The Leaflet, September / October 1999
- Off the Beaten Path by Jess Gwinn
- MAPS for Studying Bird Populations by Jess Gwinn
- The Conservation Scope by Donald Winslow and Donna McNeely
- Fall Fundraiser: Feeder Steam Cleaning
- Audubon Adventures Sponsors Still Needed
- Notes From Nature by Sandy Belth
- The Third Annual Monroe/Brown 4th of July Butterfly Count by Sandy Belth
- The Roadside Birders Head North by Steve and Candi Bailey
- SAS Calendar for September / October 1999
Join us on September 25th for a SAS doubleheader: our first Lake Monroe shoreline cleanup and lamb roast / potluck. See the Calendar for details!
Off The Beaten Path
You’ve finished dinner. The dishes are washed and in the rack to dry. What next? I wonder what re-run of Seinfeld is showing tonight? Wait, before you sit down and spend another half hour of your finite earthly time allotment on a television program you’ve already seen, consider checking out the volunteer opportunities that are available through Sassafras Audubon. Starting this month Sassafras will be running a regular feature on conservation issues that are in need of some grass roots activism. These articles are going to be prepared by Donna McNeely, our new Conservation Committee chairperson. Donna will wade through the morass of conservation legislation and incentives to find the initiatives most in need of our help or most applicable to our region. So instead of widening your posterior while watching re-runs, widen it by taking that same amount of time and writing a letter or performing some other form of activism. Our elected officials say time and again how little they hear from their constituents. A few letters on a particular issue often may be all that they receive and consequently could sway their vote. Chances are you can still catch that re-run after the evening news anyway.
Speaking of volunteer opportunities, be certain to read the article in this Leaflet about the bird banding project taking place at Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center. Here is an ideal opportunity for those of you yearning for a little hands-on experience with our feathered friends. And I do literally mean “hands-on.” Read the article for further information.
I would like to plug a couple of upcoming Sassafras events. The first event is a clean up of a section of the Lake Monroe shoreline. Sassafras recently contracted with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources to annually clean up a portion of the lake shoreline in the North Fork Refuge. This year the clean up will take place on September 25. Afterwards, there will be a lamb roast at Riddle Point park on Lake Lemon. The lamb roast is a potluck event open to anyone. Refer to the calendar and accompanying article for more details.
Finally, on the Board we welcome Jim Hengeveld as the new Secretary. Jim graciously offered to fill the vacant position if we could find someone to take over his role as Program Committee chair. To this end, new board member Steve Cotter has accepted that position. If anyone out there has any ideas or suggestions about programs they would like to see or even specific speakers, please contact Steve and let him know. I’m sure there are many good ideas out there waiting to be hatched. We will all benefit from these suggestions so don’t be shy.
MAPS for Studying Bird Populations
Not as in Rand McNally or quadrangle but as in an acronym for Monitoring Avian Productivity and Survivorship. This is a research project being carried out under the direction of the Institute for Bird Populations (IBP) located at Point Reyes National Seashore in California. The program consists of bird banding stations scattered throughout the country. One component of this research is being carried out on Department of Defense military bases. Locally these bases include Fort Knox, Jefferson Proving Grounds and Crane Naval Surface Warfare Center. IBP is searching for groups or individuals to take over the monitoring of the stations at these bases.
This is where Sassafras Audubon becomes involved. IBP has asked us to take over the operation at Crane. Due to logistics and funding, IBP is trying to scale back the number of stations they personally staff. In exchange they are willing to provide training and some funding for the people taking over the monitoring of the stations. There are five stations at Crane, each station consisting of ten mist nets. Each station is set up and monitored once every ten day period throughout eight separate periods from late May to early August. A station is set up at first light and is usually taken down around noon. The nets are checked every 40 minutes. Captured birds are taken back to the station where they are banded and a rigorous data collection process is undertaken. The birds are then released. If the bird appears stressed when it is captured, the bander performs a “ring and fling”. The bird is only banded and then released to minimize its stress exposure.
We are looking for volunteers who would be willing to operate one of these stations. Two people are required for each station. These volunteers must realize that this is a long term commitment, hopefully for several years. The training for this project involves a one week full time class to be taught locally. Also, the work itself can be stressful at times. Sometimes no birds are captured during a 40 minute period. Other times, there may be several birds, each one very indignant about its predicament. There are also occasional injuries to the birds and, rarely, fatalities.
