Issue 3, August 2019
Stockbridge
Audubon
www.stockbridgeaudubon.org
Representing Northeast Indiana
President’s Words
By Cynthia Powers
In summer between migrations, birds are busy
raising their chicks and birders finally have
time for family events, yard work, and
vacations. You might think we haven’t been
busy, but in fact a lot has been happening.
Terri Gorney helped teach a bird class of over
35 Junior Master Naturalists at Ouabache
State Park. She also presented her talk on
Stockbridge Audubon’s 120th anniversary at
their Lunch & Learn and again at the
Mississinewa Audubon Club, using updated
information. And costumed as “Jane Hine,”
an early naturalist from DeKalb County, she
talked about birds to a Boys and Girls Club in
Fort Wayne.
Several members participated in the June Bird
Blitz that covered various ACRES properties.
John Winebrenner co-led a bird hike along
with a new seasonal naturalist at Chain
O’Lakes State Park. Seven or eight others
enjoyed the outing as well.
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P.O. Box 13131, Fort Wayne, Indiana 46867
And the fall field trips are planned and we
have two birding programs scheduled at Fox
Island!
What can you do to help Stockbridge promote
birding?
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
Sunday, August 11: Juan Velasquez will be
at the Fox Island nature center at 2 p.m. to
speak about a winter birding trip he took with
his father. Please see a complete description
of the program on page 2 of this newsletter.
Sunday, October 13: join us for the annual
Big Sit at the Fox Island nature center. Come
for a little while or all afternoon. There will
be treats to eat and great companionship.
ALSO – at 2 p.m., Stockbridge member Eric
Helfrich will present a program about a
professionally-led birding tour in Eastern
Europe. Starting from Bucharest, Romania to
the Danube Delta at the Black Sea, and
traversing through the Carpathian Mountains
to Transylvania (no Dracula, but lots of Vlad
the Impaler), we will move through the
Hungarian Plains to end in Budapest. Lots of
birds, many of which are rare in the rest of
Europe, and some of which one must go to
Alaska to get in North America!
Save the date! Saturday, December 14,
2019: Fort Wayne Christmas Bird Count.
Juan Velasquez on Birding Sax-Zim
Bog in Winter
By John Velasquez and Terri Gorney
On Sunday, August 11, 2:00 pm, Juan
Velasquez, 12, will be speaking at Fox Island
at the nature center, on his birding trip with
his father, John, to Sax-Zim Bog in Minnesota
in the heart of winter. He will be presenting
the amazing birds of winter and tell of some
of his “lifers” (to birders that is birds that they
see for the first time). His “target” bird was
the Great Gray Owl of Northern Minnesota.
Juan enjoys leading hikes and attends bird
field trips with the Mississinewa Audubon
Club. He has been a presenter at the last
several Indiana Young Birders Conferences
and has led several bird hikes around the state.
He enjoys spending time outside connecting
with nature and teaching his fellow peers and
others about the wonderful beauty of the
birds.
Juan has a twin sister, Catalina, and a younger
brother Luis, 9. He attends Blackford County
schools: just completed Northside Elementary
and will begin Jr. High School in August
2019. Juan plays in the school band playing
the clarinet and was recently moved up to
oboe. He is a member of the chess club and
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the student council. Juan and his siblings also
play soccer in the fall and have for the last
five years.
We hope you will come to hear Juan present
some of the pictures that he took of the winter
rarities of Sax-Zim Bog. This is a family
friendly event hosted by the Stockbridge
Audubon Society with light refreshments
served.
Stockbridge History
By Terri Gorney
Arboretum to House Bird Collection Given
Earlham
One of the finest single collections of
mounted bird skins in the Midwest, the
Stockbridge collection, has been given to the
Joseph Moore Museum of Earlham College
by Alathea Stockbridge of Fort Wayne.
Miss Stockbridge is the daughter of the late
Charles A. Stockbridge, distinguished Hoosier
ornithologist, who collected and mounted the
specimens over a 50-year period.
The unusual collection will be housed in the
nature center of Hayes Arboretum, which has
more storage space than the college museum.
Charles F. McGraw, director of the
arboretum, says the arboretum is “delighted to
serve as home for the bird collection.”
“We think that both the general public and the
Earlham students can enjoy the collection as
we display it here,” McGraw explains.
Arboretum Affiliated
James Cope, director of the Joseph Moore
museum and also educational director of the
arboretum, states that this is a good example
of the close cooperation in educational
programs in the natural science area that
exists between the arboretum and the college.
“Our students use the arboretum as a learning
resource and our majors teach nature classes
