Birdathon

The Amos W. Butler Audubon Birdathon has a rich 20+ year history of providing funding for activities that promote the welfare of the birds of Central Indiana. For example, we have donated more than $100,000 to the American Bird Conservancy to protect land in Panama and Colombia. The land is home to country endemics as well as to numerous neotropical migrants that breed in Indiana. We have also provided funding for habitat improvement at Marian University's Ecolab, helped fund a staff position for National Audubon Society here in Indiana, assisted with research on Northern Saw-whet Owls and Cerulean Warblers, and so much more.

The Birdathon is simply a marvelous effort by a dedicated team of volunteers. In 2010, we intend to fund: additional conservation easements near the Cerulean and Pauxi Paxi Reserves in Colombia (Pauxi Pauxi depicted in photo), habitat improvements at Marian University's EcoLab and Spades Park in Indianapolis, miscellaneous expenses for the Audubon Indiana office staffed by Ross Brittain, Ph.D., conservation planning efforts by Central Indiana Land Trust, and operating expenses for Lights Out Indy. Of course, in order for us to fund these grants, we need to raise the money.

In 2010, the Birdathon Committee was hoping that funds raised through donations and pledges would equal the almost $30,000 raised in 2009. However, as of June 24, the total raised is approximately $23,000. We are making one more attempt to raise an additional $5,000 so that all approved grant requests can be funded. We are calling on our members and friends to donate to the Birdathon, if you have not already done so, or to make an extra contribution if you have already donated. Your donation is greatly appreciated. Please send your check to: Donna McCarty, Amos W. Butler Audubon Society, 4832 Guion Road, Indianapolis, IN 46254.

We thank you and the birds of Central Indiana thank you.

Note: Photo is of the Pauxi Pauxi Reserve in Colombia. Pauxi Pauxi is the scientific name of the Northern Helmeted Curassow, an endangered species that lives in Colombia. The reserve supports the curassow as well as numerous neoptropical migrants such as Cerulean and Blackburnian Warblers. We have partnered with the American Bird Conservancy and ProAves in Colombia to assist with land protection in the area near Pauxi Pauxi and also the Cerulean Warbler Reserve.

Earth Day Indiana 2010

We spoke with many members and friends at Earth Day Indiana on Saturday, April 24. This was the 40th Earth Day celebration and number 20 for Indiana. The event was held at a new venue - White River State Park in downtown Indianapolis. Earth Day Indiana will be held at the same site through at least 2013. Several thousand people - and hundreds of dogs - attended the wonderful event. More than 130 exhibitors were present. There was something for everyone. Amos W. Butler Audubon provided pop-up binoculars at our booth. They were extremely popular! We also led a bird walk at 2pm and saw a number of species including a Canada Goose sitting on nest and atop several goslings, Northern Rough-winged Swallows at a nest cavity in the concrete retaining wall along the White River, Double-crested Cormorant, and a brief glimpse of a Red-tailed Hawk that is nesting at IUPUI. Earth Day Indiana 2010 was a wonderful event. Thanks to all who stopped by and said hello. We will be at the Hoosier Outdoor Experience on September 18-19 at Fort Harrison State Park. Stop by to get your pop-up binoculars!

A Woodcock in the Freezer

"Why do you have dead birds in your freezer?", asked my son's friend after he had reached into a popsicle box and pulled out a dead bird in a Ziploc bag rather than the icy treat he was after. I don't recall my response, other than I spared him a lengthy explanation. Neither he nor my son expressed disgust about the 125 or more dead birds in the freezer in late fall 2009. They were just after icees, popsicles, fudge bars, and other cool treats. Most of the birds were stored in plastic bags. Some were loose and some were in the popsicle box.

All of those birds were donated to the Indiana State Museum or other entities by year-end as required. Now, a new year has begun and I have my first dead bird of 2010 in the freezer. It's an American Woodcock. It's quite beautiful and will make a good taxidermy mount for a local nature center. It, like the other birds that make their way to my freezer, is from the Lights Out Indy program. In 2009, volunteers with Lights Out Indy located a total of 526 dead and injured birds in Indianapolis, most downtown. The majority of the birds were dead and were salvaged so they could be used for mounts and study skins. Lights Out Indy will be out monitoring during the spring migration, salvaging dead birds that are found. Hopefully, the bird mortality will be reduced as participation in Lights Out Indy by building managers increases.

The American Woodcock in my freezer was killed at approximately 11am on March 22, 2010 after it flew into a window. No one saw the bird hit the glass but they heard it. They went outside to check on the bird. It was alive but quickly succumbed to the massive head trauma it sustained. It's a common story for those of us on the sidewalks monitoring for birding strikes. It's not pleasant but it is vital to the Lights Out Indy effort. The more we understand, the more we can do to mitigate the problem of bird strikes. We could use additional volunteers. If you are willing to help with monitoring, salvaging dead birds, or transporting injured birds to a rehabber, please drop me a line at dongorney AT yahoo.com. More information about Lights Out Indy is at www.lightsoutindy.org. Also, there will be a Lights Out Indy presentation at Holliday Park Nature Center, 6363 Spring Mill Road, Indianapolis, on Tuesday, April 13 at 7:30pm.

Finally, our new website!

It took awhile, but Amos W. Butler Audubon finally has a redesigned website. The site went live on March 31. Now that the site is up, comes the inevitable tweaks, additions, edits, etc. that will need to be done. We think it is a pretty cool website and hope you stop by and visit it at www.amosbutleraudubon.org.

Lights Out Indy

Amos W. Butler Audubon, through the Lights Out Indy initiaitve, is working to save the lives of migratory birds. This photo of a dead Yellow-rumped Warbler taken in October 2009 captures part of the problem faced by migratory birds. Birds do not recognize glass as an obstacle. Glass that reflects vegetation or situations where a bird can see through a building are especially deadly. Excess overnight lighting also plays a role.

This Yellow-rumped Warbler was found dead on a ground floor window sill of the Indiana Historical Society. It probably flew into the window because it thought it was flying to the tree being reflected in the window. For more information about our efforts please visit lightsoutindy.org.