If you are interested in volunteering for this project, please contact Jess Gwinn at 876-8623 or 876-7111. We need to gauge the level of interest from our membership before we commit to anything with the IBP. They are looking for us to start in the summer of 2000 with the training taking place in the spring. They will probably still provide interns to help out for the first year.
The Conservation Scope
Forest Service Proposes to Maintain 950 Forest Openings
Forest Service personnel have released an Environmental Assessment (EA) that proposes to maintain approximately 950 openings throughout the Hoosier National Forest. The project would mow and burn over 3,000 acres of public land. Sassafras Audubon is appealing the decision in cooperation with three other conservation groups: Heartwood, Indiana Forest Alliance, and Hoosier Environmental Council.
According to the Forest Service the purpose of the project is “to provide early successional vegetation beneficial to some wildlife species, provide habitat to some rare native plant communities, add visual variety, and provide for associated recreational opportunities such as hunting, berry picking, and wildlife observation.” SAS believes, however, there is no ecological justification for maintaining openings in the forest. There is an abundance of early successional habitat in and near Hoosier National Forest, including natural openings (resulting from windthrow and tree mortality) and human disturbances (such as utility corridors, log yards, silvicultural cuts, pastures, old fields, lawns, etc.). In addition, these openings fragment the forest and may harm forest-dwelling species such as Neotropical migrant birds.
Don Whitehead and his students studied the effects of maintained forest openings in the Hoosier National Forest on bird abundance and breeding success from 1993 - 1996. They found that Brown-headed Cowbirds were more abundant near the openings. Cowbirds parisitize other bird species by laying eggs in their nests. The researchers found a high frequency of parasitized nests near the openings. Particularly hard hit were species that tend to nest in the forest near openings, such as Hooded Warblers. Also, the sharp edges surrounding the openings tend to attract nest predators, such as Blue Jays, black rat snakes, and raccoons.
Maintained openings have other potentially damaging ecological effects. Such disturbances can provide opportunities for exotic plants to invade and displace native species. Also, soil disturbing activities associated with the maintenance may cause soil compaction, erosion, and stream sedimentation.
The Forest Service claims that this program benefits some species of birds that use early successional habitats. Many of the species they use to justify the openings, however, will not use these areas and some do not even occur in Indiana. For instance, the foresters claim that the project will benefit Henslow’s Sparrows, but the vast majority of the openings are much too small and too brushy to attract this grassland-breeding bird. Also, the Forest Service suggests the openings will benefit Bachman’s Sparrows, which have been extirpated from the state for at least a decade.
If you are concerned that your foresters are managing the Hoosier as an opening rather than a forest, call Supervisor Ken Day at (812) 275-5987.
Fall Fundraiser: Feeder Steam Cleaning
Get Your Feeders Ready for Winter Without Getting Your Hands Wet!
This year we have decided to do something different; instead of having a bird seed sale we are having a feeder cleaning fundraiser. Sassafras Audubon Society will steam clean your wood, plastic, and metal birdfeeders with van-powered steam hoses at Wild Birds Unlimited of Bloomington on Saturday, October 23 from 9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. We are asking for a $3.00 donation per feeder to raise funds for Sassafras Audubon's important environmental work.
An important part of bird feeding is to regularly clean your feeders in order to prevent the spread of avian diseases such as salmonella and conjunctivitis. Give your birds a sanitary place to dine by having your feeders thoroughly steam cleaned! Keep in mind that steam cleaning will remove the build-up that has accumulated over the year, but it won't make your feeders look brand new.
Join us on October 23 to raise funds for SAS while helping prevent the spread of avian diseases. Wild Birds Unlimited is located at the corner of 15th Street and College Avenue in Bloomington. We also need volunteers to help organize the event and clean feeders. Call Ross Brittain at 333-2121 or Betsy Whitehead at 339-1782 for more information or to volunteer.
Audubon Adventures Sponsors Still Needed
Here's your chance to help promote environmental education for children: SAS still needs sponsors for Audubon Adventures classrooms!
Audubon Adventures is a wonderful environmental education program for students in grades three through seven. Over 90 teachers in our area have requested the program for the upcoming school year. The cost of an Audubon Adventures kit for one classroom is only $35.
Please contribute to this valuable program by sponsoring one or more classrooms. Make your check payable to Sassafras Audubon Society, and send it to: Kristina Lindborg, Education Chair, 2213 Sussex Drive, Bloomington, IN 47401. Questions? Contact Kristina at klindbor@indiana.edu or (812) 323-8233. Thank you very much for your support!
