Hello and welcome to the latest issue of the Sycamore Warbler!  As the temperature increases, each day becomes a great opportunity to see birds returning.  In addition to posting our outing schedule, there will also be links available to each Wednesday in the Wild outing as well as opportunities to assist the RIP (Remove Invasive Plants) squad in pulling invasive plant species.

Wednesdays in the Wild Schedule

RIP Squad Spring Workdays

Sycamore Warbler Spring 2013      Spring 2013 Calendar

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

Welcome to the latest installment of the Sycamore Warbler.  The summer is not as busy, but there are still exciting events still upcoming!  For any questions concerning Wednesdays in the Wild, please contact Joan Mohr Samuels (mohrsamuels@comcast.net).  TUESDAY morning hikes start August 28th, please read below for details.  (Site updated 9/6/12)

TUESDAY, AUGUST 28th – FALL EARLY BIRD HIKES (NEW LOCATION).  Due to noise problems at the Purdue Horticulture Park, hikes will be at Celery Bog this fall.  Meet at the park at 8 a.m.  *Hikes will be held every Tuesday through mid-November.*

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 25 – PROGRAM:  WINTER FEEDER BIRDS, FEEDERS AND SEED.  Rick Read, 7 p.m Monon Public Library in Monon, Indiana.  All you need to know to attract birds and liven up your yard this winter.

SEPTEMBER 26th WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD – MONARCH BUTTERFLIES:  CREATING A HABITAT.  Reni Winter.  7-9 p.m.  Lilly Nature Center.  Monarch migration and creating monarch habitat.

OCTOBER 3rd WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD – THE APPLE OF OUR EYE:  EXPLORING NATURE’S FAVORITE FRUIT.  Lynn Layden 1-3 p.m at the Lilly Nature Center.

SATURDAY AND SUNDAY, OCTOBER 5-7 – FALL BIRDING FESTIVAL! – Indiana Audubon Society’s Fall Meeting.  See more about this weekend on page 7 of the newsletter.  Go to www.Indianaaudubon.org for more details and to go register.

OCTOBER 10th WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD SHAWNEE BOTTOMS SUNSET WALK.  Gus Nyberg, NICHES Land Trust.  5:30 – 7:30 at Shawnee Bottoms in Fountain County.  Car pool 4:30 p.m at Lilly Nature Center.

THURSDAY, OCTOBER 11th – PROGRAM:  HOW TO TAKE RIDICULOUSLY AWESOME PHOTOS OF BIRDS.  Ryan Sanderson.  Come join us for an evening of stunning images as Ryan walks us through the art of bird photography.  Lilly Nature Center 7:15 p.m.  Free parking and refreshments.

SATURDAY, OCTOBER 13th – WATERFOWL FIELD TRIP.  If it rains enough, water birds will be moving through.  We will check for ducks, etc., at Celery Bog, Mulvey Pond and other spots.  Meet at the gravel lot in Celery Bog at 8 a.m.

OCTOBER 17th – WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD – FALL COLOR AND DROUGHT IMPACTS.  Sally Weeks.  1-3 p.m at Happy Hollow Park.  Check out this Fall’s yellows, oranges, reds and brown colors.

OCTOBER 24th – WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD – INDIANA COYOTES:  CAUSE FOR CELEBRATION OR CONCERN?  Dean Zimmerman and Shawn Rossier, DNR.  1-3 p.m.  Lilly Nature Center.

OCTOBER 31st – WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD – WHOOO’S THERE?  OWL MYTHS.  Barny Dunning.  7-9 p.m.  Lilly Nature Center.  True and False owl myths, featuring most of Indiana’s owls.

NOVEMBER 7th – WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD – AMERICAN INDIAN TRIBES AND CONTEMPORARY TRADITIONS.  Felicia Ahasteen-Bryant.  1-3 p.m at the Lilly Nature Center.

THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 8th – PROGRAM:  BIRDS OF CUBA.  Sue Arnold.  Known as “Big Sue” to her friends and fellow birders, Sue will share stories and photos from her March 2010 excursion to Cuba with the Indiana Audubon Society under the auspices of the Caribbean Conservation Trust.  One of the highlights was the Bee Hummingbird, the world’s smallest hummer.  Lilly Nature Center 7:15 p.m.  Free parking and refreshments.

SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 10th – LAKE MICHIGAN LAKESHORE FIELD TRIP.  All day trip to look for migrating geese, swans and more.  We will look at 6:30 from the Celery Bog gravel parking lot.

NOVEMBER 14th – WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD – HONEY & THE HONEY BEE.  Lynn Layden.  1-3 p.m at the Lilly Nature Center.

SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2nd – CRANE VIEWING AT JASPER PULASKI.  Meet at the Celery Bog gravel park lot at 3:30 p.m to carpool to Jasper Pulaski.

THURSDAY, DECEMBER 13th – PROGRAM:  BIRDS AND 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 Join Base Balad in Iraq.  His perspectives and pictures will be enlightening.  7:15 p.m at the Lilly Nature Center.

DECEMBER – CHRISTMAS BIRD COUNTS – will be updated as the date approaches.

Welcome to the latest installment of the Sycamore Audubon Society Warbler!  Follow this link for a digital version of the latest issue  Warbler Vol 37 Iss 1 (March) .

Programs are in the Lilly Nature Center in West Lafayette. People are invited to join other members and the speaker for “Dinner and Conversation” starting at 6:00 PM at the MCL Cafeteria (SR 52 in West Lafayette) . Field trips start at Celery Bog unless otherwise described, times vary, see below.

