Welcome to the latest edition of the Sycamore Warbler! For any questions concerning Wednesdays in the Wild, please contact Joan Mohr Samuels (mohrsamuels@comcast.net). Early bird hikes will start on March 21st and every Thursday after (refer to below). If you would like a pdf version of this newsletter, please refer to the 2011-2012 newsletter header above or click here. We are also on Facebook – so please check us out!
Thursday, December 13th – PROGRAM: Birds & Bombs on the Base: a Citizen’s Tour in Iraq. Carl Vogelwede spent 5 months working to solve human/wildlife conflicts with the USDA’s Flight Safety Program on the Joint Base Balad in Iraq. His perspectives and pictures will be enlightening. 7:15 p.m. Lilly Nature Center, free parking. Christmas party for refreshments. Come early to sign up for a birding area for the Christmas Bird Counts.
Saturday, December 15th – Lafayette Christmas Bird Count. Day-long bird count covering a 15 mile circle so people are needed well as feeder watchers to try and cover everything adequately. Contact Ed Hopkins (see page 1) or sign up at the Dec 13th meeting. There is an 8 p.m. compilation party in the evening at the Wild Bird Shoppe in West Lafayette (1151 W 350 N, WL). Data on the birds found that day is compiled and everyone brings something to eat. SAS provides beverages, napkins and plates.
Saturday, January 1st – Willow Slough-Iroquois Reserve CBC. Day-long bird count covering a 15 mile circle and help is needed. Contact Ed Hopkins (see page 1) or sign up at the Dec 13th meeting.
Thursday, January 10th – PROGRAM: Land Trusts and Conservation. Cliff Chapman, previous IDNR Ecologist and now Conservation Director for CILTI (Central Indiana Land Trust, Inc.). 7:15 p.m. Lilly Nature Center in Celery Bog Park, West Lafayette. Free parking and refreshments.
January 16th – WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD! – 7-9 pm. Entomology Museum Tour Arwin Provonsha, Purdue Ento. Dept
January 23th – WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD! 1-3 pm. National Parks: Capitol Reef & Grand Canyon – John McDonald- LNC
January 30th – WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD! 1-3 pm. The Status of Indiana Walnut Trees – Lenny Farley – LNC
February 6th – WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD! Time TBD. Maple Sugaring – Don Bickel – –LNC
Saturday, February 9th – Winter Bird Finding Trip. Barny Dunning, Leader. Meet at 8:30 am at the gravel parking lot, Celery Bog. We will look for winter birds such as raptors, sparrows, longspurs and whatever else is being reported in the area. Since our winter field trips seem to at-tract snow, this trip will be weather dependent. Half day.
February 13th – WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD! Time TBD. River Otters – LNC
Thursday, February 14th – PROGRAM: Diversity in the Birding Community. Doug “Birdman” Gray. Come and find out why it is so important to have diversity of ages, races, gender, etc. in the conser-vation and birding communities. 7:15 p.m. Lilly Nature Center in Celery Bog Park, West Lafayette. Free parking and refreshments.
February 20th and 27th Wednesdays in the Wild not yet finalized
Saturday, March 2nd – Waterfowl and Eagles Field Trip. Barny Dunning, Leader. Meet at 8 am at Celery Bog’s gravel parking lot. This should be at the peak of spring waterfowl migration, so we will go wherever ducks, cranes, etc. are being reported. Half-day trip.
Wednesday, March 6th – WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD! 7-9 pm. Emerald Ash Borer – Cliff Sadoff – – LNC.
Wednesday, March 13th – WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD! Time TBD. Wacky Woodcocks – Mary Cutler- Outdoor Tippecanoe Amphitheatre.
Thursday, March 14th – PROGRAM: Rare Plant Communities in Northwest Indiana. Roger Hedge, Indiana Dept. of Nature Preserves. Believe it or not, there are eco-communities in NW Indiana that are otherwise only found on the Atlantic Coast. 7:15 p.m. Lilly Nature Center in Cel-ery Bog Park, West Lafayette. Free parking and refreshments.
Wednesday, March 20th – WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD! Time TBD. Kankakee River NWR Proposal – Jim Sweeney LNC
Thursday, March 21nd and every Thursday – Early Bird Hikes. Same location: Celery Bog Nature Park, WL, but a new day of the week, Thursday, reflecting Barny’s class schedule. Same great birds and a fun start to your day. Meet at 8 a.m. at the first gravel parking lot. Usually last one hour.
Saturday, March 23rd – Lake Michigan Lakeshore Field Trip. Barny Dunning, leader. Meet at 6:30 a.m. to carpool up to the lakeshore. We will spend the day looking for early migrants that do not show up regularly in the Greater Lafayette area, including loons, grebes, diving ducks, mergansers, etc. An all-day activity but people can leave early.
Wednesday, March 27th – WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD! 1-3 pm. Waterfowl Walk – Susan Ulrich- indoor/outdoor —LNC/CBP