Up with the birds: Christmas Bird Count participants hope to spot elusive species




Left: A pair of black-capped chickadees were spotted out on the count by Ken Wysocki, of Hobart, at Imagination Glen. “This is an area in Portage that we haven’t counted much,” said Wysocki. “I think people know it for the BMX bike trails, but it’s also very good for birding as well.” Right: Ken Wysocki, of Hobart, has been involved with the Christmas Bird Count for 25 years. Although happy that Covid-19 hasn’t stopped the count, Wysocki does miss the countdown dinners that once ended the day and the comradery it provided.

Left: A pair of black-capped chickadees were spotted out on the count by Ken Wysocki, of Hobart, at Imagination Glen. “This is an area in Portage that we haven’t counted much,” said Wysocki. “I think people know it for the BMX bike trails, but it’s also very good for birding as well.” Right: Ken Wysocki, of Hobart, has been involved with the Christmas Bird Count for 25 years. Although happy that Covid-19 hasn’t stopped the count, Wysocki does miss the countdown dinners that once ended the day and the comradery it provided.

In the early morning hours of the Indiana Dunes National Park West Christmas Bird Count on Wednesday, there was indeed a creature stirring, but this time to hunt and catch the mouse. Local birders were up and out early to sneak a glimpse of the typically elusive owls in the area. Count organizers got off to a good start before sunrise when they successfully spotted three barred owls in Hobart and Griffith.

Matt Igleski, a Hammond-based count organizer with the west circle for three years, reported that his group was able to hear and see two barred owls at Oak Ridge Prairie in Griffith. Although they weren’t the sought-after saw-whet owl that Igleski hopes to count each year, they were still great birds to kick off the day.

“We are always trying to find as many owls as possible,” said Igleski. “Usually we will be out by 5 a.m. to start the count. Sometimes you hear them, but don’t see them. The hardest owl we always hope to see is a saw-whet owl, which is our smallest owl, but it’s harder to detect. I don’t think we’ve ever found one on a count around here honestly!”

MANDI DUNLAP/photos

MANDI DUNLAP/photos

Ken Wysocki, a Hobart-based count organizer with the west circle for 10 years, was able to capitalize on a convenient start to his count this year when he spotted a barred owl in his own backyard. As a frequent feathered guest, this wasn’t surprising to Wysocki. “The most exciting bird I had for the day was this morning in my own yard,” mused Wysocki. “I started about 5:30 this morning and the first bird I saw was a barred owl– he’s our owl though, he lives in the yard.”

While 2021 won’t be remembered as a great year in many respects, according to Wysocki it has been a good year for owls in the area. A good year, but birders aren’t necessarily sure why. “It’s been a very good year for owls in the area for some reason, especially for snow owls,” reported Wysocki. “They’re having a good year, but not many have been within the Dunes west circle. A lot in the fields out in La Porte though. You used to be able to see them pretty well out at the port or the Portage lakefront. It’s another one of those things I’m not sure what the reason is. They are in other places, so I don’t think the species is in trouble for any reason. It seems to be a microhabitat issue.”

Members of count organizer Matt Igleski’s team search the skies along the lakefront during the 122nd Christmas Bird Count. MATT IGLESKI/photo

Members of count organizer Matt Igleski’s team search the skies along the lakefront during the 122nd Christmas Bird Count. MATT IGLESKI/photo

A good year for owls, but this unseasonably mild start to winter may have provided too nice of a day for other exciting bird finds according to Igleski and Wysocki. Both reported that their areas within the circle didn’t produce favorable counting conditions because birds were out on the fly and not congregating near feeders or inland bodies of water. “Usually with these counts you want to get near bodies of water because odds are you’ll see a wide variety of species,” said Igleski. “Unfortunately in years like this when it’s so open and mild I have a feeling that’s why the birds were more spread out. They don’t get as congregated by inland small streams and areas we frequent.”

While Christine Gerlach, count compiler for the Indiana Dunes National Park West circle, doesn’t expect all of her field and backyard bird feeder counts to be turned in for roughly two weeks, it was undoubtedly a less exciting year for Igelski. According to the National Audubon’s report for the 121st Christmas Bird Count in Indiana last year, some of the impressive rarities recorded were a harlequin duck and three purple sandpipers. Igleski’s group was witness to the finds.

“For this particular count, last year we were excited at Miller Beach to see a harlequin duck, which is a pretty rare visitor to the Great Lakes and really only shows up in winter,” recalled Igleski. “Near that same area we also had two purple sandpipers which are somewhat expected in winter but are super hard to find.”

For Wysocki, this year’s count brought back a bird that was once easy to find within the circle but has been unexplainably rare as of late. “Another good bird I saw was white crowned sparrows over at County Line Orchard,” said Wysocki. “They used to be pretty common, but they are a lot harder to find in winter now. There’s a big argument about is it habitat loss, is it some sort of climate change issue? I think in Northwest Indiana it’s hard to say because there is a lot of development here in Lake and Porter counties. There may be things though that we can’t see that are affecting those numbers each year.”

Regardless of what this year’s final count shows, this long running citizen science event brings excitement each year to participants because it without fail provides a sense of comradery that in the era of COVID-19 often feels lacking. Wysocki started with the Christmas Bird Count in 1996 within a Chicago circle. Years later he met fellow birder Igleski on that count. After relocating to Indiana and the Dunes count, Wysocki pulled Igleski into this one as well. It provides a fun day excursion, an educational experience, and lasting friendship. “Right now anyone can get online and look up birds, but there is great value in being out in the field with people that are more knowledgeable than you that you can learn from and pick up tips from,” explained Wysocki. “It’s great for newer birders. To me, it’s about the comradery which is really important. There are people I met back in 1996 at my first count that I will not see all year except for count day, which makes it a great day as well.”

To read more about the Christmas Bird Count results, donate to the cause, or sign up for future counts visit www.audubon.org/conservation/science/christmasbird count.

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