Issue 2, April 2021

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

President’s Words
By Cynthia Powers

It’s hard to believe but I’ve been president of

Stockbridge Audubon chapter for five years
now! Something has made me think of term
limits, and I’m so happy to announce that
Lorenzo Kleine has agreed to take it over.
You may have noticed that the ballot in the
last newsletter didn’t assign anyone to offices,
but all the other officers and directors have
agreed to continue in their current positions.
So Lorenzo will have the benefit of
continuity.
Lorenzo is a good organizer, being Operations
Manager of the Fort Wayne Philharmonic,
and also a part time employee of Allen
County Parks at Fox Island. I also know that
he is a really good birder! In fact, he recently
spotted Species #251 at Eagle Marsh: a Red-
necked Grebe on April 8. And he’s not a
senior citizen!
Red-necked Grebe courtesy of Ed Powers (taken at
Nasby Dam in Pigeon River FWA, 2014)
We really need to attract some younger
birders, including children. The pandemic has
enabled a lot of new backyard birders, whom
we must encourage. Although our spring
field trips won’t involve carpooling, we hope
any new people will feel welcome.
On the trail at Eagle Marsh on April 8, I
picked up my first tick! Luckily, I had saved
the address of a Purdue entomologist who
needs live ticks for a study of potential
diseases they carry. It’s easy: you just put the
live tick in a small ziplock bag and mail it to
TickINsiders. 901 W. State St., West

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Lafayette IN 47907, along with your email
address, location and temperature where the
tick was collected. Oh, yes, it can’t have
already bitten you to be eligible. Doesn’t that
sound like a fun spinoff hobby for birders?
Dog Tick (photo courtesy of the Internet)
Recently I sent my Vortex binoculars in to
have the eyecups repaired. When I called to
make sure the address was right, they emailed
a free address label! In about a week, the
eyecups had been replaced for free, and they
even corrected the alignment that I hadn’t
even realized was off. I’m told that if they
can’t fix a Vortex they will replace it for free.
Unbelievable customer service! If you’re in
the market for a good mid-priced binocular,
I’d recommend you consider a Vortex.
I guess that’s my “famous last words!” Enjoy
the spring migration.
Stockbridge Audubon is 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
Indiana Dunes Festival: May 13-16.
Salamonie luncheon: August 2. Terri
Gorney will speak about the early years of
Stockbridge Audubon Society and the Charles
Stockbridge Collection. Watch Stockbridge’s
Facebook page for further information.
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Big May Day Bird Count
Discontinued
By Ed Powers
The following notice appeared in the May
2021 issue of the Indiana Audubon Society
Cardinal newsletter:
“After careful thought and discussion, the
Indiana Audubon Society has decided to end
the annual Big May Day Bird Count, held
formally 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.”
In place of the BMDBC, IAS is encouraging
Indiana birders to participate in the Global
Big Day on May 8, 2021. This is a world-
wide bird count, started in 2015, and is
sponsored by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology.
Birders simply submit their counts via eBird.
It costs nothing to join eBird, and it’s easy to
use. So go out on May 8, count the birds you
see, and submit your results. Or join the
Stockbridge field trip at Fox Island that day.
Bluebird Feeding courtesy of Terri Gorney
 Bluebird courtesy of Terri Gorney
Bluebird Beauty courtesy of Terri Gorney
If you recently joined National Audubon 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. (Telling him just once is
sufficient.) If you don’t wish to continue receiving
the newsletter after the first issue, don’t do
anything and nothing further will be sent to you.
___________________________________________
Bluebird Baby #1 courtesy of Terri Gorney
Shade-Grown Coffee Can Benefit
Stockbridge
Are you searching for just the right gift for that coffee
lover on your list? If so, Noblesville’s Wood Warbler
Coffee might hold the solution to your dilemma.
Eco-friendly, ethically grown whole-bean and ground
coffees are available in 12-oz. packages; 5-lb. bags of
whole beans also may be ordered. Each item
purchased under the “Conservation Partners” tab and
the Stockbridge Audubon logo will result in a
donation to Stockbridge (10% of the purchase price).
To learn more, go to www.woodwarblercoffee.com.

Bluebird Baby #2 courtesy of Terri Gorney

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

Return Service Requested

|Stockbridge Directors and Officers|

Inside this issue:
Cynthia Powers, President 260-638-4291
President’s Words Julie Henricks, V.P. & Newsletter Editor 260-638-4375
Terri Gorney, Secretary & Program Chair 260-490-6725
Big May Day Bird Count Eric Helfrich, Treasurer 260-693-3246
Discontinued Margit Codispoti, Director 260-456-1996
Lorenzo Kleine, Director lorenzo.kleine@gmail.com
Greg Majewski, Director_________________gamajewski@gmail.com
Bluebird Photos Ed Powers, Membership 260-638-4291
Dave Reichlinger, Director 260-432-9431
And other interesting stuff! Sandy Schacht, Director Emerita 260-356-3681
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