The Roadside Birders Head North
Yellowstone, WY, June 12 - 22
You might go to this place to pursue your birding hobby, as we did, but we doubt that you will stick to our plan. The reason? Simple: there are more striking examples of wildlife here than the birds that you've probably already seen at Lake Monroe.
Sure, Ospreys, eagles, and Sandhills are exciting wherever we find them. And there are some birds that are seldom, if ever, seen at Monroe, like Western and Clark's Grebes, Red Crossbills, Red Shafted Flickers, Black Billed Magpies, Mountain Chickadees, Godwits, Barrow's Goldeneyes, Stellar's and Grey Jays, Dippers, Red Napped Sapsuckers, Harlequins (our first), White Pelicans, Trumpeter Swans, Violet-green Swallows, Clark's Nutcrackers, and Ravens.
But our sights quickly joined the search for BEARS, and looking for these great omnivores that helped us find many of our birds. At dawn and dusk hundreds of people line the roads of the valleys and meadows to catch a glimpse of Mr. Grizzly. If you are the lucky birder who has a scope, you will be surrounded by those who wish to see their first bear. Actually, it was quite satisfying to give scores of folks who have only binoculars a real close-up of a bear.
Warning: there are other things to notice here that you might not like so much. In summer, the crowds are, well . . . it's crowded. And there is much controversy here if you care to notice. The bison, bear, and wolves impact local ranching operations, and the wild animals almost always pay with their lives. The snowmobile may be causing the greatest stir right now. We were told that one snowmobile pollutes as much as 1700 cars! Attendants at the entrance gates are getting sick from the fumes, and everyone else misses the peace and quiet.
We feel fortunate to have visited this place, but can't help but wonder what pressure our presence has put on this beautiful land. Now that we've had our chance, it's easy to say ban the snowmobile, phase out the use of the private auto, and bring on the cougars, wolves, and bears!
Washington, British Columbia, and the Yukon, June 25 - July 11
We drove by many lakes on the Alaskan Highway, but most of them had few birds, plus we were sometimes, as in Yellowstone, distracted by the moose and bear. But we did have some finds . . . In our notes we have what we call "Whiteheads." Whiteheads are birds that Don has pointed out to us that we would have never identified on our own and probably wouldn't even get them if we saw them the very next day. Usually these are birds in winter plumage which look nothing like the summer or breeding birds. One example is the Red Necked Grebe that we saw at Watson Lake, Yukon, which indeed had a very discernable red neck! They were so beautiful plying the waters with their young riding along on their backs. Another example of a Whitehead is the Pacific Loon which we saw at the campground lake at Deadmon in the Tetlin National Wildlife Refuge just inside the Alaskan border. Some years back Don pointed one of these out to us and it was fun to remember that exciting moment as we saw these wonderful birds in their summer breeding outfits.
The Watson Lake stop (the signposts are worth it!) also provided us with a great look at a Common Loon. Of course, we've seen many at Lake Monroe, but not dressed as this one, and not acting like this one! This loon loved bathing; it splashed and shook and preened like birds usually do, but then it rolled over on its back, shook and flapped, and held its feet and legs straight up in the air. We had never seen this behavior and got a real kick out of this loony fellow.
First sightings: Bohemian Waxwings at Summitt Lake, B.C.; White Winged Scoter (another Whitehead) in Rainier National Park; Swainson's Thrush at Mt. St. Helen's Visitor Center at Silver Lake; Surf Scoters at the Tetlin NWR.
Denali, July
If birds were far down the list of animals to watch at Yellowstone, they are not even on the list at Denali. When we shouted "Stop!" to the bus driver so we could catch a glimpse of a Northern Wheatear, the other passengers rolled their eyes and shifted uneasily in their seats, providing plenty of body language to let us know that birding is a big waste of time when there are grizzly, caribou, fox, arctic hare and Dalls sheep to look for. Never mind that when we had seen grizzlies , we let everyone have a look through the birding scope! Denali is for the big game 'hunters.'
As many of you probably know, Yellowstone and Yosemite taught us how to treat Denali. Private cars can go in about 15 miles without a special permit. Otherwise it's a bus ride, and a grueling one at that if you choose to go "all the way." We did and got stopped short of our goal by first, a snowstorm, and second, an accident on the road; though our trip was cut short, it lasted from 7am to 7pm. We couldn't find many who stay at Denali for longer than three days. Few drive to this place; they plane, train, and shuttle in, stay in hotels, and can't afford much more than what a few days cost in this remote area. We drove the highway in the van and stayed for nine days.