Thursday, March 29 EARLY BIRD HIKES — every Thursday from now until May 24th, covering the migration season. Meet at Purdue’s Horticulture Park east entrance on McCormick Road at 8 a.m.

WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD Apr 11th 1-3pm Weed Biology & Climate Change Jeff Dukes (Purdue Professor in Forestry & Natural Resources) will talk about the changes in climate and other environmental conditions that are expected and how invasive plant and animal species may respond to these changes — indoor pgm—Lilly Nature Center

Thursday, April 12 PROGRAM: The Ecology of Civilization Collapse. Steve Hallett, associate professor Botany and Plant Pathology, Purdue and co-author of “Life Without Oil: Why We Must Shift to a New Energy Future”, will
challenge the assumption that progress and efficiency are the solutions to society’s population-resource dilemma. 7:15 p.m. Refreshments and free parking.

Saturday, April 14 Early Migrants at Celery Bog. Meet at 7:30 at the first gravel parking lot on the right. We’ll check out what species are back and possibly visit another location if interesting birds are being reported elsewhere.

WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD Apr 18th 1-3pm Moyer Gould Woods Spring Wildflower Hike Join Gus Nyberg (NICHES Executive Director) for an exploration of the sights, sounds, tastes, and smells of the spring ephemerals on the slopes of the Tippecanoe River in Carroll County! Outdoor Moyer Gould Woods/NICHES

WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD Apr 25th 1-3pm Shooting Stars & More (Wildflower Walk).  Walk wooded ravine trails with Jim Peterson (CLEGG Garden Manager & wildflower aficionado); enjoy the many wildflowers, as you learn about the gravel hill prairie restoration on this beautiful property along Wildcat Creek! outdoor pgm—CLEGG

Saturday, April 28 The M & M Trip: Martell Forest & Mulvey Pond. Meet at 7:30 p.m. at Celery Bog to carpool. We will visit these two areas to see what migrant water birds and land birds have shown up in the past few weeks.

WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD May 2nd 1-3pm Spring Warblers & Other Migrants. An indoor talk and a Celery Bog bird walk led by Susan Ulrich will cover returning migrants. Bring binoculars –indoor/outdoor at Lilly Nature Center.

WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD May 9th 1-3pm Indiana’s Native Shrubs in Flower.  Sally Weeks (Purdue Dendrologist) says “Shrubs are flowering plants, too!” On this walk, she will review the identification of many of our beautiful and wildlife-friendly native shrubs. Outdoors Martell Forest.

Thursday, May 10 PROGRAM: Bats and Woodrats: Conservation Concerns for Two Endangered Indiana Mammals.  Scott Johnson has been the DNR non-game mammalogist for 25 years, overseeing river otter repopulation efforts in the late 1990s and bobcat tracking studies in the early 2000s. 7:15 p.m. Lilly Nature Center at Celery Bog Nature Area. His recent work looking at effects of white-nose syndrome in bats and habitat degradation in woodrats has contributed to the understanding of both the nature and necessity of protecting our native representatives of these mammalian families. Refreshments and free parking. People interested in the May Bird Count can sign up and get forms if they haven’t already.

Saturday, May 12 Big Day in May Count. The all Day exciting Bird Census. Three local counties are participating: Tippecanoe, Warren and White. A compilation party for Tippecanoe County participants is held at 8 p.m. at the Wild Bird Shoppe. Contact the compilers to get an area. See back cover for details.

WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD May 16th 7-9pm The Wonders of Wetlands Experience.  The magic of a wetland evening in spring at Celery Bog! Along with searching for wetland wildlife, Naturalist Mary Cutler will share the importance of the diversity, function and value of Indiana’s wetlands. A great prelude to Saturday’s Mind BOGgling Event!  outdoor pgm—LNC

Saturday, May 19 Mind BOGgling Event II. An appreciation of Celery Bog Nature Park. There’s lots going on from morning bird hikes at 9 and 11 a.m., flower hikes at 2 and 4 p.m., butterfly gardening, tree planting and an evening
program of music and art. The first MindBOGgling Event held in 2010 was a huge success, enjoyed by hundreds.  Stop by, it’s a great way to Celebrate National Wetlands Month.

WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD May 23rd 1-3pm Weiler-Leopold/Black Rock Barrens.  Walk Bird’s foot violets, cream wild indigo are all returning to the recovering oak woodlands on this site in Warren County.  Join Gus Nyberg (NICHES Executive Director) for an exciting off-trail ramble over the slopes. Outdoor. Weiler-Leopold/Blk-Rock Barrens/NICHES

WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD Jun 6th 1-3pm Indian Creek Basin Hike followed by Frog Monitoring Session. Young trees have set down roots, along with a diversity of grasses to help hold soil and create natural habitat for wildlife. Gus Nyberg (NICHES Executive Director) will discuss efforts to restore habitat along the Wabash River and conclude the evening with a frog monitoring session at the created wetland on this Tippecanoe County property. Boots advised. Outdoors Indian Creek Basin/NICHES.

WEDNESDAYS IN THE WILD Jun 13th 1-3pm Up close Bird ID using Mist Nets. Mick & Sally Weeks (Purdue Dept of Forestry & Natural Resources) will demonstrate the use of mist nets and identify birds that come to the nets during this program. A great opportunity to get an up close look at our local birds! Outdoors. Wabashika NC, Battle Ground.