WAYNEDALE WOODS AND WATERS
Eagle Watch programs See eagles and winter’s wooded scenery
Grab warm boots and mittens and try a wild Indiana eagle viewing, hiking or ice fishing program this winter.
Winter is an ideal time to view bald eagles in Indiana because they are easier to spot among bare trees and because resident birds are joined by a large number of northern eagles that spend the winter around Indiana’s larger ice-free reservoirs and rivers.
Patoka Lake’s event, in south central Indiana, on January 15, includes eagle watching caravans and a close-up look at eagle C-52, a live bald eagle that resides permanently at Patoka Lake’s Visitors Center. For details and reservations, contact Patoka Lake at (812) 685-2447.
This winter’s Monroe Lake Eagle Watch, near Bloomington, takes place on February 4-6, at Fourwinds Resort in Fairfax State Recreation Area on the west side of the lake. The weekend-long event includes birding hikes and tours to eagle hot spots around the property. For details and reservations, call (812) 837-9546.
Cecil M. Harden Lake’s program near Rockville will be at Raccoon State Recreation Area on February 5. Call (765) 795-4576 for details.
Eagle Watch program participants should dress for cold weather, have cars fueled for viewing tours and bring binoculars or a spotting scope. Each property charges a small program fee.
More eagle watch information
www.IN.gov/dnr/parklake/interpretiveservices/programs/schedule/
Reservoir property maps:
www.in.gov/dnr/parklake/reservoirs/index.html
Bald eagle photo, life history, reintroduction program:
www.in.gov/dnr/fishwild/publications/lifeseries/eagle.htm
Eagle Watch Weekend Expands at Lake Monroe in 2005
The Indiana bald eagle population expanded in record proportions for yet another year, and the Fifth Annual Eagle Watch Weekend at Monroe Lake is expanding right along with it. Indiana’s largest eagle-viewing celebration adds another half day and eight new programs on February 4-6, 2005 at the Fourwinds Resort and Marina in the Fairfax State Recreation Area on Lake Monroe.
This year’s event begins with a new lake-wide bird count on Friday morning at the Fourwinds. Count participants visit Lake Monroe’s “Top Ten” birdwatching sites including Stillwater Marsh, and the North Fork Waterfowl Resting Area. Another new program provides an in-depth look into the lives of Indiana raptors with Dr. Jim and Dr. Susan Hengeveld from Indiana University.
Live bird programs occur throughout the weekend. Indiana’s owls take the stage on Friday and eagles, hawks, and falcons are the focus of three programs on Saturday. Bird banding with Wild Birds Unlimited’s Chief Naturalist John Schaust is featured on Sunday morning.
Two programs for the younger set are scheduled for Saturday with Wendy Smith, Education Coordinator from the Great Lakes Research and Education Center at Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore. Saturday afternoon includes the annual bus caravan to view bald eagles in the wild and an update on Indiana’s wildlife diversity (non-game) program.
Those new to birding won’t want to miss “The Basics of Birdwatching” on Saturday morning. Talks on the history of bald eagle reintroduction in Indiana and the status of avian research are featured, too. Other programs include the “Direction of the DNR” and “Inspiration from Nature.” The weekend wraps up with a look at the numerous citizen science projects where birders and nature enthusiasts can make substantial contributions to the conservation of nature.
A $5/adult event fee ($1 – age 12 to 17) covers any or all programs for the three-day weekend. For a complete listing of programs and pre-registration information, log on to the Indiana State Parks and Reservoirs website at www.dnr.IN.gov/parklake/ or call 812-837-9546.
For more information or to register, call the DNR Natural Resources Education Center, (317) 562-1338. Ice fishing safety tips: www.ai.org/dnr/fishwild/fish/fishing/ice.htm
HUNTER SAFETY EDUCATION CLASS
This program is sponsored by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Allen County 4-H Shooting Sports Program.
This free, two-day course will be February 19 and 26, 2005 from 8:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. Participants MUST attend both days The course will be held at the Allen County Extension Office, 4001 Crescent Ave, Fort Wayne (on the east side of IPFW Campus). Class size is limited. Pre-registration is required. Please bring your own sack lunch.
Topics to be covered at the course will include hunting heritage, early firearms history, firearms safety, hunter responsibility, wildlife conservation and management, wildlife identification, care of game, specialty hunting (muzzleloading, handguns, bow hunting), survival and first aid, and water safety.
Persons born on or after December 31, 1986 must successfully complete a hunter education course in order to purchase a hunting license. Anyone age 12 and under must be accompanied during the course by a parent or guardian. Instructors for the course are certified by the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. All materials for the course including a study manual will be provided.
To pre-register, call the Purdue Extension Service – Allen County at 481-6826.
AIR RIFLE PROGRAM SPONSORED BY ALLEN COUNTY 4-H SHOOTING SPORTS
The 4-H Shooting Sports Air Rifle program will begin January 11 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hoagland Pavilion, Hoagland, Indiana. Enrollment in this discipline is limited to 12 participants. If you are interested, you must call 481-6826 to request a flyer and return required paperwork and the $20 fee to secure a spot in the class. Registration is on a first come, first paid basis.
This program sponsored by Allen County 4 H Clubs, Inc., is open to youth in grades 3-12. Equipment will be provided. Participants will meet 9 times on January 11, 18, 25, February 8, 15, 22 and March 8, 15, 22, 2005. Classes will be held from 6:30 -8:00 p.m.
The program teaches safe handling of firearms, proper use of equipment, shooting techniques and ethics of good shooters. Instructors are certified through the Indiana 4 H Shooting Sports Program of Purdue University and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. For more information please call Barb Thuma, Extension Educator, 4-H/Youth, Allen County Extension Office at 481-6826.
It is the policy of the Purdue Cooperative Extension Service, David C. Petritz, Director, that all persons shall have equal opportunity and access to the programs and facilities without regard to race, color, sex, religion, national origin, age, marital status, parental status, sexual orientation, or disability-Purdue University is an Affirmative Action employer.
GOOSE HUNT
The 2005 Indiana Light Goose Conservation Season is February 1 to March 31, 2005. The season will be effective statewide, except at Muscatatuck and Big Oaks National Wildlife Refuges.
Light geese that migrate primarily through the Mississippi and Central flyways are overpopulating and degrading their arctic and sub-arctic breeding grounds.
The conservation season hopes to recruit Indiana waterfowl hunters into a North American-wide effort to reduce these goose populations to levels that ensure the long-term health of these wildlife species.
Lesser snow goose (Chen caerulescens caerulescens) and Ross’ geese (C. rossi) are referred to as light geese due to the light coloration of their white-phase plumage.
Lesser snow geese have two color phases, a dark phase called a blue goose and the white phase called snow goose. Both phases are included under the designation light geese.
Dark geese — the white-fronted goose and Canada goose — are not included in the season.
The same regulations and restrictions that apply during regular waterfowl seasons also apply during the conservation season with a few exceptions:
– A free permit is required.
– Unplugged shotguns and electronic calling devices are allowed.
– Shooting hours are one-half hour before sunrise to one-half hour after sunset.
– There is no daily bag or possession limit on lesser snow geese (includes blues) and Ross’ geese.
In addition to the free permit, a valid hunting license and signed Indiana waterfowl stamp (unless exempt) are required. Neither a federal duck stamp nor a Harvest Information Program number are required. Free permits can be obtained by visiting any state fish and wildlife or state reservoir office.
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