Birding adventures on the only road into Denali: Willow Ptarmigan: These were pointed out to us by the bus driver as we rolled through the check point at Savage River, the point beyond which private vehicles are not allowed. We returned here many times on our own and discovered the willows are very approachable, casually walking ahead of us as we approached. Northern Harrier, also at Savage River. We've seen these many times at home, but never had we seen one so blue; for us this was like a new bird. Wilson's Warbler, again at Savage River. We saw the female here, at first thinking it was a yellow warbler. Later in the campground we saw the male with his dark cap. Boreal Chickadee: This was a quick sighting, and at first we thought we had the Siberian tit. Common Redpoll: Many immatures really threw us at first, but we finally found the adults. These act much like the finches in our back yard at home. Mew Gulls: Similar to the Ring Bills we have at home, these big fellows are as persistent as the camp robbers. Currently they have bear boxes for safe food storage; soon gull boxes will be required. Gyrfalcon: This looked like an immature, but we were certain of the identity because the bus driver had watched the nesting pair all spring. We're inclined to list this as another Whitehead.
It rained here almost every day, all day. We recommend visiting earlier - in late June or early July.
Coastal Alaska, Early August
For us, coastal Alaska has been much more rewarding than the interior. Just below Kenai we stopped on the flats to see if we could spot any more eagles than we had seen the day before. We didn't, but we saw what we thought was a hawk, but soon determined was an owl. At first our eyes were bigger than the owl and we thought we might have been a Great Grey; then it ranged very near to us and we decided that it was a Short-eared. This fellow’s coloring was somewhat motley (possibly an immature), but his facial pattern, size, and deep, moth-like wing beats left us no other choice. One field note that might help others who may encounter this bird is that it appears to have a white bar near the end of the wing; actually, this 'bar' is more of a highlight created by dark wingtips and a dark wrist spot. Even though this bird can be found all over Indiana, this was our first sighting, and for us it will always be our Alaskan owl.
From Kenai, we went to the Homer Spit. We parked our van near the water and immediately began to find new birds: Common Murre, Pigeon Guillemot, Glaucous Gull, Tufted Puffin, and Northwestern Crow; however, the most interesting 'bird' on the Spit was Ms. Jean Keene. She is the Eagle Lady of the Spit, feeding as much as 18,000 pounds each winter to as many as 250 Bald Eagles at one time. Jean is a private lady who has found friends among our national symbol. She is a permanent resident in an RV park, and has built a compound of discarded trailers and pickup campers. Her yard is shut off by fences, gates and stacks of driftwood, but inside is a paradise of bird houses, buoys, flags and an abundance of flowers. It is eccentric, but beautiful. Her gate reads: The kiss of the sun for pardon, / The song of birds for mirth... / One is nearer God's heart in a garden, / Than anywhere else on Earth. Jean is a caretaker of all injured birds brought to her. She makes sure they go wherever necessary for what they need. If you visit the Spit, see Jean.
Candi stayed on the Spit while Steve traveled to Kodiak. Steve writes: Kodiak is beyond compare - it is the best of what we have seen in Alaska because it is so isolated. On Kodiak there are national preserves that you cannot drive to; you can fly in to watch the wildlife at a cost of about $500. Much good birding can be had on Kodiak. We found most of what has already been mentioned plus: Varied Thrush, Orange-crowned Warbler, huge Fox Sparrows, Hermit Thrush, Winter Wrens, Three-toed Woodpeckers, and Oystercatchers. We are to leave Alaska soon. It is difficult to sum up our feelings for this great place. We recommend it.
P.S. Steve had a bit of a hard time concentrating on the birds in Kodiak; the salmon were running and he spent way too much time doing the best fishing of his life!
The Roadside Birders, Candi and Steve Bailey.
Back to B.C. and the Forty-Eight
Notes From Nature
Butterflies have always captured our imagination. We are all struck by their beauty and their seemingly effortless flight. They are part of that ephemeral world: here now, in a moment gone. They flutter on gossamer wings from flower to flower, their sole purpose to pollinate flowers and mate. They do not sting, they do not bite; they simply give us joy and pleasure when they float into our gardens. Small wonder that they have captivated the hearts and minds of people in recent times when there is so much strife in our world. What better creature to bring peace to our lives than the lowly Butterfly?
