We will resume our Wednesday evening walks at our wildlife sanctuary this month. Join me for a relaxing stroll on March 26th at 6:00 p.m. to see what interesting things we can find. Perhaps we will find some very early spring migrants or some winter hangers-on. Some spring ephemerals may be blooming. Wear sturdy shoes. The trails may be muddy. Dress for the weather. Our wildlife sanctuary is located at 59395 Clover Rd., Mishawaka, Indiana (dropped pin: https://maps.app.goo.gl/ELfUApBeyhnjNzwC6).

On March 22nd we will head to the Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area’s Grande Marsh in LaPorte County. The Grande Marsh is host to large flocks of waterfowl. 

For those of you wanting to carpool or caravan, meet at the north end of the Kohl's parking lot on Ireland Road at 7:45 a.m. It is about a half-hour drive to Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area from there. 

For anyone wishing to meet at Kingsbury Fish & Wildlife Area, we will be here: 41.509192,-86.581797 (https://maps.app.goo.gl/oss62RtBr8zjHtcJ7). We should arrive there from South Bend at approximately 8:15-8:30 a.m. (Eastern time). 

Dress for the weather. I will have a spotting scope, but if you have your own, you may want to bring it. I will also have binoculars but bring your own if you have them. There are no restroom facilities readily available at the Grande Marsh. 

Any questions, contact Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

Our next membership meeting will be on Sunday, March 9th at 2:00 p.m. at the rustic Elkhart Conservation Club (ECC), 55515 Riviera Dr., Elkhart, IN 46514.

Our speaker will be Brian Flory, Indiana Associate Program Director for Solar United Neighbors. Solar United Neighbors is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization (NPO) with 14 state teams, including here in Indiana. It is a community of people striving to build a new energy system with rooftop solar panels as the cornerstone. Brian’s presentation is titled Solar 101. In his program, he will share solar basics, the solar policy landscape in Indiana, and free programs that Solar United offers to help residential households, nonprofit organizations, farms, and small businesses go solar.

The general public is always welcome to attend our membership meetings. Bring a friend, meet new people, and enjoy hot refreshments and delicious treats while learning all about solar power and its benefits. Hope to see you there!

Are you interested in helping with invasive plant species removal? The Izaak Walton League (IWLA) could use your help. This activity is open to members and non-members of the IWLA. It's a great opportunity to see their property. 

This facility on the north side of South Bend is maintained as a nature preserve covering over 120-acres that include grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands; a section of Juday Creek (a unique cold-water trout stream); ponds stocked with fish; hiking trails; and both sides of the St. Joseph River between Darden Road to the north and Cleveland Road to the south. It is a great place for those that enjoy nature and outdoor recreation (for information about this IWLA Chapter facility, see its website at www.ikesb.com). As wonderful as it is, this IWLA facility has a serious problem with non-native invasive plants. Accordingly, the IWLA has commenced with a project to remove non-native invasive plants and replace them with native plants.

The IWLA work days are on Saturdays and will be from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Volunteers that would like to help on these work days will be welcomed.

The target invasive plants to be removed primarily include bush honeysuckle, Oriental bittersweet, autumn olive and multiflora rose. IWLA volunteer project leaders will use chainsaws to cut identified invasive plants and will use a glyphosate herbicide to paint on the cut stumps immediately after cutting the plants. It is expected that most volunteers will likely be needed to help drag the cut branches to designated pile areas, and also to help further cut the branches into smaller pieces in order to reduce the size of the piles. Volunteers should dress for the weather and for outdoor work, and should provide their own work gloves, eye protection, and hearing protection – and should bring their own cutting tools if they have them. Drinking water and snacks will be provided for the volunteers. Please note that volunteers will be required to sign a liability waiver form that lists a contact person in case of an emergency, and volunteers under the age of 18 will be required to have a parent or legal garden sign this form. Also note that this type of work can be physically demanding; therefore, if you have a medical condition that would prevent you from safely doing the work, please consider helping in some other way. 

