Issue 3, August 2015

Stockbridge
Audubon
www.stockbridgeaudubon.org
Representing Northeast Indiana

P.O. Box 13131, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46864

Presidents Words
By Julie Henricks

from the Serv-All ponds in Ft. Wayne Apr. 23

(Rodger Rang). An Am. White Pelican was at
Eagle Marsh May 16-17 (Rang), a flock was on
Hamilton Lake in Steuben around May 12-14
(local residents), and 38 were in Lagrange Co.
June 11 (Sam Plew). Am. Bittern was detected at
Eagle Marsh May 7 and 9 (Rang), and Pigeon
River May 28 (Rang). Two Least Bitterns graced
Pigeon R. May 15 (Plew et al) and 28 (Rang,
Sandy Schacht, Marisa Windell).The returning
Black-crowned Night Heron was at Franke Park
Apr. 18 (Doug Rood), earliest by 2 days for NE
IN, and another was at Eagle Marsh May 13
(Rang). A Broad-winged Hawk arrived in Rangs
neighborhood Apr. 17 and was the first of a
nesting pair.
Two Black-necked Stilts stopped at Limberlost
Swamp Wetland Preserve, Adams Co., Apr. 25
(Terri Gorney, and 2 more June 12 (Gorney).
Am. Golden Plovers also visited Limberlost,
peaking at 18 May 2 (Gorney) with 6 there May 6
(Jim Haw). Two Am. Avocets stopped over at
Eagle Marsh May 21, latest spring record for NE
IN by 14 days (Rang). There were four reports of
Caspian Terns, the largest number being 3 at
Eagle Marsh Apr. 8 (Rang). Remarkable was a
Chuck-wills-Widow found at Pigeon River by
May 17 (Plew) which was still there July 2 (Plew)
and was heard by many. Two Whip-poor-wills in
SW Allen Co. Apr. 26-28 were rare for Allen
(Robin Stark, Ed & Cynthia Powers, Rang).
A Merlin at Limberlost Swamp and a Peregrine
Falcon at Rainbow Bend Apr. 18 (Stockbridge
field trip) were of note, as was a Peregrine Falcon

As I was picking apples from one of my

trees recently, I came across a ruined chipping
sparrow nest. It was hanging at a weird angle,
knocked awry by the June 27 gale, and contained
one forlorn egg. I wondered how many other
nests were destroyed that day; there must have
been thousands. And the tree itself is at its end,
shattered beyond hope by that same storm.
Now as August begins, there is hope of
calmer weather. The chipping sparrows
undoubtedly built a new nest; I have new apple
trees, grafted from the old one last year, ready to
take its place. Another cheering thought is the
upcoming Stockbridge field trip schedule: as
usual, many fascinating outings are planned.
Please pencil us in for one, or many! Well look
forward to seeing you.

BIRD NOTES by Jim Haw

April 6-July 20
Spring brought many notable records. A high
count of 55 Double-crested Cormorants came
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at Eagle Marsh Apr. 17 (Rang). A Yellow-bellied

Flycatcher was at Franke Park May 14 (Rood).
Bells Vireo returned to Eagle Marsh May 6
(Rang). In a poor season for Red-breasted
Nuthatches, one at Salamonie May 2
(Stockbridge field trip) was notable. Sedge
Wrens were found at Eagle Marsh May 7 (Rang)
and Pigeon River May 8 (Plew). A rare Wormeating Warbler was at Bicentennial Woods May 3
(Phil Wixom). Six single Golden-winged
Warblers were found May 3-15, a good migration
for this rare species. Two Orange-crowned
Warblers graced Fox Island May 1 (Haw).
Connecticut Warbler was found at Franke Park
May 18 (Haw, Casey Ryan) and Fox Island May
22 (Stockbridge field trip). Rare migrant
sparrows included a Nelsons Sparrow at Eagle
Marsh May 23 (Rang) and a Clay-colored at
Eagle Marsh Apr. 22 (Rang). Something is going
on with Lark Sparrow, which is becoming rare
but regular as a migrant and may be nesting at
Pigeon River. One was found at Salamonie May
2 (Stockbridge field trip), with separate birds at
Pigeon May 8 (Plew) and May 28 (Rang,
Schacht, Windell). Blue Grosbeaks are also
spreading into NE IN, with birds in SW Allen Co.
May 11 (Rang), near Geneva, Adams Co. May 24
(Haw), Eagle Marsh June 17 (Rang), Tri-County
FWA June 20 (Haw), and several records from
Pigeon River. A star of the spring was a male
Yellow-headed Blackbird that acted territorial at
Limberlost Swamp Apr. 30-May 6 (Haw, Schacht
et al) but did not stay. Another was in Lagrange
Co. May 23 (Plew). A notable Rusty Blackbird
flock of 200+ was at Eagle Marsh Apr. 8 (Rang).
Limberlost Swamp produced two more
exceptional rarities in early June, a Glossy Ibis
June 10-12 (Gorney, Randy Lehman, many
observers) and a Hudsonian Godwit June 12-13
(Ed Hopkins, many others). Another rarity was
NE INs first Black-bellied Whistling-Duck at
Franke Park, found July 16 (Joe Smith),