to children,” Cope adds.
The Stockbridge collection will be one of the
attractions for the open house to be held at
Hayes Arboretum Sunday marking the
reopening of the arboretum which has been
closed for maintenance work.
Charles A. Stockbridge, who died in 1934,
was one of the foremost bird students of
Indiana. The Fort Wayne native, who was
born in 1856, began collecting birds and
preparing their skins when he was 12 years
old.
From 1909-1933, the Stockbridge collection
of bird skins, eggs and nests was located in
the museum of the Fort Wayne Public Library
and from 1933 until this year was housed in
the Allen County-Fort Wayne Historical
Society Museum.
In the total collection of 235 specimens are
representatives of 173 species. Of this
number, 205 specimens of 147 species are
from Indiana. Included in the collection are 13
species of warblers and 15 species of geese
and ducks.
Among the most interesting and valuable
specimens are the passenger pigeon, now
extinct, the whooping crane, nearing
extinction, and the only raven ever found in
the state of Ohio. The raven is now extinct in
Indiana and Ohio.
The influence of early exposure to the
wonders of the outdoors is shown by the life
of Stockbridge, Cope points out. The
distinguished ornithologist from Fort Wayne
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was frail as a boy and spent little time in
school. Most of his early years he roamed the
fields and woods, learning first-hand from
nature.
His first interest in birds was aroused at the
age of four when he was given a nature book
with illustrations of birds. His training in
taxidermy, as a 12-year old, consisted of only
two lessons. His collection, Cope and
McGraw say, shows exceptional fine quality
mounting proven by the excellent state of
preservation of specimens some of which are
a century old.
Stockbridge was president of the Allen
County Audubon Society for a number of
years and an officer of the state society
serving as one of its lecture board members.
He gave many talks on birds and did much to
encourage bird study and bird protection
especially on the part of children.
In his later years, the beloved ornithologist
was greatly interested in Boy Scouts and spent
much of his time working with them in their
bird and nature studies.
Source: Palladium-Item, Richmond Indiana, Friday,
20 Sep 1968, p. 11.
Big May Day Bird Count
Saturday, May 11
Weather was cool on count day, partly cloudy
becoming cloudy, with moderate wind and no
rain. David Ward in the northeast part of the
county had 12 species above the average for
that territory; the other four territories were
below average. Altogether, we had 131
species, 12 below average. The total number
of individuals was 5199, below the average of
6223.
Bird of the day was American White Pelican. Canada Goose
It has appeared in the Allen County count Turkey Vulture
Red-bellied Woodpecker
only once before, in 2014, and then there were
Cedar Waxwing
only two. Eastern Wood Peewee
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
We set or tied 14 records for Allen County:
Downy Woodpecker
American White Pelican 9 (2 in 2014) Warbling Vireo
Turkey Vulture 126 (113 in 2001) Northern Cardinal
Red-shouldered Hawk 4 (3 in 2017) Northern Parula
Sandhill Crane 6 (5 in 2010) Eastern Phoebe
Barred Owl 5 (4 in 1993, 2013, and American Goldfinch
2014) Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Red-headed Woodpecker 19 (15 in 1987 and American Crow
1988) Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Pileated Woodpecker 5 (ties 2013) Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Northern Parula 47 (33 in 2014) Hairy Woodpecker
American Redstart 112 (ties 1996) Red-eyed Vireo
Prothonotory Warbler 3 (ties 2009) Olive-sided Flycatcher
Eastern Bluebird
The big miss was shorebirds. We average Tufted Titmouse
about 10 species, but this year we had only Chipping Sparrow
three. Yellow Warbler
Barn Swallow
For a complete report, check our website, Carolina Chickadee
under the Events tab. Mallard
White-breasted Nuthatch
Green Heron
2019 Stockbridge Challenge Black and White Warbler
By Stephanie Wagner House Wren
Great Crested Flycatcher
Twelve people met on Saturday morning,
Blue Jay
May 25, to participate in the Stockbridge Red-tailed Hawk
Challenge. Our goal, to find more than 44 Carolina Wren
species of birds in Foster Park to beat the Yellow-throated Warbler
record recorded in Stockbridge Chapter Swainson's Thrush
records from 1938. We were successful in Acadian Flycatcher
Baltimore Oriole
meeting and beating the count in spite of the
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
warm, humid conditions ending our morning European Starling
early around 11:30 with a total of 52 species. Indigo Bunting
Red-headed Woodpecker
The list in order of sighting: Common Grackle
Mourning Dove American Redstart
Chimney Swift House Sparrow
Brown-headed Cowbird Belted Kingfisher
Gray Catbird Great Blue Heron
American Robin