The IWLA facility is located at 20400 Darden Road, on the north side of South Bend, Indiana. Enter at the main entrance gate on the south side of Darden Road (east of the St. Joseph River) and take the entrance drive over Juday Creek and up the hill to the parking lot by the IWLA lodge. Additional directions to this IWLA Chapter facility can be found on their website at www.ikesb.com.

Are you interested in helping with invasive plant species removal? The Izaak Walton League (IWLA) could use your help. This activity is open to members and non-members of the IWLA. It's a great opportunity to see their property. 

This facility on the north side of South Bend is maintained as a nature preserve covering over 120-acres that include grasslands, woodlands, and wetlands; a section of Juday Creek (a unique cold-water trout stream); ponds stocked with fish; hiking trails; and both sides of the St. Joseph River between Darden Road to the north and Cleveland Road to the south. It is a great place for those that enjoy nature and outdoor recreation (for information about this IWLA Chapter facility, see its website at www.ikesb.com). As wonderful as it is, this IWLA facility has a serious problem with non-native invasive plants. Accordingly, the IWLA has commenced with a project to remove non-native invasive plants and replace them with native plants.

The IWLA work days are on Saturdays and will be from approximately 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Volunteers that would like to help on these work days will be welcomed.

The target invasive plants to be removed primarily include bush honeysuckle, Oriental bittersweet, autumn olive and multiflora rose. IWLA volunteer project leaders will use chainsaws to cut identified invasive plants and will use a glyphosate herbicide to paint on the cut stumps immediately after cutting the plants. It is expected that most volunteers will likely be needed to help drag the cut branches to designated pile areas, and also to help further cut the branches into smaller pieces in order to reduce the size of the piles. Volunteers should dress for the weather and for outdoor work, and should provide their own work gloves, eye protection, and hearing protection – and should bring their own cutting tools if they have them. Drinking water and snacks will be provided for the volunteers. Please note that volunteers will be required to sign a liability waiver form that lists a contact person in case of an emergency, and volunteers under the age of 18 will be required to have a parent or legal garden sign this form. Also note that this type of work can be physically demanding; therefore, if you have a medical condition that would prevent you from safely doing the work, please consider helping in some other way. 

The IWLA facility is located at 20400 Darden Road, on the north side of South Bend, Indiana. Enter at the main entrance gate on the south side of Darden Road (east of the St. Joseph River) and take the entrance drive over Juday Creek and up the hill to the parking lot by the IWLA lodge. Additional directions to this IWLA Chapter facility can be found on their website at www.ikesb.com.

Join us on February 15th at 9:00 a.m. when we walk around the lakes at Notre Dame in search of waterfowl. Dress for the weather. Some trails may be slippery or muddy. This is also the day of the Great Backyard Bird Count so we will be logging all the birds we see into eBird. We will meet in the northeast corner of Lot D6. This lot is the north lot off Dorr Rd.

Google map link: https://maps.app.goo.gl/PzyqayhQd3yagf296

Questions: fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

Our first membership meeting in 2025 will be on Sunday, January 12th at 2:00 p.m. inside the nature center at Rum Village Park in South Bend. Our speaker will be Keshava Mysore, PhD. A longtime member of our local Audubon chapter, he is an Assistant Research Professor of Medical & Molecular Genetics at the IU School of Medicine here in South Bend. His program is about “mothing,” sometimes called “moth-watching” or “light sheeting.” It is a wildlife observation activity where people attract and identify moths and other insects at night, before then releasing them back into nature. Keshava will discuss the mothing event he held at our nature sanctuary earlier in 2024 and show some of the spectacular photos taken that evening. The general public is always welcome to attend our membership meetings. Bring a friend and enjoy some refreshments and treats while listening to our guest speaker. Hope to see you there!

Join us for a nice break from the winter doldrums! On January 11, 2025 at 9:00 a.m. we will have a Big Sit at our wildlife sanctuary. We will have a fire in the woodstove and we’ll watch the feeder birds. There will be hot chocolate and snacks available. Please dress for the weather and bring a chair.

Our wildlife sanctuary is located at 59395 Clover Rd., Mishawaka, Indiana. Questions, please text (text is best) or email me, Carol Goodall: (574) 276-7249, fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

The South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Society and the Elkhart County Parks are calling upon volunteers for the annual Elkhart County Christmas Bird Count, which will be held on Saturday, January 4, 2025.

