2017 Issue 4

Issue 4, November 2017
Stockbridge
Audubon
www.stockbridgeaudubon.org
Representing Northeast Indiana P.O. Box 13131, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46867
Presidents Words promote "hummingbird meditation" as the

By Cynthia Powers latest "thing."
THINGS I LEARNED WHILE SITTING ON

THE PORCH
This summer I spent many hours on the porch,
doing "hummingbird meditation." But there
were fringe benefits: I noticed that a pair of
red-headed woodpeckers were using a nearby
tree hole. Soon two young ones were noisily
competing for sunflower seeds. I already
knew that young ones had brown heads
instead of red, but now since they were so Tribute to Rodger Rang
close, I could see faint streaking on their By Dave Reichlinger
breasts, and black edges on their white wing
feathers, giving a scalloped pattern. Long time birder and Stockbridge member
Rodger Rang passed away on September 9.
So I got out my Sibley guide, and guess This marks the third time is just sixteen
what! They looked just like his picture! months that we have lost one of our senior
I realized that it's worthwhile keeping the birders. Jim Haw died in January and Ted
feeders filled through the summer, so you can Heemstra in May of last year.
observe young birds. I think we had a family Rodger towered over most of us not just in
of titmice too. physical height but in his skill as a birder. He
Although I miss "my" hummingbirds now that had a very good eye and an extraordinary ear.
they've left for the winter, maybe I can Don Gorney, one of Indianas top birders, said
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Rodger was the best in the state. He could The Big Sit! Bird Count Results for
pick up the faintest of notes. I have worked Team FIBS (Fox Island Bird Sitters) -
very hard to learn the primary songs and some - submitted to Bird Watchers Digest by
of the chip notes. Rodger knew the chip notes,
Natalie Haley, team captain
flight call and any other noises a bird made.
1. Mourning Dove Zenaida macroura
He went on trips with Jim and other close 2. Chimney Swift Chaetura pelagica
birding friends and accumulated a life list of 3. Turkey Vulture Cathartes aura
4. Northern Harrier Circus cyaneus
over six hundred birds. In recent years his 5. Cooper's Hawk Accipiter cooperii
primary focus was southwest Allen County. 6. Sharp-shinned Hawk Accipiter striatus
During migration he might go out in both the 7. Red-tailed Hawk Buteo jamaicensis
8. Red-bellied Woodpecker Melanerpes carolinus
morning and afternoon. Eagle Marsh was his 9. Downy Woodpecker Picoides pubescens
favorite stop. Since I live nearby, he would 10. Hairy Woodpecker Picoides villosus
call if he found a good bird. I still have two 11. Northern Flicker Colaptes auratus
12. Merlin Falco columbarius
voice mail messages from him. 13. Eastern Phoebe Sayornis phoebe
14. Blue Jay Cyanocitta cristata
He was not only a wonderful birder; he was a 15. American Crow Corvus brachyrhynchos
wonderful person. Rodger was always 16. Carolina Chickadee Poecile carolinensis
17. Tufted Titmouse Baeolophus bicolor
generous with others in sharing his knowledge 18. White-breasted Nuthatch Sitta carolinensis
and helping us find birds he spotted. He had a 19. Carolina Wren Thryothorus ludovicianus
wonderfully dry sense of humor. In all the 20. American Robin Turdus migratorius
21. European Starling Sturnus vulgaris
years I knew him, I never heard him say 22. Cedar Waxwing Bombycilla cedrorum
anything bad about anyone. 23. American Goldfinch Spinus tristis
24. Yellow-rumped Warbler Setophaga coronata
Rodgers wife Nan asked that memorials be 25. Northern Cardinal Cardinalis cardinalis
donated to Little River Wetlands Project. 26. American Kestrel Falco sparverius
Stockbridge is working with them to find the
best way to honor Rodgers memory. If you Project FeederWatch
would like to contribute, send a check to For anyone who likes to watch birds antics as
them. Their address is 5000 Smith Road, Fort they dine at feeders, Project FeederWatch
Wayne, IN 46804. Please specify that this is may be just whats called for in the cold days
donated in Rodgers name. ahead. A program of the Cornell Laboratory
He will most definitely be missed. of Ornithology, FeederWatch is about to
begin its 24th season. It runs from November
13, 2017 through April 8, 2018. Join your
fellow Stockbridge members in this fun and
educational endeavor! More information can
be found at
http://www.birds.cornell.edu/Page.aspx?pid=1964.
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Stockbridge Board Elections
Its time already to start thinking about the nomination process for positions on the Stockbridge
board. The requirements for board membership, per Cynthia Powers, are as follows:
Qualifications, other than being a carbon-based life form, would be an interest in birding and
conservation and a willingness to come to meetings and to have ideas. E-mail access is helpful.
So it couldnt be much easier! If you think that you would like to give board membership a try,
please contact any of the current board members listed on the back of this newsletter. This is a
great way to help the community of birders, and we would love to have you (plus, such a
position looks great on your resume or company profile).
2017-18 Christmas Bird Counts