confirmed by Dave Messmann

and others, still present July 20 (Bob Guth). A
pair of Ring-necked Ducks in Steuben Co. June 4
may have been nesting (Fred Wooley). A Cattle
Egret was in Ft. Wayne June 3 (Gary
Williams).King Rail was found at Limberlost
June 9 (Haw, Schacht, Windell). An introduced
Whooping Crane wandered into Steuben in early
June and stayed around (Wooley). A Whiterumped Sandpiper in Lagrange Co. June 15 was
NE INs latest in spring by 3 days (Plew). An
Alder Flycatcher at Eagle Marsh June 4 (Rang)
was a late migrant. Astounding was an apparent
nesting by Golden-crowned Kinglet at Pigeon
River (Leland Shaum, Plew et al). Pigeon
Rivers Blue-headed Vireo also returned to its
territory of recent years (Haw, et al), while a
Bells Vireo at Dallas Lake, Lagrange Co., July
13 (Plew) may have been wandering. Sedge
Wrens were in Noble Co. July 20 (Dave
Reichlinger) and at Limberlost Swamp July 19
(Don Gorney). A Canada Warbler acting
territorial in Salamonie R. State Forest June 16
(Haw, Schacht, Windell) was out of place, as was
a very late Pine Siskin in Don Ryans Allen Co.
yard June 5-9.
Seventeen Short-billed Dowitchers at Limberlost
July 10 (Gorney) marked the beginning of the fall
shorebird migration, and three were in Allen Co.
July 12 (Rang). Other shorebirds followed,
notably a Stilt Sandpiper at Limberlost July 19
(Don Gorney).
Ed. Note: For our own Dave Reichlinger,
Stockbridge treasurer, the Black-Bellied
Whistling-Duck was #200 for his Indiana Year
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List! Its a mystery why this bird was so far from

its home in south Texas and Florida; it didnt
escape from the zoo.

using its huge gaping mouth. One scientist found

over 500 mosquitoes in the belly of a Common
Nighthawk, so we are all especially fond of this
species!
We also know of the frenetic whip-poor-will
call of the Whip-poor-will, which can be found
each year in clearings at Pigeon River. These
more round-winged birds hunt from the ground or
a perch, sallying up to screen insects into their
mouths using rictal bristles curving around their
gapes, just as baleen whales strain krill from
ocean waters. Weve heard them before at other
locations, although seeing them in the dusk can
be another matter. Whip-poor-wills time their
hatchings to correspond with the waxing moon,
so that hunting is easier when the young ones are
hungriest.
This night, however, we were after a bird we had
never heard nor seen, although we came within
minutes of seeing one at Audubons Corkscrew
Swamp in Florida. (Another one of those stories
like You just missed it! It was on that stump for
the last 20 minutes!). Several area birders had
located a Chuck-wills-widow, a bird that is
found in southern Indiana and further south, but
not usually seen this far north. Like the Whippoor-will, it hunts from a perch or the ground in
clearings on moon-lit nights, and tonight was
going to have a very bright moon. Armed with
directions from Rodger Rang and others, we
intended to track it down and hear its signature
call.
We slowly entered the parking area next to a large
clearing in the woods. Next came the mosquito
protection; the more DEET the better. Suddenly,
we noticed a car coming from the opposite
direction, stopping occasionally to listen. This
could only be another birder. No one else would
be out here at this time of night. The car door
opened and out stepped Sam Plew. Sam is an
enthusiastic area birder who knows the Pigeon
River locations very well. He too was checking
up on the Goatsuckers, and he offered to lead the

Upcoming events:
August 11 Tuesday evening, 6:30 pm movie night at
Fox Island: Five Lost Birds. A sculptor created
statues of these extinct birds. Documentary is one
hour. Free with park admission ($2 or use your pass.)
October 11: Big Sit at Fox Island Nature Center; all
afternoon, come when you can and let the birds come
to us!