Volunteer bird counters can participate two ways:

 Field Observers will be assigned an area and given maps to count birds within a designated part of Elkhart County. Teams will bird by car and foot from dawn to dusk. Participants should dress for the weather, and bring binoculars and field guides. Field observers will meet at Ox Bow Haus Shelter in Ox Bow County Park on Saturday, January 4th at 8:00 a.m. Ox Bow County Park is located at 23033 County Road 45 in Dunlap. Field sections can also be assigned prior to the date.

Feeder Counters can count birds in their yards. Participants must count the highest number of each species seen at once in your yard on that day. Feeder counts can take place during any amount of time, and you are welcome to count all birds seen from your yard, especially along waterways.

The Elkhart County count circle extends from the state line on the north to Waterford Mills on the south end, and includes the towns of Bristol, Middlebury, Goshen, and the eastern portion of Elkhart. The center of the 7.5-mile radius for the count circle is the intersection of County Roads 18 and 23.

Birdwatchers are encouraged to contact Ronda DeCaire with the Elkhart County Parks at (574) 535-6458 or by email at rdecaire@elkhartcounty.com to register their name, address, phone number, and e-mail to receive further directions for the bird count.

It’s almost that time of year again! Christmas Count season, that is! We need both feeder counters and field observers for the South Bend Christmas Bird Count, to be held on Saturday, December 14th. The count circle is a 7.5-mile radius centered on downtown South Bend. There is a large area to cover and quite the variety of habitats. Please contact Lindsay Grossmann at lindsay.grossmann@sbeaudubon.org or 574-807-4443 for more information. Volunteers of all ages and skill levels are welcome to participate in this annual event.

A compiler party will be held this year on the evening of the count to tabulate preliminary results. Refreshments will be provided.

Our annual holiday potluck dinner will be held on Sunday, December 8th at 1:00 p.m. at the Elkhart Conservation Club (ECC). Please bring a side dish to share by 12:30 p.m. Roast turkey with gravy will be provided by Dennis and Andrea Badke, but we need side dishes, including desserts, to make this a true feast. Hot coffee and tea will be provided.

After food and conversation, we will have a slide show of our members’ and guests’ nature photographs from the past year. Please bring your photos on a flash drive, if at all possible. Showing photos directly from a smartphone is more complicated.

Next year’s budget will be presented to the membership for a vote of approval as well. The ECC is located at 55515 Riviera Drive, Elkhart Indiana 46514. Anyone interested in helping set up the tables and chairs or helping decorate tables, please join us by 12:00 p.m. We hope to see you there. Happy Holidays!

This has normally been the November field trip, but the peak Sandhill Crane count has been a couple weeks later for the last couple of years. On December 7, 2024 we will be traveling to Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area (JPFWA) to witness the gathering of thousands of Sandhill Cranes. This is one of Indiana's greatest natural spectacles. Approximately an hour before sunset large flocks of Sandhill Cranes kite into JPFWA's Goose Pasture to gab and socialize.

We will start our afternoon at Kiwani Marsh in Kankakee Fish & Wildlife Area to look for waterfowl. From there it is approximately 30 minutes to JPFWA. We may make a brief stop along the way to look for a Golden Eagle.

After viewing the Sandhills we will possibly head for dinner and socializing in North Judson. You may join us for all or any part of our trip. Dress for the weather (layers are best) and bring your binoculars. It is often cold and windy on the Sandhill Crane viewing stand. You may also wish to pack a lunch or snacks. It is a moderate walk from the parking area to the Sandhill Crane viewing area. There is also limited handicapped parking closer to the viewing stand and the viewing stand is handicapped accessible.

Here is our itinerary (all times are EST):

12:30 p.m. – Meet at the north end of Kohl’s parking lot on Ireland and Miami in South Bend for carpooling or to caravan.

1:45 p.m. – Arrive at Kankakee Fish & Wildlife Area Kiwani Marsh, 4320 Toto Rd., North Judson, IN. Here is a pindrop for Kiwani Marsh: 41°15'36.0"N 86°47'24.7"W, https://maps.app.goo.gl/rQVSNUuDGTrLfomj8.