FORT WAYNE CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT
Saturday, December 16, 2017
(Sunrise will be at 7:59am and sunset at 5:13pm)
Christmas Bird Counts are held each year to collect data on wintering bird populations and for
the enjoyment of participants. The Fort Wayne count is held in a 15-mile diameter circle (an
internationally standard rule) in northern Allen and southern DeKalb Counties. Participants
divide into field parties of two to four, each with at least one experienced leader, to count all
birds identified by sight or voice in a designated section of the circle. Parties drive county roads
slowly and walk where public lands or permission from landowners permit. Beginner birders
are welcome.
You can participate in a field party for the day, or for half a day, morning or afternoon. There is
no fee for participation. Most all-day and morning participants meet inside Halls Restaurant,
corner of Coliseum Blvd. and Lima Rd. by 8:00 a.m. Some of us arrive in time to have
breakfast at Halls before 8. Some parties meet at a location designated by the leader and go out
earlier to find owls at daybreak. Afternoon-only participants will join their parties at lunch at a
time and location designated by each party leader. Be sure to dress for the weather, including
waterproof, warm boots for wet or snowy conditions. Pack a thermos and snacks. Your party
leader will inform you if you need to bring a sack lunch or if your group will meet with others
at a fast food restaurant for lunch.
Persons who live in the count circle can also participate by counting birds at their feeders and in
the yard but must make arrangements beforehand with the count compilers.
You are encouraged to attend a wrap up session beginning at 5:00 pm. It is a fun gathering
where we share the days experiences and join in compiling the days list. It is a tradition for
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each group to keep secret their best birds seen until the end of the list compiling. We are unable
to use Solomon Farm Park this year due to renovation. Alternate plans are being investigated
and participants will be provided with information later.
If you plan to join in the count as a field observer or feeder watcher, or if you would like further
information, please contact the compilers, Margit Codispoti: [email protected] (260-456-
1996) or Eric Helfrich: [email protected] (260-693-3246) by December 8th.
GENE STRATTON-PORTER CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT (INSP)

When: Sunday, December 17, 2017
Calling all birders!!
I am beginning preparations for our annual Christmas Bird Count at the Gene
Stratton-Porter State Historic Site on Sunday December 17th. We start at 8:00 and we go at least
until noon where lunch will be provided in the Carriage House. We will gather and tally our
birds and talk about what has been counted. The last few years weather hasnt been too
cooperative but weve still had a pretty decent count. We try to have at least 3 teams in the field
so if you have a favorite birding partner, this is a great chance to get out and explore some of
the great birding in Northeast Indiana.
If you are interested in helping out, please let me know. Dont worry if you are unsure
of our area, well be sure to partner you with someone who knows their way around. Our circle
includes Chain O Lakes, Kendallville and a few ACRES preserves around the site so if you
have a preferred area to bird, just let me know. I look forward to having you out to help! You
can contact me via the email address or phone number listed below.
Happy Birding!
Tiffany Conrad
Interpretive Naturalist
Gene Stratton-Porter SHS
Rome City, IN 46784
[email protected]
260.854.3790
PIGEON RIVER CBC

