Snowy owls start their influx in the South Bend area, as Christmas Bird Counts seek help
Snowy owls may be poised for another relatively large influx in Michigan and Indiana this winter. A few of them drift through each winter, but every four to five years, there’s a so-called “irruption” with a lot more, typically thanks to a bounty of food in their summer breeding grounds in the Canadian Arctic.
That is, they’ve had lots of lemmings to snarf.
About a half dozen of them have been reported across Indiana in the prior week and a half, Indiana Audubon Executive Director Brad Bumgardner says. And they’d already been showing up in Michigan and Wisconsin.
Birdwatchers have been logging reports of them at the website eBird.org, showing most of them near the shores of the Great Lakes. No surprise. That’s where they often first appear. As the winter goes on, agricultural and airport fields will also be good places to watch — wide-open places that resemble the Arctic and that allow a good view of predators and threats. I’ve seen photos of snowy owls posted recently on a beach near St. Joseph and in a field near Dowagiac.
You may think you see a solitary plastic bag. Keep your gaze on it for a moment (if you aren’t driving). It could be the snowy owl, which stands about two feet tall. In years past, people have posted photos of one on a telephone pole or on top of a big storefront.
If you see one, you’ll be so giddy about finding this feathered white chocolate that you’ll want to creep in for a good look or photo. But all experts advise against that. Instead, reach for your binoculars or telephoto lens. Try to stay back 100 yards. Avoid stressing out this bird that’s already exhausted from its long haul, or you’ll cause it to move on and burn up desperately needed energy.
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Also, experts have advised against baiting or feeding the owls, which eat rodents. That could draw them onto dangerous roads or disrupt their normal hunting habits.
The last irruption was four years ago. We’re just at the beginning of this one. So we’ll see how big this winter will be. You can learn a lot more at the site projectsnowstorm.org.
Christmas Bird Counts
OK, most of us won’t see snowy owls, but we can discover a lot of other feathered gold in the National Audubon Society’s 122nd annual Christmas Bird Count, which runs from Dec. 14 to Jan. 5.
When you join this citizen science project — even with mediocre bird knowledge — you feed an international database that researchers use to monitor the long-term health of wildlife and habitat in light of development and climate change. You also join more than 72,000 volunteers across the Western Hemisphere on a sort of scavenger hunt (christmasbirdcount.org).
Each of the local counts, listed here, is on a single day covering a 15 mile-wide circle.
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There are also opportunities to count bird species in a given area in the field for an hour or two. Sometimes you may be teamed up with more experienced birders, which is a great way to learn.
You can count by looking out of your window or walking your property — say, for a half hour or periodically through the day. Just watch your bird feeder if you like. (Tip: Birds love black oil sunflower seed at the feeder. Clean your feeder with a 10% bleach solution at least monthly, and be sure it’s dry before you refill it with seed.)
Only a bit of familiarity with bird species is required, which you can learn along the way.
The time commitment is typically very flexible. Do as little or as much as you like. Organizers will give you instructions.
Organizers of each count set their own COVID-19 protocols, though they often follow Audubon’s recent recommendations (linked in this column online).
• Dec. 15: Dowagiac. This year’s count is mostly covered with volunteers, but you can give it a try. Check with John Brenneman at jbrenneman@naturecenter.org.
• Dec. 18: South Bend. Covers area that almost reaches Osceola, Wyatt, Lakeville and Lydick but doesn’t cross the Michigan border. Masks are required in the field when social distancing isn’t possible. Ride in cars only with familiar or social “pod” groups. Register with Kristen Sweinhart at director2022@sbeaudubon.org.
• Dec. 18: Bremen. Leave a message with Neal Miller at 574-248-1428. Volunteers in cars are especially needed since many counters will be Amish who are biking or walking.
• Dec. 18: Niles-Buchanan area. To help as a feeder counter, register with Lamanda Hilty at lhilty@berriencounty.org.
• Dec. 18: Eastern Indiana Dunes. Field counters will be assigned an area. Register by Dec. 12 with Brad Bumgardner at bbumgardner@indianaaudubon.org.
• Dec. 19: Berrien Springs area. Only feeder counters are needed. Register with lovecreek@berriencounty.org or 269-471-2617.
• Dec. 20: New Buffalo area. Only feeder counters are needed. Register with Prunderwood76@gmail.com or 269-471-2617.
• Dec. 22: Topeka, Ind. Leave a message with Perry Miller at 574-642-1135 or perrymiller@pcfreemail.com. Volunteers in cars are especially needed since many counters will be Amish who are biking or walking.
• Dec. 29: Western Indiana Dunes West. Register by Dec. 23 with Christine Gerlach at 219-395-1885 or Christine_gerlach@nps.gov.
• Dec. 30: Coloma. Register with Mike Mahler at 269-927-4832 or mikem@sarett.com.
• Jan. 1: Tippecanoe (northwest of Warsaw). Register by Dec. 25 with Dave Hicks at 260-982-2471 or djhicks@manchester.edu.
• Jan. 1: Elkhart County. Field counters will be assigned to a specific area when they meet at 7:30 a.m. in the Ox Bow House Shelter in Ox Bow County Park, 23033 County Road 45 in Dunlap. Wear a mask if you’re with people outside of your household. No sharing of a car except by housemates. Register with Elkhart County Parks at 574-535-6458 or with Ronda DeCaire at rdecaire@elkhartcounty.com.
For nature’s sake
• Grants to conserve or educate: Audubon’s South Bend-Elkhart chapter seeks applications throughout the year for its grant to schools, parks, governmental agencies, nonprofits and other organizations, helping them with environmental education and conservation projects. The limit generally is about $1,000 and comes from the chapter’s Woolman-Groet-Miller Endowment Fund. For more details, a list of projects supported and an application, visit sbeaudubon.org/grant-opportunities.
• Bird treats: The Elkhart Environmental Center, 1717 E. Lusher Ave., offers a chance for all ages to go birding, create a treat for birds and learn how you can help birds through the winter from 10 to noon Dec. 18. Registration is required for this free event at elkhart-environmental-center.ticketleap.com.
• Owl-idays: Indiana Dunes State Park in Chesterton will host live owls as Humane Indiana Wildlife’s director, Nicole Harmon, explains the adaptations and characteristics of native species from 1:30 to 3 p.m. Central time Dec. 18 at the park’s nature center. It will be outside unless there’s inclement weather.
• Green gifts: Make eco-friendly holiday gifts Dec. 18 by the firepit at South Bend’s Howard Park. Host Diana Mendelsohn with Green Earth Bike Rental will start it at 10:30 a.m. for kids and parents making bird feeders, lavender sachets, catnip toys and evergreen swags. Adults will make the same from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. and view a display of similar, locally made items. Register by Dec. 17, and you’ll get free slices of Barnaby’s pizza; bring your own coffee mug.
More from today's column: Local winter hikes to enlighten and warm your soul
Follow Outdoor Adventures columnist Joseph Dits on Facebook at SBTOutdoorAdventures. Contact him at 574-235-6158 or jdits@sbtinfo.com.
This article originally appeared on South Bend Tribune: Indiana, Michigan birds: Snowy owls are in for an Audubon Christmas
