Issue 2, April 2020

Stockbridge
Audubon
www.stockbridgeaudubon.org
Representing Northeast Indiana P.O. Box 13131, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46867

President’s Words It’s almost time to put up hummingbird feeders.

By Cynthia Powers
Today in the middle of the Covid-19 crisis,
birders are especially frustrated by having to miss
much of the spring migration. We followed
National Audubon’s guidelines (and common
sense) and canceled our spring field trips, at least
through April.
However, we can still watch in our own back
yards and visit local parks, while maintaining
social distance. Take your binoculars for a hike!
Fort Wayne is blessed with many trails such as the
Rivergreenway. Fox Island County Park and
Eagle Marsh are open, although buildings and
programs are closed. Eagle Marsh is even
opening the “green gate” on certain days so that
some can drive up toward the barn to experience
the new “floating dock.”
As you go out on essential errands, nothing will
stop you from taking an alternate route home and
birding from the car. Much can be seen that way!
Several online courses are available from Cornell
Lab of Ornithology. Right now I’m in the middle
of “Warbler ID.” (Continuing ed. For Master
Naturalists.)
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Rubythroats have been seen in southern Indiana.
Use ¼ cup sugar in 1 cup of water; no artificial
coloring.
Cormorants and pelicans have been seen in Eagle
Marsh, right along normally busy Engle Road.
Farther afield, Limberlost swamp on the
Adams/Jay Co. line hosted a Cattle Egret for a
few days. It’s interesting when birds don’t read
the bird books.
Now might be a good time to sign up for the IN-
bird listserve, where many sightings are recorded.
It’s free! Just go to
https://list.indiana.edu/sympa/subscribe/IN-bird-l.
Be prepared for lots of email.
Spring is coming; the birds are coming. Stay
well!
Stockbridge Audubon is now on Instagram!
Follow us at @stockbridgeaudubon (and don't
forget to DM us with any Northeast Indiana
bird photos you have taken, and you could be
featured).
Upcoming Programs and Events
Discontinuation of the Big May Day Count was
announced recently by the Indiana Audubon
Society. The following appears on their website,
https://indianaaudubon.org/bird-counts/: “After
careful thought and discussion, the
Indiana Audubon Society (IAS) has decided
to end the annual Big May Day Bird Count,
held formerly on the second Saturday in
May. Over the last 27 years, the count has
averaged less than 50% participation of
the counties submitting data and
individual participation has seen a steady
decline over the years; averaging over a
hundred less counters from the first 14
years to the last 13 years through 2019.”
Sunday, June 7 at 2 p.m.: Mark your calendars
for this event at the Fox Island County Park nature
center. Jeff Ormiston will give a presentation on
dragonflies -- hear about these fascinating insects
and then try to net some behind the nature center!
This promises to be a good program for families.
Update: please monitor the Stockbridge
Facebook page for the latest information about
this event, as it could be postponed due to the
coronavirus pandemic.
Rodger Rang and Spring
Migration
By Terri Gorney
When I think of Rodger Rang, I think of his IN-
Bird reports during spring migration. Rodger lived
in southwest Fort Wayne close to Eagle Marsh
and Fox Island. He knew this area well. It was his
“backyard” for birding. I think many birders
enjoyed his reports that were filled with not only
information about birds but humor. Rodger
enjoyed going birding before and after work and
during a break from running errands of picking up
coffee or a pizza.
Rodger was excellent at birding by ear and he had
a sixth sense where the birds were located. He
would check places such as flooded farm fields
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off of Homestead and Amber Roads. He seemed
to know when the shorebirds would be arriving.
Rodger would lead birding hikes for Stockbridge
Audubon Society at Eagle Marsh and Fox Island.
He was patient with beginning birders with
helping them to see and hear the birds. Seasoned
birders appreciated his knowledge.
Two birds that I associate with Rodger are the
blue grosbeak and Bell’s vireo. Rodger seemed to
always know where there would be a blue
grosbeak singing along Yohne Road.
In 2014, Rodger reported Bell’s vireos at the west
side of Eagle Marsh. On May 30 of that year, I
went to the marsh at first light and was treated to
seeing and hearing three of them in the bushes at
close range. It was a lifer for me and so easy
thanks to Rodger.
Rodger, we miss your humor, friendship, and
birding reports. I hope you are still chasing the
birds.
Stockbridge: The Next Generation
By Terri Gorney
The Allen County Audubon Society was founded
by a group of Fort Wayne residents. In 1934, after
the death of Charles Stockbridge, the name was
changed to the Stockbridge Audubon Society. The
mission was the same. The society was dedicated
to the preservation of birds and to teach the
younger generation to enjoy birds. By 1905, they
had included programs in schools all over Allen
County.
By the 1930s, Stockbridge had a new generation
of dedicated members, many of whom were
teachers and born around the time that
Stockbridge was first formed.
Iva Spangler was born in Adams County in 1899.
She started teaching in a one-room schoolhouse.
She moved to Fort Wayne in the late 1920s,
where she taught biology at Central High School,
later at IPFW. She loved the natural world. Iva
was a 50 year member of Stockbridge Audubon
Society. For twenty years, she was an interpreter
at Pokagon State Park, Clifty Falls State Park and
Spring Mill State Park during the summer months.
She was active in several other organizations. She
started a Nature Study Club at Central High
School. Iva started the first bird list for Fox Island
County Park.