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 STOCKBRIDGE AUDUBON SOCIETY 2019 FALL FIELD TRIPS

Field trips are open to all; we welcome beginners. Keep in mind:

--bring a picnic lunch for all trips lasting past noon, except Lake Michigan (optional for half-day trips), and snacks and drinks
--arrive a few minutes early; we leave on time
--we carpool for out-of-town trips; sharing gas expenses is appreciated; have enough gas if you can drive
--we can meet people at our destination or on the way if arranged in advance
--return times are estimates, and are not guaranteed; you can return early if you drive yourself
--dress for the weather. Waterproof shoes or boots are sometimes needed
--for further information, contact Ed Powers, (260)638-4291, zzedpowers@aol.com

Sat Aug 31 Eagle Marsh. Meet at 7:30 AM at the BSA Scout parking lot at the end of Olde Canal Place (opposite Lutheran
Hospital campus). Shorebirds, herons, swallows, etc. Up to two miles on flat trails; boots recommended. Finish by
noon. Leader: Ed Powers

Sat Sep 7 Lake Michigan lakefront. Leave at 6:00 AM from north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69).
Waterfowl, late shorebirds, gulls and terns. Travel mostly by car, with frequent stops and short walks. Return about
6:00-6:30 PM. Leaders: Ed Powers, Stephanie Wagner

Sat Sep 14 Franke Park, 3411 Sherman Blvd. Meet at 8:00 AM at the BMX track. Migrant songbirds. Up to two miles on
somewhat hilly trails. For those wanting a shorter, family and beginner friendly trip, meet us at 10:30 at the Shoaff
Lake parking lot. Done by noon. Leader: Greg Majewski

Sat Sep 21 Salamonie Reservoir. Leave at 7:30 AM from NE corner of Rural King parking lot, 8801 US 24 just W of I-69, or meet
us at 8:00 AM at Forks of the Wabash, SW corner of US 24 and IN 9, Huntington. Hawks, songbirds. Largely birding
by car, but up to three miles on foot; some hills, may be muddy spots. Return around 5:00 PM. Leaders: Sandy
Schacht, Andrew Wolfe

Sat Sep 28 Fox Island County Park. Meet at 8:00 AM at the Vera Dulin Bldg parking lot at Fox Island, 7324 Yohne Rd.
Woodpeckers, woodland songbirds, including migrant warblers. Three or four miles on easy trails; may be some wet
spots. Finish by noon. Leaders: Eric Helfrich, Stephanie Wagner. Park entrance fee of $2 payable at self-serve post
just inside gate or at the Nature Center.

Sat Oct 5 Howard Marsh, Ottawa NWR. Meet at 6:30 at the southeast side of the Meijer lot on Maysville Rd. just W of I-469 at
IN 37. Waterfowl, herons, shorebirds. Return around 6-7 PM. Leaders: John Winebrenner, Margit Codispoti

Sat Oct 12 Eagle Marsh. Meet at 8:30 AM at the BSA Scout parking lot at the end of Olde Canal Place (opposite Lutheran
Hospital campus). Waterfowl, some shorebirds, sparrows, etc. Up to two miles on flat trails. Finish by noon.
Leaders: Ed Powers, John Winebrenner

Sun Oct 13 BIG SIT BIRD COUNT on the back deck of Fox Island Nature Center, 7324 Yohne Rd. All afternoon; come when you
can! No walking, snacks and rest rooms close at hand. BONUS: Eric and Mary Helfrich talk about their trip to
Romania and Hungary.

Sat Oct 26 Pigeon River FWA. Leave at 7:00 AM from north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69), or meet us
at FWA Hq, about 1/2 mile east of Mongo. Hawks, woodpeckers, songbirds, Sandhill Cranes, maybe owls. Some
easy walking. Return around 5:00 PM. Leaders: Sam Plew, Margit Codispoti

Sun Oct 27 Hurshtown Reservoir. Meet at the reservoir,16000 Roth Rd, 1 mi S of SR 1 (1.5 mi N of Grabill Rd) at 3 PM. Loons,
grebes, ducks, gulls, maybe Snow Buntings. We circle the reservoir by car, stopping occasionally to get out and
scope the water. Finish by 5:00 PM. Leader: Ed Powers

Sun Nov 10 Hurshtown Reservoir. Same as Oct 27.

Sat Nov 16 Limberlost Swamp and Loblolly Marsh, Adams and Jay Cos.; leave at 11:00 AM. from E side of Walmart lot (behind
Wendy’s) at Southtown Centre, W side of US 27 South, just S of Tillman Rd., or meet us at Limberlost Historic Site in
Geneva at noon.; return around 7 PM. Waterfowl, shorebirds, hawks; stay til dusk for Short-eared Owls. Leaders:
Margit Codispoti, Stephanie Wagner

Sat Nov 23 Kingsbury FWA or Kankakee FWA (depending on conditions), and Jasper-Pulaski FWA. Leave at 11:30 AM from the
north end of Meijer parking lot, 6309 Lima Rd (north of I-69). Waterfowl and late shorebirds at Kingsbury or
Kankakee, and thousands of Sandhill Cranes at J-P. We customarily stop for supper at a fast-food restaurant in
Winamac. Return about 8:00 PM. Leaders: Eric Helfrich, John Winebrenner

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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 638-4291
President’s Words Julie Henricks, V.P. & Newsletter Editor 638-4375
Terri Gorney, Secretary & Program Chair 490-6725
Upcoming Events Eric Helfrich, Treasurer 260-693-3246
Sandy Schacht, Director 260-356-3681
More Stockbridge History Margit Codispoti, Director 456-1996
Ed Powers, Membership 638-4291
Spring Bird Count Results Dave Reichlinger, Director 432-9431
Stephanie Wagner, Director sewsings328@gmail.com
Greg Majewski, Director_________________gamajewski@gmail.com
Fall Field Trip Schedule
Phil Wixom, Webmaster_________________a28n28@yahoo.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
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