146 species, 9432 individuals

This year's count day was even windier than last year's, which greatly depressed bird song and our ability to hear any birds that were vocalizing. The wind blew from the northwest all day long, averaging 15-20 mph, with air temperatures of 48 to 54 Fahrenheit and a wind-chill that was probably in the 30's. Internet reports statewide described the weather as "brutal". The next day was gorgeous and calm, reminding us that Nature doesn't take orders. We were short several veteran counters but still had 20 observers in 8 field parties, plus 4 yard watchers. We counted 146 species, the first year since 2003 in which we failed to reach 150. Many resident species were not singing at all, and paid little attention to tapes and pishes. Still, there were many interesting sightings of species and behaviors.

The outstanding rarity was a Clay-colored Sparrow, found by Jenny Bodwell in a gravelly area in Wabashiki Fish & Wildlife Area near the levee at the southern end of South 6th Street in West Terre Haute. It was hanging out with White-crowned Sparrows in brush piles and shrubbery. Jenny reported it at lunch and took dubious count compiler Peter Scott and willing-to-believe photographers Marty Jones and Jim Sullivan there after lunch. Jones and Bodwell heard the bird's raspy song once from the shrubbery but did not see it. In the evening, however, Jones and Scott saw the bird and Marty photographed it. This is the species' first appearance on the Vigo Spring Count ever in 42 years, making it the 230th count species on our cumulative list. It may be the first Vigo County record since W. Blatchley collected one on September 27, 1890. But it is not unexpected, because the species migrates through the state to and from its Michigan and Ontario breeding grounds and is seen annually in Indiana near Lake Michigan, and sometimes at the Indianapolis capitol grounds. Parke County had one last May, as did Marion County this year. From now on we'll watch hopefully in spring and fall.

An indication of the birding difficulty is that we got only 164 total individuals of 23 warbler species, the fewest individuals since 1997. Normally we get between 280 and 550 individuals of 25 to 31 species. Sheltered spots below levees and in ravines tended to be most productive. Every field party and yard watcher was super important on a day like this.

At our group lunch at Subway, we realized that at least we would break 100 species and have one big rarity. At the 9-11 pm countdown dinner, the list rose to 139 pending additional reports the next day, which added 7 species. At Moggers we birders, some of whom had changed clothes, provided the glamorous note alongside the many prom and commencement celebrants and a live band. Working through the species list, we paused to admire count-day photographs by Marty Jones and Jim Sullivan, including (besides the sparrow) Swainson's Thrush, Black-and-white Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, and Rough-winged Swallow. Their images can be seen now on the photographers' websites (indianajones at smugmug; sullivan at flickr). Meanwhile Steve Lima, returning after dark from a trip to Florida, got our lone Whip-poor-will on Darwin Road.

Among the rarely missed species (seen on 28 to 33 previous counts) that could not be found this year were: Least Flycatcher, Chestnut-sided, Blackburnian, and Bay-breasted warblers, Louisiana Waterthrush, and Savannah Sparrow. Balancing this were eleven species seen on fewer than 10 previous counts: Cattle Egret, Wilson's Snipe, Broad-winged Hawk, Osprey, Peregrine Falcon, Virginia Rail, Ring-billed Gull, Golden-crowned Kinglet, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Pine Warbler, and Clay-colored Sparrow.

The Peregrine Falcon was one of the pair that had been nesting on a hidden ledge on the ISU Business-Education twin towers, the first neting attempt in Vigo County ever documented. Helga, our former winter-resident Peregrine on the towers, always migrated before the Spring count. Unfortunately, it was determined a few days later (about May 11) that the winds of count day itself destroyed this nest and the 3 eggs that hatched just before count day. This year's female is a year-old banded bird from St Louis, Missouri. She and her mate have been present since fall.

We welcome new spring counters Ruth and David Erickson (of West Terre Haute), and Emily and Wayne Padgett.

The observers and their areas: George and Laura Bakken, lower Otter Creek and western Fayette Township. Joe Dickson and John Haag, both sides of Wabash River from the courthouse north, including Duke Energy. Brenda and Phil Milliren, northern Otter Creek and Nevins townships. Marty Jones and Peter Scott, Chinook mine south of I-70, Dresser Wildlife Area, Limas, ISU, St Mary of the Woods, Morris Landsbaum Woods, Duke Energy (evening). Denise Sobieski and Bill Mitchell, Seelyville (Plumbers and Steamfitters property), Tabortown Road, Chinook Mine north of I-70. Susie Dewey, Mike and Joy Sacopulos, Marilyn Clark, Deming and Dobbs Park, Highland Cemetery, Lost Creek area. Denise Prothero, Hulman Lakes, and areas south of I-70 and east of US 41. Mary Beth Eberwein, Emily and Wayne Padgett, areas south of I-70, west of US 41 and east of Wabash River. Jim Sullivan, Wabashiki Fish & Wildlife Area. Jenny Bodwell, Wabashiki FWA, ISU. Yard watchers: Jane Chestnut, David and Ruth Erickson, Diana Hews.

The birds: 146 species, 9432 individuals; see list of all species observed. Results have been sent to Jay Bolden, compiler for the Indiana Audubon Quarterly, which publishes the lists from all reporting counties in the November issue. Join the Indiana Audubon Society (different from National Audubon) to receive this journal.

This page last modified 7/4/10