3:00-3:15 p.m. – Leave Kiwani Marsh for approximately 30-minute drive to JPFWA Sandhill Crane Viewing Area.

3:45-4:00 p.m. – Arrive at JPFWA, 5353 County Rd. 1650 W., Medaryville, IN.

We will stay at JPFWA until dusk. Sunset is approximately 5:30 p.m. We will then depart for North Judson for possible dinner. Dinner arrangements will be decided the day of the field trip.

Any questions call, text (text is best), or email me, Carol Goodall: (574) 276-7249, fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org. 

Winter is fast approaching. Our next meeting is on Sunday, November 10th. and will be held at 2:00 p.m. at the Elkhart Conservation Club (ECC), 55515 Riviera Drive, Elkhart, Indiana 46514.

Our speaker will be popular local naturalist Janet McGowan, from the St. Joseph County Parks. Her program is titled “Sandhill Cranes: Seasons on the Wing.” With the cranes’ migration season soon to begin and our annual field trip to Jasper-Pulaski Fish & Wildlife Area coming up, this program will be a great opportunity to learn more about these majestic birds. The general public is always welcome to attend our membership meetings. Bring a friend and enjoy some refreshments and homemade treats while listening to a great speaker. Hope to see you there!

Treat yourself to a mid-week nature break. Let’s take a walk and see what interesting things we can find. 

Join us October 16th at 5:30 p.m. at the South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Society Wildlife Sanctuary.

 This month will be our final walk for this year. It is already beginning to get dark sooner and once the time changes it will be dark by 6:00 p.m. That’s why we will start this month's walk at 5:30 p.m., to give us a little time before dark.

 Our Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 59395 Clover Rd., Mishawaka, Indiana.

On October 5th, meet at 9:00 a.m. at Boot Lake Nature Preserve. Boot Lake is located at 51430 County Road 3 in Elkhart, Indiana. Boot Lake hosts a nice variety of habitat that includes woodland, marsh, and prairie. 

Wear sturdy shoes. Bring insect repellent, water, and binoculars, if you have them. We will have extra binoculars if you do not have your own.

 You need not be a member to attend our field trips. All are welcome.

 Questions, email fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

Take a mid-week nature break! Join me on September 18th at 6:00 p.m. for a relaxing walk around our wildlife sanctuary. You never know what interesting things we might find.

Our wildlife sanctuary is located at 59395 Clover Rd., Mishawaka, Indiana.

Doug Tallamy, author of Nature’s Best Hope and Professor of Entomology will give a talk at the Corbett Family Hall in the Downes Ballroom at the University of Notre Dame, thanks to a number of local environmental groups. The talk will be held on September 15, from 2 PM to 4 PM. Educational booths by various local organizations will be open from 1:30 PM.

Admission is free, although tickets will be required. Please check back in late-July for the registration details.

Questions? Contact Ann Garvey at 703-862-5002

Join us on September 7th at 8:00 a.m. at Potato Creek State Park, 25601 IN-4 in North Liberty, Indiana to look for fall migrants. 

Where to meet:
After entering the park, take a left past the gatehouse and continue on the main road to the first right at the sign for Deer Meadows Picnic Area. Go straight on this road (do not make any more turns) past the restroom and we will gather in this parking area. There is a gate fee to get into the park.

Dropped pin:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/DqC48XGtDzLrKaEg7

Wear appropriate clothing for the weather and comfortable shoes. Walking will be flat, but we may walk in some wet grass. Bring insect repellent, water, and binoculars (if you have them). I will have extra binoculars if you don't have your own.

You need not be a member to attend our field trips, and they are free. All are welcome.

The last pancake breakfast of the year is on Labor Day, which is on Monday, September 2nd, from 7:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. Come out and get some pancakes and walk our trails with a copy of our new Sanctuary map! We will serve regular, blueberry, and pecan pancakes with syrup. There will be coffee, tea, water, juice boxes, and milk for drinking available. Remember to bring your own table service (cups, plates, silverware) and bring a friend or family member along as well. Any volunteers we can get for the pancake breakfast would be appreciated. Volunteers, please arrive by 6:45 a.m. All are welcome. Donations will be accepted. All donations go directly to funding projects and renovations at our Sanctuary!

