Rare bird sighting at Dunes Nature Center: Indiana Dunes State Park was invaded with birdwatchers from three states as a rare winter bird, not seen reliably in 10 years, showed up at the Nature Center feeders. The bird is called an Evening Grosbeak, and looks like a giant goldfinch. It was seen Saturday and Sunday, Oct 27 and 28, with flocks as large as 8 birds. These and other "winter finches" are pointing to a larger seed crop failure in the far north, driving these birds farther south.                   (Photo by Byron Butler of Chesterton)

Posted 10/30/2007