LAKEFRONT BIRD REPORT: WINTER 2013-2014Kenneth J. BrockChesterton, Indiana

Hoosiers enjoyed an “old fashioned” winter during the 2013-14 season. Following an unusually cold December, the Polar Vortex bulled into Indiana during the first week of January bringing 14 inches of dense snow and double-digit below zero temperatures to northwest Indiana. This powerful storm proved to be the vanguard of a brutal winter, as this same pattern was duplicated almost weekly in January and again in February.

The season’s biggest bird story was an enormous Snowy Owl incursion that rewrote the Indiana record book. Some 33 Snowy Owls were reported on the lakefront and a phenomenal state total of 113 birds was logged in the state. The latter total includes late November and early March reports along with the winter birds. Also of note was Indiana’s first winter Bobolink.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTSMany thanks to Susan R. Bagby who proofed an early draft and made a multitude of helpful suggestions. Thanks also to John K. Cassady and Peter B. Grube for sharing their excellent photographs.

WATERFOWLA seeming multitude of below zero days froze most available water, including much of Lake Michigan. The absence of open water, especially on the lake, severely limited waterfowl habitat, resulting in below normal numbers of many waterbirds. The major exceptions to this rule involved the White-winged Scoter and Common Goldeneye.

Trumpeter Swan:- Thanks to Matt Kalwasinski we learned that the collared Trumpeter reported several times in the Roxana Pond area was banded as a cygnet (unable to fly) in Mayville, Wisconsin on 8 September 2011.

Tundra Swan:- The lakefront’s largest winter count was a flyby flock of (22) off Dunes State Park on 6 December (Brendan J. Grube).

Northern Shoveler:- The season’s only report consisted of a fine count of (52) that Brad Bumgardner counted as they flew past Michigan City Harbor on 9 December; this tally constitutes the lakefront’s 9th largest winter count.

White-winged Scoter:- It was a record winter for this sea duck on the lakefront, with a

fantastic 601 individuals counted (TYM=84.9). The season’s peak tally was (131) recorded at three sites on the Lake County lakefront 25 January (John K. Cassady, Matt Kalwasinski, & KJB).

Common Goldeneye:- John C. Kendall logged a fine count on 31 January. That day’s (699) goldeneyes provided the lakefront’s third largest winter count.

Red-throated Loon:- By early February open water was quite scarce in the Dunes area; consequently, lakefront Red-throated numbers were only one tenth of last winter’s record count. An adult Red-throated, apparently desperately searching for open water, landing in a roadside puddle on Coolspring Avenue in Michigan City. On 9 February by-passers rescued the stranded bird and called Douglass Hinchman, who took the hapless loon to Brad Bumgardner at the State Park. Brad released the bird at Portage Lakefront Park the following day. Sadly, it was found dead at that location the next day.

Spr 2013-14, page 1

Departure from Normal: ChicagoDeparture from Normal: ChicagoDeparture from Normal: Chicago

ºF Precip. inchesDec -4.4 -0.31Jan -8.1 +1.09Feb -10.4 +0.69

A grounded adult Red-throated Loon that was rescued on 9 February. Brad Bumgardner released this individual at Portage Lakefront Park, but it did not survive and was found dead the following day. Photo by Stephanie Stefanko.

American White Pelican:- According to Brad Bumgardner, Corasue Nicholas observed (1) perched on a dock at the Portage Marina on 24 December. It was seen again at this location on 27 December (Christine & Geoff Williamson) and on 12 January (M. Penny Starin).

Great Egret:- On 5 December Matt Kalwasinski found the lakefront’s second latest record in the Roxana Pond area.

Black-crowned Night-Heron:- Once again a few wintered along the Grand Calumet River near Roxana Pond. The season’s peak tally of (5) was reported there by Matt Kalwasinski on 24 December.

Rough-legged Hawk:- Lakefront birders enjoyed the best winter numbers in a decade

with 11 reported for the season (TYM=6). The peak count consisted of (5) birds that Brendan J. Grube found at the Reynolds Creek Gamebird Habitat Area (n. Porter Co) on 12 December.

Purple Sandpiper:- M. Penny Starin found (1) at Portage Lakefront Park on 30 December. Carl Swisher and Michael Topp photographed this bird the following day.

GULLSQuite clearly Whiting Refinery Beach has become the lakefront’s premier winter gull site. Counts from that location this winter included record Glaucous and Great Black-backed counts.

