately 1¾ miles east of the major intersection of Ash Road and McKinley Highway (Old US 20), on the south side of McKinley.

Turkey breast and drinks will be provided. Please bring your own table service along with a side dish to share. We will begin the slideshow, with photos provided by attendees, after the meal. If you have any nature or birding photos you wish to share, please bring them. A flash/jump drive containing the files is preferred. Showing photos directly from a smartphone is more complicated.

We will also be presenting the proposed 2026 budget to the membership for approval. The ECC will be opened at approximately 12:00 p.m. to allow us time to set up all the tables and chairs and the hostess station and to put out table decorations. Anyone interested in helping with those tasks is more than welcome to arrive early to assist. As always, our membership meeting is open to the public.

Looking forward to seeing everyone’s smiling faces. Don’t forget to bring your appetite!

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Dec
6
12:30 PM12:30

December Field Trip - Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area

On December 6, 2025 we will be traveling to Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area (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 & 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 & Wildlife Area Kiwani Marsh, 4320 Toto Rd., North Judson, IN. Here is a pin drop for Kiwani Marsh: 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 Rd. 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.

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Nov
12
6:00 PM18:00

St. Joseph County Council Meeting - Data Centers

You have likely noticed the local press dedicated to data centers, which have located in St. Joseph County. The trend has been concerning for our own local water and power systems, which, of course, also have repercussions for the biodiverse communities with whom we live.

While many know about the Amazon Data Center Campus located in New Carlisle, an article in the New York Times explained just how big it really is. The June 24, 2025 article “At Amazon’s Biggest Data Center, Everything is Supersized for A.I.” states the Amazon data center in our county will consume “2.2 gigawatts of electricity – enough to power a million homes.” The Indiana Citizens Action Coalition reported that the Amazon Data Center combined with the neighboring GE battery manufacturing facility have been granted permission for a combined use of up to 24 million gallons of water a day from the Kankakee aquifer (https://www.citact.org/ai-data-centers). St. Joseph County officials have also approved a Microsoft data center on 900 acres at the former St. Joe farm in Granger. 

Perhaps it is no surprise that when a third data center was proposed, this one off of the Chicago Trail in New Carlisle, residents are fighting back against the possibility. This data center would convert 1057 acres of prime agricultural land to industrial use – again using massive amounts of water and electricity, though current public information is scant about the exact quantities.

This industrial use is inconsistent with the multi-year, multi-stakeholder county comprehensive land use plan as well as its future land use plan map. The recommendation within that plan is to preserve highly productive agricultural areas, especially ones recognized by the USDA as prime farmland. This land would fit that definition. Additionally, this potential rezoning is also not in-line with New Carlisle’s comprehensive plan. The Area Plan Commission recognized all of this when they gave the agricultural to industrial rezoning a 7-0 unanimous UNFAVORABLE recommendation. However, the decision of whether to let yet another juggernaut locate here ultimately rests with the St. Joseph County Council.

It is important to note that we truly do not yet know the effects that this kind of electricity and water consumption will have on the biodiverse communities of our area. We have not found any publicly available forecast of Indiana’s increased electricity usage with data centers included for the coming years. We do know that there is county legislation that puts additional barriers to large scale solar installation, a carbon-free power source. Therefore, this increased energy demand is going to have climate implications. And we know birds are already gravely threatened by the changing climate. Audubon scientists have found that two-thirds of North American birds are at greater risk of extinction because of warming temperatures.  

If you would like to speak out for birds, people, and the planet you can join the SBEBA at the following meetings:
The County Council Committee Meeting may hear the rezoning request within their Land Use Committee on Tuesday, October 28th at the County-City Building, 4th floor, 5:30 p.m. No public comments are allowed but presence is important!
The rezoning vote may officially occur at the November County Council Meeting. Because of Veterans’ Day, the County Council Meeting will take place on Wednesday, Nov. 12th, at the County-City building, 4th floor, 6:00 p.m.

Please also consider contacting your county council representative to voice your concerns. You can find your council person at https://www.sjcindiana.gov/2386/County-Council/.

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Nov
1
9:00 AM09:00

November Field Trip

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.

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Oct
15
5:30 PM17:30

Meet the Naturalist

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.

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Oct
4
9:00 AM09:00

October Field Trip

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.

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Sep
17
6:00 PM18:00

Meet the Naturalist

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.

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Sep
6
8:00 AM08:00

September Field Trip

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.

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Aug
27
6:00 PM18:00

Meet the Naturalist

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.

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Aug
23
11:00 AM11:00

Riverfest

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.

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Aug
16
7:30 AM07:30

August Field Trip

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.

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Aug
8
4:00 PM16:00

Envirofest

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.

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Jul
23
6:00 PM18:00

Meet the Naturalist

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.

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Jul
5
7:00 AM07:00

July Field Trip

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.

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Jun
28
8:30 PM20:30

Mothing Night

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.

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Jun
25
6:00 PM18:00

Meet the Naturalist

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.

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Jun
21
8:30 AM08:30

June Field Trip

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.

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May
26
7:30 AM07:30

Memorial Day Pancake Breakfast

  • SBEBA Wildlife Sanctuary Mishawaka IN (map)
  • Google Calendar ICS

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.

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