By Noah Salaman
On a cloudy April morning, nine lucky birders got the privilege to visit Fern Station Nature Preserve in Putnam County. Fern Station is a closed to the public nature preserve that is managed by Central Indiana Land Trust (CITLI).
After the group’s Amos Butler Audubon Society representative, Barbra Bell, gathered up all the lost birders who Google Maps had failed, we were led by Phillip Weldy, a Stewardship Specialist with CILTI. He took the group across a creek to venture out into the heart of Fern Station. At first the trail seemed quiet, but the further we trekked the louder the world around us became.
Early in the hike there were some juvenile Rose-breasted Grosbeaks high in the trees. Shortly after, Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were bouncing around, followed by the loud calls of Gray Catbirds and Brown Thrashers. After hitting the halfway point in the out-and-back hike the group began chasing two Ovenbird calls, and while we got close, we were never able to see them ourselves.
Our group also spent time appreciating the various fungi and fauna around us as Phillip has a wealth of knowledge in that field.
A stand-out observation was a very cooperative Veery, perched about 10 yards in front of us along the trail, giving many of us our first of the year. Another first for some was a Ruby-throated Hummingbird that briefly perched alongside the trail.
Once we got back to where we had parked, the activity picked up as we saw Baltimore Oriole, Wood Thrush, Yellow Warblers, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. Including the Kentucky Warbler one lucky individual found, the group found a total of 35 birds.
All in all, we can call Fern Station a hidden gem, and we can’t thank Phillip enough for the opportunity given to ABAS members.