First-cycle Iceland Gull at Whiting Refinery Beach on 15 February. This individual is one of six Icelands reported on the lakefront during the winter. John K. Cassady took this flight shot.

WINTER LAKEFRONT GULL TOTALS04-05 05-06 06-07 07-08 08-09 09-10 10-11 11-12 12-13 13-14

Thayer’s 18 13 5 12 16 10 44 7 26 16Iceland 7 3 2 3 4 7 16 9 13 6*L. Black-backed 19 1 2 4 7 5 16 1 15 5Glaucous 38 21 9 17 76 34 64 26 71 51G. Black-back. 125 87 55 74 224 218 192 60 168 298

*Corrected to compensate for repeated reports of the Hammond Marina adult.*Corrected to compensate for repeated reports of the Hammond Marina adult.*Corrected to compensate for repeated reports of the Hammond Marina adult.*Corrected to compensate for repeated reports of the Hammond Marina adult.*Corrected to compensate for repeated reports of the Hammond Marina adult.*Corrected to compensate for repeated reports of the Hammond Marina adult.*Corrected to compensate for repeated reports of the Hammond Marina adult.*Corrected to compensate for repeated reports of the Hammond Marina adult.*Corrected to compensate for repeated reports of the Hammond Marina adult.*Corrected to compensate for repeated reports of the Hammond Marina adult.

Spr 2013-14, page 2

Iceland Gull:- For the fifth consecutive year the adult Kumlien’s again wintered at the Hammond Marina.

Glaucous Gull:- A record daily count was set 18 January when John C. Kendall counted (16) at Whiting Refinery Beach.

Great Black-backed Gull:- On 4 January a record (59) Great Black-backed Gulls were counted on the Indiana lakefront (John K. Cassady & KJB). However, this mark was short-lived, as John C. Kendall recorded (63) on 18 January (59 Whiting Refinery Beach and four at Portage Lakefront Park).

This odd black-backed gull was photographed at the Portage Marina on 31 January. Paleness of the upperparts can be judged by the contrast between the upperwing coverts and the black primaries. This individual was similar in size to an adult Great Black-backed Gull, with which it associated. The primary pattern, especially the long white tip on the outermost primary, suggests that this bird is also a Great Black-backed. Photo by Peter B. Grube.

Snowy Owl:- By mid-December it was apparent that the Snowy Owl flight had evolved into major invasion. Indeed, the phenomenal 114 Snowys (as of 4 March) counted across the state this season far exceeded the 43 birds reported during the 2011-12 incursion.

Indiana Snowy Owls 2013-14 Season

Summary

Indiana Snowy Owls 2013-14 Season

SummaryMonth Number

November 9December 77January 17February 8March 3Total 114

Taking advantage of this owl plethora, birders established several record daily counts, dwarfing Indiana’s previous high count of six, which was initially logged back in 1905. On 27 December John C. Kendall recorded 15 birds at four Lake, LaPorte, and Porter county locations (8 of these were outside the Dunes area). The following day John found 16 Snowys, including an unbelievable eleven at one rural west-central LaPorte Co site. However, even this impressive total was surpassed by Jeffrey J. McCoy, who logged (17) on 28 December. Many of Jeff’s birds were also outside the Dunes area.

This Snowy Owl was a participant in Indiana’s record winter flight. John K. Cassady photographed this unusually dark individual at the Port of Indiana on 25 January

An inventory of all Indiana records from late November through early March, is appended to this report.

Spr 2013-14, page 3

Red-breasted Nuthatch:- For the first winter since 2002-03 this pert nuthatch was not reported on the lakefront.

Carolina Wren:- On a bright sunny 28th of January one was singing in Randy J. Pals’ backyard, despite a temperature of -12ºF.

Horned Lark:- An impressive count of (400) was logged at Reynolds Creek G.H.A. on 16 December (Brad Bumgardner). This is the lakefront’s largest winter count ever reported.

American Pipit:- John C. Kendall observed (1) at Portage Lakefront Park on 4 January, marking the fourth consecutive year in which a January pipit has been recorded on the lakefront.

Lapland Longspur:- Brendan J. Grube logged an impressive (2900) “Laps” at Reynolds Creek G.H.A. on 18 December. This is Indiana’s third largest single party count.

