The Leaflet, November / December 2000
- Off the Beaten Path by Jess Gwinn
- A Quarter Century of Lake Monroe Christmas Bird Counts by Don Whitehead
- Second Annual Fall Feeder Cleaning a Success
- Another Audubon Adventures Classroom
- Second Annual North Fork Shoreline Cleanup
- SAS Calendar for November / December 2000
- Let the Counting Begin!
Off the Beaten Path
I wanted to walk. I didn't want to drive around most of the day hopping out of a car every five minutes to see what flew across the road or made that peeping noise. So the count coordinator put me in a group that walked all day. That's how I ended up in Ed Schools' group. He was covering a previously uncounted area near the Crooked Creek boat ramp and needed some help. I met Ed at around 4:30 a.m. and we drove together to the boat ramp, met a few other daring souls, and went owling until daybreak. As might be expected, the wind had picked up so we only heard one or two owls. We then hiked throughout our area for the remainder of the day. After over ten miles of hiking, we packed it in and headed to the pot luck. What a pot luck. Who would have thought birders could also be chefs? To wrap things up that day a final tally was compiled. A new count record! And so went my first Lake Monroe Christmas Bird Count in 1991.
Many things have changed over these years. Even Ed Schools has since moved to Michigan, leaving me in charge of this count area. The water levels have been too high to get into the area, and the water levels have been so low we could walk on the old road grade. Several different people have joined us in covering this area. My dog Cary has even joined us the last few years, covering much more terrain than the rest of us combined. Although her true love is chasing rodents, her wanderings never fail to roust a bird we would not have gotten otherwise. (She doesn't have to pay the five dollar participation fee, either.) The weather has ranged from balmy to frigid, windy to calm, wet to dry.
The habitat though remains mostly unchanged. I know where we have found the "good" birds throughout the years. Some of these areas produce regularly, some only once. We never get large numbers in this area. I sit at the tally and listen to all of the spectacular birds reported by the other groups with a bit of envy. "Wouldn't it be nice to see so many different birds?" But the truth remains that this is my area now. I know where to find the birds. I know which route to follow. And I can't really imagine doing any other area than my little sector of the circle. Truth is, I have my own area at each of the Christmas Bird Counts I participate in. I look forward to seeing each one every year at this time. So the question is, "Which area is going to become your area?" We can always use another person to walk or drive or somehow counts birds in an area. Maybe that area will one day be yours as well.
A Quarter Century of Lake Monroe Christmas Bird Counts
You guessed it! It is almost Christmas Bird Count time again. Sassafras Audubon's Lake Monroe Christmas Bird Count (CBC) is scheduled for Saturday, December 16, 2000. This time it will be a monumental one. It will be 25th Lake Monroe Christmas Bird Count! It is hard to believe that we already have 24 years of data on population trends for wintering birds in our area!
This eagerly anticipated annual event is part of a long-term and large-scale monitoring project sponsored by National Audubon. It is designed to provide basic information on the status of wintering bird populations in North America and enable avian ecologists to detect population trends for critical species. The first Christmas Bird Count was run a century ago in New York City. Since that time, the concept has become extremely popular and has expanded dramatically. There are now over 1500 counts in this country, Canada, Central America, South America, and the Caribbean.
This year's CBC will be the 25th for members of Sassafras Audubon. The first Lake Monroe Christmas Bird Count was held in December 1976 and has been run successfully every year since. A significant data base for our region, it provides interesting insights concerning changes in our local bird populations. For example, the dramatic recent increase in numbers of wintering Bald Eagles shows clearly, as does the negative effect of extremely cold and snowy winter periods on populations of Bluebirds, Carolina Wrens, and Bobwhite.
The Christmas Bird Count has always been the focal point of the Sassafras Audubon year. It provides an absolutely wonderful opportunity to spend a gratifying day in the field with many friends and colleagues. It provides a chance to bird unabashedly and competitively (something that we try not to admit). Most important, it allows every participant to contribute in a significant way to the development of an invaluable scientific data base. It is also a great social occasion and just plain fun! I participated in my first Christmas Bird Count with the South Shore Bird Club in Quincy, Massachusetts in 1942 and was immediately addicted. I've missed only two or three years since then. Many of us are so hooked that we do three or more counts every year. Lets get everyone addicted this year!
