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Morgan-Monroe SF Recap
On May 7, five birders joined field trip leader Scott Enochs at the Bryant Creek Shelter in Morgan-Monroe State Forest. Our target bird, a Worm-eating Warbler, quickly came into close view and remained for a couple of minutes ensuring everyone got great looks. In all we accumulated a list of 36 bird species.
Jenna McElroy Joins ABAS Board
In the April meeting, ABAS members elected four people to the ABAS Board. Reelected to new terms on the Board are Chuck Anderson, our current President, Laurie Voss, our Recording Secretary, and Jessica Helmbold, our Education Chair. Joining the Board for the first time is Jenna McElroy.
Atterbury & Driftwood FWAs Recap
On Sunday, April 24, 2022, ABAS led a field trip to Atterbury and Driftwood State Fish and Wildlife Areas (FWA) in Edinburgh. These are two great gems for birding, just south of Indianapolis.
Seven Different Ways to Go Birding in Boone County
Boone County should be at the top of any list of best birding destinations in central Indiana because it has a lot to offer in terms of woodland and grassland birds, including the unusual "grasspiper" shorebirds. The challenge of finding specific families of birds is one of the reasons I enjoy Boone County so much. However, I may be biased toward this type of birding. While I've spent most of the last five years exploring Zionsville for my five-mile radius list, I've always made time to venture to the county's outskirts to see what's out there — and so should you.
Lye Creek Prairie “Burn” Recap
On April 16th, 14 birders joined Laurie Voss, ABAS Recording Secretary and field trip leader, for a morning of birding at the “Burn”. Our primary target bird was the Smith’s Longspurs that are attracted to this location due the presence of foxtail, a weedy grass which disperses bristled seeds, that the birds eat.
Indy 500 Balloon Release Canceled!
On April 20th, 2022, Indianapolis Motor Speedway (IMS) announced it would be suspending the balloon release indefinitely. For the past 2 years, IMS has not done the balloon release due to COVID and reduced guest capacity. In 2020, a coalition of environmental organizations across Indiana, including ABAS, reached out to IMS to see if we could support environmental sustainability initiatives at the track. The balloon release tradition was a low-hanging fruit that the coalition desperately wanted to end.
Volunteers Needed for Climate Watch
Birders of all skill levels can participate in National Audubon Society's Climate Watch program. From May 15 to June 15 you can help gather information on specific species that will be accumulated and used by scientists to see how climate is affecting the birds. It's a small commitment and the benefits to the birds could be significant.
ABAS Supports Bird Count at Teter Retreat and Organic Farm
At 9:00 am on Saturday, April 9, 2022, 16 volunteers from ABAS, Indiana Wildlife Federation (IWF), and Teter Retreat and Organic Farm met to conduct a bird count on the property. The retreat and farm consist of 120 acres and is an outreach mission of the Noblesville First United Methodist Church. Much of the 40 varieties of mixed vegetables grown go to local food pantries, food banks, and feeding programs.
Lights Out Indy Making Steady Progress
Lights Out Indy (LOI) is ready to kick off our 2022 season. Looking to build on the success of 2021. What made 2021 such a great year? LOI reached out to the City-County Council of Indianapolis and Marion County to support our initiative. We are pleased to announce that 16 members of that legislative body agreed to support LOI. This was followed by major downtown buildings agreeing to participate in turning lights out during migration.