Lapland Longspur in rural northern Porter County on 17 December. This individual was one of hundreds that appeared in and near the new Reynolds Creek Gamebird Habitat Area. Photo by KJB.

Bobolink:- On the 14 December Indiana Dunes CBC Jeffrey J. McCoy found and photographed (1) south of the Michigan City Harbor power plant. Brad Bumgardner, John K. Cassady, Kimberly Ehn, John C. Kendall, M. Penny Starin, and KJB also saw this bird.

Indiana’s first ever winter Bobolink. Jeffrey J. McCoy found this bird near Michigan City Harbor on the 14 December Christmas Bird Count. Photo by KJB.

WINTER FINCHESThroughout the season winter finches were virtually nonexistent in the Dunes. The only two species reported are listed below.

Purple Finch:- Remarkably the only Purple Finch reported in the Dunes area appeared at the Randy J. Pal’s feeder on 24 January. This is the lowest winter total in seven years (TYM=14.2).

Pine Siskin:- Extremely scarce with only (1) reported all season. It was seen 1 December at Ogden Dunes (Matt Kalwasinski). The winter TYM is 120.

Spr 2013-14, page 4

APPENDIX-­‐    Indiana  Snowy  Owl  Records  for  the  winter  of  2013-­‐14.

Season  SummarySeason  SummaryMonth NumberNov. 9Dec. 77Jan. 17Feb. 8Mar. 3Total 114

Although most of these Arctic visitors were seen in the northern half of the state, several pressed into southern reaches of the state with reports from Clark, Vanderburgh, and Warrick counties along the Ohio River.

In counting the owls some arbitrary decisions were required to generate a reasonably accurate list of occurrences in the state. It was, for example, impossible to determine if an owl observed at the same location on several occasions was a new arrival or a lingering bird. Accordingly, a decision was made to count individuals at commonly birded sites as new, only if more than a week occurred without sightings at the location.

It is also possible that birds seen in central and southern Indiana were previously observed and counted as they passed through northern counties; however, there is no way to make this determination. Thus, every owl discovered in a new county was assumed to constitute a new record. The below record list was also vetted by Brad Bumgardner and John Kendall.

November Snowy OwlsNovember Snowy OwlsNovember Snowy OwlsNovember Snowy OwlsNovember Snowy OwlsDate # Location Reporter Comment

21-Nov 1 Wabash Co. fide DNR US 124, near N. Manchester24-Nov 2 Port of Indiana John C. Kendall 2nd found by B. J. Grube

25-Nov 1 Allen Co. fide Rodger P. Rang apparent road kill

26-Nov 1 Warrick Co. fide Jeremy Ross on Peabody Mine property

28-Nov 1 s. Lake Co. unknown 1 mile n. of LaSalle FWA

28-Nov 1 TNC Kankakee Sands fide Margo Mair Near US 41

29-Nov 2 n. Lake Co.: breakwall Ethan Gyllenhaal 2nd found by C. A. Marsh

Total 9

Spr 2013-14, page 5

December Snowy OwlsDecember Snowy OwlsDecember Snowy OwlsDecember Snowy OwlsDecember Snowy OwlsDate # Location Reporter Comment1-Dec 1 central Elkhart Co. Ronda DeClaire CR 26 & Pumkinvine Trail