Howard Michaud was born in 1902 in Berne. He

came to Fort Wayne in the 1920s. He taught
biology at Central High School and Northside
High School. He was active in the Stockbridge
Audubon Society in 1930s and 1940s. He was the
first Chief Interpreter for the Indiana State Parks
when it was a summer job. He helped with the
Stockbridge Christmas Bird Counts and was the
compiler for at least one of them. In 1946 he
became a professor at Purdue University in W. Cattle Egret, seen at Limberlost on April 2, 2020.
Lafayette. There is now a Howard Michaud Photo courtesy of Lorenzo Kleine
Award named in his honor by the Environmental
Education Association of Indiana (EEAI).

Catherine Pusey, a graduate of Earlham College,

moved to Fort Wayne in 1928. She taught at
Forest Park School. She led bird walks for the
students around the Lakeside Park area. She was
active in Stockbridge Audubon Society.
Frederick Breeze was a geology teacher for
Northside High School. He was active in
Stockbridge Audubon Society and Indiana
Audubon Society. He served as president of the
Indiana Audubon Society.

Louisiana Waterthrush, seen at Fox Island on

April 9, 2020. Photo courtesy of Lorenzo Kleine

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 Society, you’re receiving this complimentary
newsletter because you are automatically
granted membership in the local Stockbridge
chapter when you join National. If you would
like to continue receiving the letter, which is
produced four times a year, please call Ed
Powers at 260-638-4291 or email him at
zzedpowers@aol.com and let him know
whether you would prefer a paper or emailed
version. If you don’t wish to continue
receiving this newsletter, don’t do anything
and no further issues will be sent to you.

Julie Henricks recently found this blue-spotted

salamander holed up under a downspout diverter.
These cute creatures appear occasionally in Julie’s
Coffee lovers, don’t forget to visit
yard and even her basement. www.woodwarblercoffee.com for all of
your shade-grown coffee needs! Use the
Stockbridge tab when ordering, to benefit
Stockbridge Election Results: everyone our chapter.
on the slate was elected. Thanks to all
who voted!

If you recently joined National Audubon

P.O. Box 13131, Fort Wayne, IN 46867

Return Service Requested

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Inside this issue:
|Stockbridge Directors and Officers|
President’s Words Cynthia Powers, President 260-638-4291
Julie Henricks, V.P. & Newsletter Editor 260-638-4375
Rodger Rang and Spring Terri Gorney, Secretary & Program Chair 260-490-6725
Eric Helfrich, Treasurer 260-693-3246
Migration Margit Codispoti, Director 260-456-1996
Lorenzo Kleine, Director lorenzo.kleine@gmail.com
Stockbridge: The Next Greg Majewski, Director_________________gamajewski@gmail.com
Generation Ed Powers, Membership 260-638-4291
Dave Reichlinger, Director 260-432-9431
2020 Election Results Stephanie Wagner, Director sewsings328@gmail.com
Phil Wixom, Webmaster a28n28@yahoo.com
Andrew Wolfe, Director jawwolfe@gmail.com

We welcome new members using the form below (or apply online). To speed your service and save us postage, mail renewals directly to National
Audubon, using the form that they provide. Any questions relating to membership? Ed Powers, Membership
Chair, will be glad to help!

Online new membership requests: https://action.audubon.org/donate/chapter-membership?chapter=H09

Or mail the following form:

National Audubon Society/Stockbridge Audubon Chapter Membership Application H09

I want to join Audubon! Enclosed is my check payable to the National Audubon Society.

Name YEARLY MEMBERSHIP:

Individual/$20 Family/$20
Address ________________________________

City/State/Zip________________________________

Mail to: National Audubon Society, 225 Varick St., New York, NY 10014