A Sanctuary work day will be held the Saturday just before the holiday, August 31st, at 8:30 a.m. Volunteers are always needed for our work days and we will take any and all help we can get; if you can’t do physical activity, we have plenty of other things on our to-do list that anyone can do!

If you have any ideas or want to know more about how you can help at the Sanctuary, email sanctuary@sbeaudubon.org.

On August 13th at 11:00 a.m., a recently installed Leopold Bench will be dedicated to the memory of the late Dr. Albert K. Wimmer. The bench dedication is the result of a donation to the South Bend-Elkhart Audubon Society by Dr. Wimmer’s students from the University of Notre Dame and St. Mary’s College study-abroad program of 1979-80 in Innsbruck, Austria.

Dr. Wimmer, a native of Altötting, Germany, was a professor of German at Notre Dame for more than 50 years. As the director of the Innsbruck program, he served as an administrator, professor, mentor, and surrogate father to more than 40 Notre Dame and St. Mary’s students who spent the 1979-80 academic year studying at the University of Innsbruck – while he also was parenting his two teenage sons, Steve and Marc. He was the quintessential lifelong learner, voraciously reading on every topic from music to politics. In addition, he became a skilled sailor and avid bird watcher at his Lake Wawasee home.  

Dr. Wimmer’s Innsbruck program students, in adulthood, grew to appreciate the intelligence, wisdom, and generous love with which he shepherded them through their year abroad. Within days of learning of his death in January, they collected these funds to honor his memory. They selected the Audubon Society as the most fitting beneficiary to memorialize this esteemed linguist, philosopher, writer, teacher, sailor, and birder. He is survived by his sons Steve and Marc, stepdaughter Tina Kardomateas, four grandchildren, and his beloved wife, Susan.

Members of the public are welcome to attend the dedication ceremony at the Sanctuary on August 13th at 11:00 a.m.

Welcome to Kids' Morning at the Sanctuary! Join us at SBEAS Wildlife Sanctuary on Saturday, July 27th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. for a fun-filled event designed just for kids entering Kindergarten through 5th grade. Let your little ones explore nature, learn about birds, and have a blast with our interactive activities. From scavenger hunts to hands-on activities like making nests, there's something for every young birder. Don't miss out on this exciting opportunity to connect with nature and create lasting memories with your family. See you there!

Feel free to pack a picnic lunch to enjoy at the Summer Quarters of the Sanctuary following the morning’s festivities.

A parent or guardian must accompany their child/children for the duration of the event, and you must register for this free event to ensure your spot is reserved. For questions or more information, please contact education@sbeaudubon.org.
Please register for this free event at: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/kids-morning-at-the-sanctuary-tickets-926561980827

Things to bring to Kids’ Morning:

• binoculars (a limited number of children and adult sized binoculars will be available on a first come, first serve basis)

• water

• bug spray

• sun protection (sun screen, hat, sunglasses)

• closed-toe shoes or boots (no sandals please)

• snacks and/or sack lunch, if staying for picnic lunch

In the event of inclement weather, this event will be canceled. We will do our best to notify participants if this happens. If you have any further questions or concerns, please contact Melissa, Education Chair, at education@sbeaudubon.org.

And if you would like to help volunteer at this event, please email Melissa directly at education@sbeaudubon.org.

Our summer Meet the Naturalist walk at our Wildlife Sanctuary will be on July 24th. Join me at 6:00 p.m. for a relaxing mid-week nature break. We never know what interesting things we might find when we explore what nature has to offer.

Wear sturdy shoes. Some trails may be muddy. Insect repellent is highly recommended because ticks have been especially bad this year.

Our Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 59395 Clover Rd. in Mishawaka, Indiana.
Questions, contact Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

On July 20th join us at 8:30 p.m. for our inaugural mothing event at our Wildlife Sanctuary. We will set up a light and a mothing sheet to see what variety of moths and other insects call our Sanctuary home.  