The Pigeon River Christmas Bird Count will take place on Sunday, December 17, 2017. If
interested in participating, please contact Gary Tieben no later than December 10th, and sooner
if possible. Gary can be contacted by phone at 627-6858 or by email at [email protected].
Because hunting season will still be in progress, all participants are strongly advised to wear
something that is hunter orange in color.
POKAGON CBC
The 38th Annual Pokagon Christmas Bird Count will be held on Thursday, December 28, 2017.
4
Birders in predetermined teams will disperse into a 15-mile diameter circle, the center being the
center of Steuben County, to count both species and numbers of all birds.
Participants will gather at the Pokagon State Park Potawatomi Inn, Lonidaw Lounge (west end
of building), by 7:45am to divide into teams and head into the field. Birders should bring their
own birding optics and dress for a day in the field. Participants should also bring a sack lunch
to enjoy in the field, or their team may wish to make other lunch arrangements on their own.
All results will be returned to the count compiler and a final report will be sent to the National
Audubon Society and to all participants. There is no fee for the event.
Residents within Steuben County may also participate by recording birds at their feeders and
reporting them to the count compiler.
To participate is free, but prior registration is required. To do so, contact count compiler Fred
Wooley at 260-495-3307 or 260-243-0513 or E-mail [email protected]. Registration
deadline is December 26. For further information, contact Fred Wooley.
TIPPECANOE CBC
Tippecanoe Audubon Society will hold its annual Christmas Bird Count on Saturday, December
30, 2017. This bird count is held in Kosciusko County with the center of the 15 mile circle at
Oswego, IN. For details and to volunteer contact compiler Dave Hicks at 260-982-2471 or
[email protected]. Please contact Dave in advance if planning to participate.
SANJO (Southern Adams Northern Jay and Ouabache) CBC

Everything is the same as last year for SANJO CBC on Monday, January 1, 2018 - this is the
third year of the circle which was previously the Adams County Count.
Limberlost Visitor Center
200 E. Sixth Street (at US 27)
Geneva IN
Meet at 8:00 am at the Limberlost Visitor Center if you want before going out to your territory.
Chili lunch will be at noon at the Limberlost Visitor Center for all birders in the territory and
feeder counters. Please join us. Meet members of area Audubon chapters. New birders
welcome.
Terri Gorney, compiler; [email protected]
SOUTHWEST ALLEN CBC

The SW Allen CBC will be on January 1, a Monday. The count circle will include Fox Island,
Little River Wetlands properties, and three small ACRES properties. We will meet at the Fox
Island nature center to meet our teams, starting at 8 a.m. Again, our famous chili makers, Brett
Fisher and Lori Healey, will preside over the noontime "count" summary. If you plan to
participate, please register by December 28 with the compiler, Cynthia Powers at 638-4291 or
[email protected].
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P.O. Box 13131, Fort Wayne, IN 46867
Return Service Requested
|Stockbridge Directors and Officers|

Inside this issue:
Presidents Words Cynthia Powers, President 638-4291
Eric Helfrich, Vice President 260-693-3246
Margit Codispoti, Secretary 456-1996
Tribute to Rodger Rang
Dave Reichlinger, Treasurer 432-9431
Sandy Schacht, Director 260-356-3681
The Big Sit! Results Julie Henricks, Newsletter Editor 638-4375
Ed Powers, Membership 638-4291
Christmas Bird Count Plans Terri Gorney, Program Chair 490-6725
John Winebrenner, Director 260-414-4866
Stephanie Wagner, Director [email protected]
And lots of other neat stuff! Phil Wixom, [email protected]
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: Stockbridge Audubon Society, P. O. Box 13131, Fort Wayne, IN 46867

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Issue 4, November 2017

Presidents Words promote "hummingbird meditation" as the

THINGS I LEARNED WHILE SITTING ON

2017-18 Christmas Bird Counts

GENE STRATTON-PORTER CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNT (INSP)

PIGEON RIVER CBC

SANJO (Southern Adams Northern Jay and Ouabache) CBC

Terri Gorney, compiler; [email protected]

SOUTHWEST ALLEN CBC

Return Service Requested

|Stockbridge Directors and Officers|

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

Name YEARLY MEMBERSHIP:

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