The rules that govern CBC's require that the count be carried out within a circle with a diameter of 15 miles (always the same circle every year). Our Lake Monroe CBC circle is centered just south of Lake Monroe at the intersection of Route 446 and Tower Ridge Road. This enables us to cover all of Lake Monroe, extensive areas of Hoosier National Forest (including the Deam Wilderness), and the expanses of field habitat south and southwest of the lake. This count circle thus provides us with wonderful habitat diversity.
Over the years we have divided the count circle into workable sections, each of which can be covered by a team of birders. The objective is to work each portion of our count circle as thoroughly as possible and record all of the species seen or heard and keep track of the number of individuals of each species. The data from each team is then summed and the final tally recorded and sent to National Audubon.
The success of the CBC is unquestionably a function of the number of people that participate. The more people walking, looking, and listening, the more thoroughly and accurately we census our area and the more birds we record. Accordingly, we are absolutely dependent on you to make the count a good one. You don't have to be a good birder to participate...it is just as important to have sharp eyes and be out there helping a team. We need everyone possible!
Our CBC has been incredibly successful over the past decade and a large part of that is because we have had outstanding participation - we have had more than 60 people in the field in recent years. In fact, in 1994 we set an all-time record with 73 participants - a wonderful showing!
Each team works its area from before sunrise (to get owls) until close to sunset. You may join a team in the wee hours to help find owls or you may meet them at sunrise to work on other birds.
It is important to note that our Lake Monroe CBC has developed into one of the top counts in the state and in the lower Midwest. Over the years we have recorded 145 different species on the CBC and have counted 205,579 individual birds! In 1991 we recorded a record 100 species! And in 1997 we demolished that record with an incredible 109 species! That is the highest count ever recorded by any Indiana CBC (there are 20 other CBC's in Indiana). In 1998 we tallied 106 species and last year we hit 99. We have tallied over 90 species for ten of the past thirteen counts.
There is a wonderful sense of competition among the teams. And there is now that element of competition between us and the other CBC's in the state. We have had the highest count in the state for eleven of the last twelve years. We were beaten by Gibson County in 1993. We can't let that happen again!
If you wish to participate or wish further information, please give me (339-1782 or 855-3091) or Sandy Belth (825-8353) a buzz. We will provide additional information and assign you to a team.
The culmination of the CBC is the wonderful potluck chili dinner at which the final tally and bragging rites are established. As usual this will be hosted by Henry Wahl at the Woodcrest Party Room at 2606 East 2nd St. The dinner usually begins at about 6:00 PM. Call either Betsy Whitehead (339-1782) or Ingrid Beery (335-0643) to coordinate dishes.
Most important, call us and help make the 25th annual Lake Monroe Christmas Bird Count the best one ever - the most birds and the most people. Remember-we need all of you to defend the honor of Sassafras Audubon!
Second Annual Fall Feeder Cleaning a Success
October 7 was our second fall feeder cleaning, and our third cleaning overall. By now we are starting to work out the kinks in our system, and the event is better organized than ever. We didn't have the same amount of publicity as we did last fall, so we weren't quite as inundated this time (for which our volunteers were thankful!). We raised around $325, and everyone involved can feel good about helping prevent the spread of avian diseases. A big thank you to all our volunteers. Watch for our next cleaning in the spring of 2001.
Special thanks goes to Steve Patterson for donating the use of his pressure washer during the feeder cleaning. This helped us save on expenses for the event, and was a much appreciated contribution!
Another Audubon Adventures Classroom
We also extend a big thanks to Rick Hudson Insurance Agency of Bloomfield for its sponsorship of an Audubon Adventures Classroom. We greatly appreciate this support!
Second Annual North Fork Shoreline Cleanup
Eight volunteers participated in the second annual North Fork Shoreline Cleanup, held on a beautiful, sunny September 30th. A variety of trash was collected, including everything from tires to a computer monitor - nothing quite so big as a car this year! Overall, volunteers commented that there did not seem to be as much debris as was found during last year's effort, so we seem to be making a difference. Thanks to everyone who participated.
SAS Calendar for November / December 2000
All outings and programs are free and open to non-members.