The scientific name for the family of insects that includes butterflies is Lepidoptera, Greek for “scaled wing.” The Greeks themselves called the butterfly psyche, which means soul. They believed a soul was a tiny person with wings. The term butterfly stems from the Anglo-saxon “buttor-fleage” or “butter fly”, an endearment which was attached to a yellow butterfly which emerged in spring at the time of butter making. In other languages butterfly means “licker of cream,” “milk thief,” or “little flag.” In Russian they are “babochka,” which means little soul and the Spanish “mariposa” means “an effeminate creature which alights.”
The question as to when butterflies first evolved has been the subject of debate for many years, but fossil remains of butterflies as we know them have been found in shale from the Eocene dating from about 48 million years ago. What is not a mystery, however, is their importance to people throughout the ages. Ancient peoples carved images of butterflies onto rocks, and it is thought that they believed they were messengers from the gods. The ancient Egyptians painted butterflies on their frescoes thirty-five hundred years ago. The ancient Chinese and Japanese painted them in their manuscripts and on pottery, and for a while the Japanese adopted a little purple butterfly as their national emblem.
In the mythologies of diverse cultures today, butterflies continue to hold special places. In the Solomon Islands it is said that when a person dies, the door to his house is flung open and his soul takes flight heavenwards in the form of a gorgeous butterfly. When a butterfly dies, it is thought to be the end of the soul forever. Similarly the Maori believe that after a person dies his soul returns to earth as a butterfly. In England it is thought that if you catch the first white butterfly you see in the spring and bite its head off before you let it go, you will have good luck for a year. Another British (and I think far kinder!) way of ensuring good luck is to have a white butterfly fly through the sleeve of your coat. The Irish believe butterflies are the souls of the dead waiting to pass through purgatory. In Mexico the butterfly is a symbol of the fertility of the earth.
The Papago Indians believe that soon after the earth was created by Earth-maker Iitoi, Elder Brother was walking in the sunshine when he heard the happy voices of children playing. This made him happy and he decided to make something. So he placed in his magic bag the colors from flowers and fallen leaves, yellow pollen, white cornmeal, green pine needles and a pinch of golden sunshine. He gathered the children around and asked them to see what he had in his bag. The children were very happy for when they opened the bag, the first butterflies flew out!
In De Natura Animalium, Albertus Magnus, in the 1300’s, called butterflies “Flying worms.” Years later in 1863, Walter Bates stated in Naturalist on the Amazons that “ the study of butterflies, creatures selected as the types of airiness and frivolity, instead of being despised, will someday be valued as one of the most important branches of biological sciences.” His statement showed a lot of forethought because indeed butterflies have been studied by geneticists, ecologists, and chemists for all different reasons. In a new study by population biologists, monarchs captured in Mexico have their wings analyzed for varying amounts of heavy water. By determining the level of heavy water isotopes in their wings, it is possible to determine which part of the United States or Canada the butterfly came from.
I often hear people tell me they just don’t see as many butterflies as they used to. This is probably true. The widespread use of pesticide and herbicides in our country, not just in agricultural areas but in home yards and gardens, has had a tremendous impact on these harmless creatures. I am an avid believer that nature will win in the end, but with a little of our help by sharing our space with the lowly things in our world we will be far better off as a species ourselves. As long as they adorn our flowers, I for one, will gladly tolerate a few chewed leaves.
The Third Annual Monroe / Brown 4th of July Butterfly Count
The weather was hazy and hot but seven participants spent the day counting how many species of butterflies we could find in a day within our prescribed count circle. We ended up with a creditable 45 species. This is better than last year’s count and we hope again to have the state high. For the most part it was a good day, but the weather deteriorated to a light drizzle when we weren’t seeing anything. However it cleared up for the late afternoon and things started to pick up again. Two teams covered several areas with the following species results:
Swallowtails: Pipevine -50, Black -3, Eastern Tiger - 14, Spicebush -13, Whites and Sulphurs: Cabbage White - 27, Clouded Sulphur - 17, Orange Sulphur - 15, Little Sulphur - 4, Harvesters and Coppers: Harvester - 4, American Copper - 1, Bronze Copper - 7, Hairstreaks: Banded Hairstreak - 5, Olive Hairstreak - 1, Red-banded Hairstreak - 5, Blues: Eastern-tailed Blue - 49, Spring Azure - 1, Brushfoots: Great Spangled Fritillary - 23, Meadow Fritillary - 21, Silvery Checkerspot - 5, Pearl Crescent - 52, Question Mark - 6, Eastern Comma - 11, Red Admiral - 18, Common Buckeye - 13, Red-spotted Purple - 11, Viceroy - 26, Satyrs: Northern Pearly-Eye - 1, Little Wood Satyr - 16, Common Wood-Nymph - 1, Milkweed Butterflies: Monarch - 8, Skippers: Silver-spotted - 21, Southern Cloudywing - 1, Northern Cloudywing - 1, Horaces Duskywing - 9, Wild Indigo Duskywing - 1, Common Sootywing - 1, Least skipper- 6, Fiery skipper - 4, Peck’s Skipper - 27, Tawny-edged skipper - 12, Northern Broken-dash - 4, Little Glassywing - 10, Sachem - 18, Delaware - 1, Dun Skipper - 4, Eggs: 1 Monarch on Common Milkweed.