October 18: 2 p.m. At Pokagon State Park Nature

Center: Alex Forsythe will talk about Short-Eared
Owls.

A NIGHTTIME BIRDING ADVENTURE

BY ERIC HELFRICH

Goatsuckers: Not a name that I would think of to

describe a bird family. However, the
Caprimulgidae (pronounced cap-rih-MULL-jihdee) have been saddled with that nickname,
because they were supposed to sneak into barns at
night and suck the milk from nanny goats. And
here Mary and I were, driving slowly through the
gathering gloom of the Pigeon River Fish and
Game area, on a quest to increase our life list of
Goatsuckers by a whopping 50% (from two to
three)!
We were already familiar with the Common
Nighthawk, that pointy-winged hunter who
swooped around the night lights of our
Churubusco IGA parking lot, uttering its startling
Peent call and flashing the bold white bars on
its primaries as it scooped up loads of insects
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Green Herons Nest Colony Located in SW

Fort Wayne Neighborhood
By Rodger Rang
The American Birding Association has declared its
2015 Bird of the Year to be the Green Heron, a species
easily enough identified, sufficiently common and
widespread enough to be known and appreciated by
even the most casual of nature enthusiasts. Like no
doubt many other Stockbridge Audubon members, I
have some neat memories of my experiences with the
bird, but this summer I added significantly to that
database of special moments when I confirmed
colonial nesting in my own figurative back yard.

way.
We moved off, following a dim set of wheel
tracks onto a ridge. As we walked, the moon
came up and the show started. Several Whippoor-wills began calling around us, making a
lively racket. Sam led us several hundred yards
down the track, had us face to the northwest
toward a tree line in the distance, and cup our
ears. CHIP wido WIDO! There it was, a clear,
strong call, distinctly different from the Whippoor-wills all around us. No way to see it, but we
had finally gotten to hear this normally southern
caprimulgid, thanks to Sams expertise and other
folks directions. It did not call for long, but
seemed to move away from our position. We
returned to our cars, thanked Sam, and drove off
into the blackness of the night. Success! One
never knows what one will find on a birding
trip in northern Indiana. That is what makes
birding so interesting.

As I was leaving home one late June morning, a Green

Heron fortuitously flew in front of me as it approached
a small island in a small nearby pond. I had hoped that
they nested somewhere in the neighborhood, as Id
seen birds depart Eagle Marsh many times heading
that direction, seen birds leaving the neighborhood
many times heading toward the marsh, and, most
notably, seen birds flying over me many times
heading both directionsat Lutheran Hospital,
roughly the half-way point between these two areas.
So I later returned on foot just as another adult heron
arrived. I waited a bit, and thenthere they were, five
young herons mobbing two adults for food.
Confirmed nesting! Cool!
Green Herons are typically solitary nesters, but as both
the frequency of Lutheran flyovers and the apparent
number of individuals involved increased the
following week, I began to suspect otherwise in this
particular case. This proved to be true when my next
visit to the pond in early July revealed at least 17
heronsfour adults and at least 13 young in what
appeared to be three distinct broods. And then a
follow-up visit in mid-July netted an estimate of 16-20
birdsfour adults and four groups of 3-4 younga
total that didnt include the very first brood that had
likely already dispersed. And, finally, though activity
had decreased significantly on a visit in late July, I still
found two new nests, one with the two youngest birds
I had seen there yet. Confirmed COLONIAL
nesting! WAY cool!

You might want to know about:

Midwest Birding Symposium, Sept. 11-12, Bay
City, Michigan
Michigan Crane Festival, Oct. 10-11, Berry County,
Michigan
Both have websites for more information.