Bring a chair and insect repellent. We will provide soft drinks. This is a family event so bring the kids. You need not be a member to attend our events.  

Our Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 59395 Clover Road in Mishawaka, Indiana.
Questions, contact Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

On July 6th we'll be taking our annual field trip to Beverly Crone Restoration Area in search of grassland birds. Our target birds on this trip will be Eastern Meadowlark, Henslow's Sparrow, Sedge Wren, Bobolink, and Dickcissel. We will need to get an early start to beat the heat of the day as there is no shade at the property. The trails are gravel and slightly hilly. 

Beverly Crone Restoration Area is located at 21448 Jackson Road in South Bend. Meet at 7:00 a.m. at the parking area on the corner of Jackson and Locust.
https://goo.gl/maps/tgG9cx8WpyUzkgqz5

Wear comfortable walking shoes. Bring water, sunscreen, insect repellent, and binoculars. There are no restrooms at Beverly Crone Restoration Area. You need not be a member to attend our field trips. Questions, contact Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

Independence Day is coming and we would like you to come celebrate with us!

Come satisfy your stomach with some pancakes before all your daytime activities! We will serve original buttermilk pancakes either plain or with blueberries or pecans. Syrup (regular and sugar free) are provided as well as hot coffee (regular and decaf), water, tea, and milk. The pancakes are all you can eat and they are free but we are asking for donations to help cover costs and upkeep of the Sanctuary.

Volunteers will be needed to prepare for the pancake breakfast at the work day on June 29th. We will clean up the Summer Quarters, mow, pull invasives, and complete several other small projects.

Contact me at sanctuary@sbeaudubon.org for details or to give me your ideas about what you would like to see at the Sanctuary.

Our summer Meet the Naturalist walk at our Wildlife Sanctuary will be on June 26th. Join me at 6:00 p.m. for a relaxing mid-week nature break. We never know what interesting things we might find when we explore what nature has to offer.

Wear sturdy shoes. Some trails may be muddy. Insect repellent is highly recommended because ticks have been especially bad this year.

Our Wildlife Sanctuary is located at 59395 Clover Rd. in Mishawaka, Indiana.
Questions, contact Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

Birds and board gaming – what could go wrong? Apparently not much, as the game of Wingspan is loved by both avid birders and board gamers alike.

More than just birding Monopoly, this game has you creating your own preserve for birds across three different habitats: getting cards and food to play birds and lay eggs on them.

Don’t worry: teaching will be provided, no experience necessary. Just come out and have a good time! This will be one of our first events utilizing the new lighting at the Sanctuary!

Meet us on Friday, June 21st beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Summer Quarters at the Sanctuary. Light refreshments will be provided, but feel free to BYOB.

On June 15th we will head to Michigan to Mud Lake Bog. Migration has passed and we have reached the summer birding doldrums so this will be more of a botany trip. We may see a few birds. Our main goal on this trip is to see carnivorous plants. Mud Lake Bog is the best place in our area to see these plants because the boardwalk sits right on top of the bog. We will see pitcher plants and both sundews (round-leaved and spatulate-leaved). If we are lucky, we may find some orchids blooming.

I strongly suggest wearing long sleeves and long pants because poison sumac may overhang the boardwalk in some places, but we will keep a careful eye out for it. Bring water, sunscreen, and insect repellent. There are no restrooms at the bog. 

Meet at Mud Lake Bog, located at 905 E. Elm Valley Road in Buchanan, Michigan at 8:30 a.m. This preserve is only about a 30–45-minute drive from South Bend. 

https://maps.app.goo.gl/JDoCxgd4mXCWunZG6

You need not be a member to attend our field trips. Questions, contact Carol Goodall at fieldtrips@sbeaudubon.org.

Join the South Bend County Public Library on June 13 at 6:00 p.m. for a talk by John Hamilton, where he talks about how lawns and native plants impact birds, butterflies, pollinators, and humans.

The audience is intended to include those who love wildlife but who also spend time and money maintaining and protecting their lawns.

The address for the Library's Downtown South Bend Learning Center is 305 S Michigan St, South Bend