SAS Calendar for September / October 1999
All outings and programs are free and open to non-members.
Saturday, September 18, 1999 Birding the Lake Shore for Early Migrants
We will bird areas around Lake Monroe searching for land birds, shore birds and waterfowl. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the NW corner of the Eastland Plaza parking area behind Ellis Floral on East 3rd Street. For more information please call leader Don Whitehead, 339-1782.
Saturday, September 25 North Fork Wildlife Refuge Clean-up
Join us for our first Lake Monroe shoreline cleanup at the North Fork Wildlife Refuge. We will be some of the first participants in the DNR’s new shoreline adoption program. The cleanup will begin at 9:00 a.m. and last until mid-afternoon. Since we will be removing trash from brushy and wet areas, come dressed in work clothes, boots, and gloves. You may bring tools if you like. DNR will provide trash bags, a boat, and trash removal. Snacks and drinks will be available during the work hours, but volunteers can get heartier fare at the lamb roast and potluck immediately following the cleanup. We will drive straight there after finishing, or if you would like to go home to clean yourself up you can join us later. Persons wanting to carpool should meet at 8:30 a.m. at the NW corner of the Eastland Plaza parking area behind Ellis Floral on East 3rd Street. If you would like to support the cleanup but are unable to volunteer your time, please donate a potluck dish to reward our hungry volunteers. If you live in the Bloomington area, food pickup can be arranged. All volunteers should contact Ang Jordan at 333-1168 or aejordan@indiana.edu.
Saturday, September 25, 1999 Lamb Roast and Potluck at Riddle Point Beach Shelter, Lake Lemon
Bring a favorite dish and come meet fellow Audubon members for a fun-filled afternoon on the shores of Lake Lemon. Bring the whole family for an afternoon of birding, dining, and camaraderie. Discover Little Africa and look for birds from our new wildlife viewing platform. We will begin gathering at 2:00 p.m. and the lamb will be ready around 4:00 p.m. Sassafras Audubon will provide roast lamb, sauce for the lamb, and tableware. Please bring a beverage of your choice. You may also wish to bring a ground cover as there may not be sit-down table space for all. Everyone is welcome, members and non-members alike, but space is limited. Please call in a reservation so we know how much lamb to have. For more information, directions, and to coordinate dishes, please call Don Whitehead at 339-1782, or Lee Sterrenburg, 333-6368.
Sunday, September 26 Late Flying Butterflies
We will spend a couple of hours looking for various species of butterflies. Location will be dependent on the best nectar sources available at the time. Meet at the NW corner of the Eastland Plaza Parking area behind Ellis Floral on East 3rd Street. For more information call Jeff and Sandy Belth, 825-8353 or e-mail belthbirds@aol.com.
Saturday, October 2, 1999 Bird Outing to Local Areas
We will visit local hot spots on this half-day adventure. Meet at the NW corner of the Eastland Plaza parking area behind Ellis Floral on East 3rd Street. For more information call leaders Jim and Susan Hengeveld, 988-1671, or e-mail jhengeve@indiana.edu.
Sunday, October 10, 1999 Wild Birds Unlimited Lake Monroe Shoreline Cleanup
Double your commitment to improving the environment by participating in the Wild Birds Unlimited cleanup at Pine Grove, a sister site to the SAS cleanup at North Fork. During past cleanups, Wild Birds has removed 12 tons of garbage from the Lake area. The event will be from 9:00 a.m. - mid-afternoon. For details please contact Ross Brittain at Wild Birds Unlimited, 333-2121.
Saturday, November 6, 1999 Explore Greens Bluff Nature Preserve
Hike to Raccoon Creek and see beautiful Hemlock trees along Raccoon Creek, visit the ruins of an old mill site, and explore other areas of Greens bluff nature preserve. Meet at 8:00 a.m. in front of Osco drugstore in the Highland Village parking area on West 3rd Street. For more information call leader Jess Gwinn, 876-8623.