WAYNEDALE WOODS AND WATERS
OPENINGS AVAILABLE IN ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAM
Become an Indiana Master Naturalist. Openings are still available for anyone interested in registering for the Indiana Master Naturalist Program in April 2005. The mission is: To bring together natural resource specialists with adult learners, to foster an understanding of Indiana’s plants, water, soils and wildlife and promote volunteer service in local communities.
The program will be hosted locally by Purdue University Extension and Fox Island Alliance. Indiana Michigan Power and Wood-Land-Lakes are co-sponsors. To become a certified Indiana Master Naturalist, participants must attend at least seven of the eight class sessions and volunteer an equal number of hours to help educate the community about nature, and help promote, plan, maintain and install natural areas.
The program will begin on April 2 and run through April 30. Class size is limited and on a first-come first-served basis. The registration deadline is March 1. Visit the Allen County Extension office at 4001 Crescent Ave. (on the IPFW campus) for a registration form, or call 260-481-6826 (option 3) for more information. You can also go to www.wood-land-lakes.org to download the program and registration.
4001 Crescent Avenue Fort Wayne, IN 46815-4590
(260) 481-6826 FAX: (260) 481-6439 TDD – 711
Purdue University, Indiana Counties and U.S. Department of Agriculture Cooperating
Allen County Extension Office, Kathy Dew kdew@purdue.edu
DNR launches C52 Raptor Fund
Fund will aid eagles, hawks and owls at education center. In January 1989, bald eagle C52 arrived at Patoka Reservoir. A genetic wing abnormality prevented his release as a part of Indiana’s bald eagle restoration program. Since then, he’s been a living interpretive tool, allowing DNR staff to tell our bald eagle restoration story to more than 50,000 people around the state.
Last October the bird injured his left foot. C52 required tests, medications, surgery and a 9-day recovery at the office of Dr. Sam Vaughn, a Louisville veterinarian who specializes in raptor care. For several days, the bird’s condition was critical. C52 is now recovering back home at Patoka Lake’s visitor center. However, even with considerable discounts from veterinarians, the eagle’s medical costs have reached several thousand dollars. He also requires continuing care. Even after the bird is fully recovered, regular checkups will be needed.
To help pay the costs of its medical care, the DNR has established a fund through the Indiana Natural Resources Foundation to help provide long-term care for C52 and other permanently injured birds of prey used in interpretive programming at Patoka Lake.
“Wild animals are best seen in the wild, but these birds serve a purpose,” said DNR Chief Interpretive Naturalist Ginger Murphy. “The birds allow Hoosiers to see behavior, learn about habits and habitat needs, and better understand the role of birds of prey in an ecosystem. It is quite a memorable experience to be eye-to-eye with a bald eagle for the first time”. “We hope the birds will encourage people to discover wild places and see these birds and other wildlife in their natural setting. This fund will help us keep these birds healthy.”
Contributions may be sent to Patoka Lake Raptor Care, 3084 North Dillard Road, Birdseye, IN 47513.
Forest wildlife conference
The Indiana Department of Natural Resources is co-sponsoring a forest and wildlife management conference March 3 to March 5 in Indianapolis.
The three-day Managing Wildlife for Sustainable Forests: Managing Forests for Sustainable Wildlife conference will examine Indiana forest and wildlife trends and issues.
Top forestry and wildlife researchers will outline relationships between forests and wildlife populations during Thursday and Friday sessions. These sessions are geared toward wildlife biologists, foresters, and other natural resource professionals, but anyone is welcome to attend.
The Saturday morning session, designed with private landowners and citizen conservationists in mind, covers ruffed grouse and woodcock management, making money with trees, hunting leases and landowner liability, getting financial help, and much more.
The early registration fee is $65. The early student fee is $25. And the Saturday-only fee is $10. Early registration deadline is February 15th.
Conference planning partners: Purdue University Department of Forestry and Natural Resources, Indiana Farm Bureau, The Nature Conservancy, Indiana University School of Public and Environmental Affairs, Indiana Society of American Foresters, Indiana Chapter of the Wildlife Society, Hoosier National Forest, Indiana Hardwood Lumberman’s Association, Indiana Fish and
Wildlife Advisory Council and The Indiana Department of Natural Resources.
Conference brochure and registration form: www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/conference.htm
Or, contact DNR wildlife biologist Dean Zimmerman at 765-567-2152.
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