Saturday, November 4, 2000 "Greens Bluff Hike"
Leader Jess Gwinn will lead a three hour, easy-to-moderate hike at Greens Bluff Nature Preserve in Owen County. Meet at 9:00 a.m. in front of the west side Osco on West Third Street. For more information contact Jess Gwinn at 876-8623.
Sunday, November 5th, 2000, 9:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. "Lake Monroe Cleanup at Friendship Road"
Wild Birds Unlimited of Bloomington is organizing another shoreline cleanup and needs volunteers to help. Thus far their efforts have removed over 15 tons of garbage from the shoreline of Lake Monroe. This year they plan to clean up trash at the end of Friendship Road. Originally scheduled for Pine Grove, the location was changed because of high water at Pine Grove and excessive trash at Friendship Road.
As usual, Opie Taylor's Restaurant will be providing lunch for both vegetarian and carnivorous volunteers (thanks go out to the owners of Opie's, Tad Delay and Linda Ripperger, also the owners of the Limestone Grille). Rex Watters of the DNR will provide trash bags for the volunteers and will haul the trash off to the landfill. Please wear appropriate clothing, hiking boots, and gloves for picking up the garbage.
If you want to have fun while helping keep Monroe County beautiful, please come join us. To volunteer call Ross Brittain at Wild Birds Unlimited (333-2121) for directions and so that we can let Opie Taylor's know how much food to prepare.
Saturday, November 11, 2000 "Local Waterfowl"
This will be a half-day trip to local areas to look for shorebirds and other migrants. Meet at 8:00 a.m. in the parking area between Bloomingfoods and K-Mart East on East Third St. For more information call leaders Susan and Jim Hengeveld at 988-1671 or e-mail jhengeve@indiana.edu.
Wednesday, November 29, 2000, 7:00 p.m. "November Program: Creating Backyard Wildlife Habitat"
Ross Brittain, owner of Wild Birds Unlimited, will talk about how to provide food, water and shelter for birds and other wildlife right here in our community. Any plot of ground, no matter how small, can be useful to wildlife. The program will take place in Room 1-C of the Monroe County Public Library. Refreshments will be served.
Saturday, December 16, 2000 "25th Annual Lake Monroe Christmas Bird Count"
Join in the fun for our 25th Lake Monroe count. The more participants and groups we have, the more birds we can record. The day will conclude with our traditional potluck and tally hosted by Henry Wahl at the Woodcrest Party Room at 2606 East Second Street beginning around 6:00 p.m. To be placed on a team, call Don Whitehead at 339-1782 or 855-3091 or Sandy Belth at 825-8353. To coordinate dishes for the potluck call Betsy Whitehead at 339-1782 or Ingid Beery at 335-0643.
Saturday, December 30, 2000 "14th Annual McCormick's Creek Christmas Bird Count"
Round off the millennium year with a great day of birding. All eyes are needed. Come join us on Saturday December 30 for the 14th Annual McCormick's Creek Christmas Bird Count. The count circle includes McCormick's Creek State Park, the Restle unit of the Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge, Green Bluffs Nature Preserve, and a section of the White River. Last year we had 30 participants and recorded 65 species. Come join us and make this another great year for the Count. Please call or e-mail Jeff or Sandy Belth to be placed on a team, 825-8353 or Belthbirds@aol.com. The day is topped off by a potluck dinner and tally at the Belths home.
Let the Counting Begin!
If you enjoy watching the birds at your feeders you might consider becoming a citizen scientist. Becoming a little more involved with counting birds not only adds to one's own enjoyment but helps ornithologists study bird populations in North America. Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology's "Project Feeder Watch" is an annual survey of North American birds that visit feeders in the winter. Since 1987, Project Feeder Watch has grown to include 12,000 participants, who count the birds at their feeders and send their data to ornithologists at Cornell. The information gathered helps ornithologists track changes in the abundance and distribution of numbers and species of birds. For information contact "Cornell Project Feeder Watch" at (800)-843-2473; write to "Project Feeder Watch," Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology, P.O. Box 11, Ithaca, NY 14851-0011; or go to www.ornith.cornell.edu and click on "Project Feeder Watch." Teachers, there is also a "Classroom Feeder Watch" for kids.