1-Dec 3 Michigan City Harb John C. Kendall believed to be 1st year birds

2-Dec 1 Celery Bog Edward M. Hopkins distant photo

2-Dec 2 Miller Beach Michael Topp USX impoundment

2-Dec 1 Port of Indiana Brad Bumgardner nw corner of breakwall

3-Dec 1 Michigan City Cindy Weiss Perham atop Aldi Foods

4-Dec 1 Jasper Co. fide Lynne Daugherty n. of Rensselaer

4-Dec 1 Marshall Co. fide Linnea Petercheff injured near Culver

5-Dec 1 rural Pulaski Co. taken by rehabber

6-Dec 1 Fulton Co. fide Carol Riewe Fractured wing

6-Dec 1 Port of Indiana John C. Kendall 2 birds present- one new

7-Dec 1 Michigan City Harb John K. Cassady Outer breakwall

7-Dec 3 Lake Co. breakwalls Jeffrey J. McCoy On distant breakwaters

7-Dec 1 Port of Indiana Jeffrey J. McCoy 2 present, one was new

8-Dec 1 Reynolds Creek G.B.H. Brad Bumgardner Photo: 1500N & 600E

11-Dec 1 Portage Lakefront Pk John C. Kendall on the outer breakwall

12-Dec 1 Fulton Co. Shirley Needham s. part of county

13-Dec 1 Huntington Co. Lynnanne Fager e. of Hunt. / Wabash Co. line

13-Dec 1 Jasper Co. Bob Huguenard CR1300N & CR 200

13-Dec 1 Reynolds Creek John C. Kendall 2 bird present- one new

14-Dec 1 Adams Co. Rich Weiland 1100N, 3 mi e. of Ossian14-Dec 1 Michigan City Harb John K. Cassady Dunes CBC

14-Dec 1 St Joseph Co. Brenda Statzer in Granger

15-Dec 1 Boone Co. Parker Jones CR 400E near SR 32

16-Dec 1 Burns Ditch Conservation Officer Shot with BB gun

16-Dec 1 Tippecanoe Co. Tim Street I-65 8 mi. s. of Lafayette

16-Dec 1 Wabash Co. Lynnanne Fager n. of Walmart in Wabash

16-Dec 1 South Bend Airport fide Carol Riewe fide rehabber

17-Dec 1 Michigan City fide Carol Riewe US 212 near US 20

17-Dec 1 Hammond Marina Carolyn A. Marsh on the outer breakwall

17-Dec 2 Starke Co. Jeffrey J. McCoy U.S. 30 & 35

18-Dec 1 LaPorte Co. Brad Bumgardner s. of Westville Prison

20-Dec 1 Blackford Co. fide Judy Green 400S & 400E

21-Dec 1 LaGrange Co. Sam Plew dark bird-600N & 100E21-Dec 1 N. Lake Co. N. Kiehl I-65, 2 mi. n. of Merrillville

21-Dec 1 N. Porter Co. Michael Lanzone 350E, just n. of the toll road

21-Dec 1 Tippecanoe Co. DNR staff dead

22-Dec 1 LaGrange Co. Mark Weldon on the Pigeon River CBC

23-Dec 1 Downtown Muncie Adam Reichle downtown

23-Dec 1 Newton Co. Doug Gerbracht w. of Brook

Spr 2013-14, page 6

23-Dec 1 LaPorte Co. Brad Bumgardner on 1100W, just s. of US 2

24-Dec 1 LaGrange Co. Karen Brown 2 birds reported, 1 counted

24-Dec 1 Boone fide Roger L. Hedge West edge of Dover

24-Dec 1 Rush Co. fide Marjorie Carmony on Rush-Fayette Co. line

24-Dec 1 Steuben Co. fide Holly Meyers Angola 200N/440E25-Dec 1 Hammond Marina area Ethan Gyllenhaal on the ice NW the walkway

25-Dec 2 Marion Co. Don Gorney Indy International Airport

27-Dec 1 Gary Airport Michael Topp

27-Dec 4 Lake Co. breakwalls John C. Kendall on distant breakwaters

27-Dec 1 USX plant John C. Kendall impoundment

28-Dec 11 w. central LaPorte Co. John C. Kendall US 421 & 800S area

28-Dec 1 s. of Westville Prison John C. Kendall 2 bird present- one new

28-Dec 1 Old Shamrock Sod Farm John C. Kendall US 30 & Ind39

28-Dec 1 Starke Co. John C. Kendall 700N & 300E

29-Dec 1 Evansville Airport Evan Speck warehouse roof

30-Dec 1 Putnam Co. Carl Huffman on 300E between 50S & 50N

31-Dec 1 Pulaski Co. Ashley Brucker white bird; s. of Winamac

Total 77

January Snowy OwlsJanuary Snowy OwlsJanuary Snowy OwlsJanuary Snowy OwlsJanuary Snowy OwlsDate # Location Reporter Comment1-Jan 1 Wabash Co. fide DNR US 124, near N. Manchester

1-Jan 1 Miami Co. Linda Craft n. of 1200S & e. of 31

6-Jan 1 Decatur Co. Chris Fox Near Greensburg

7-Jan 1 Port of Indiana John C. Kendall following Polar Vortex

8-Jan 1 Tippecanoe Co. Carol Ann Flying over a field

9-Jan 1 LaGrange Sam Plew n. of Plato

12-Jan 1 Allen Co. Dawn Jackson Near Harlan

13-Jan 1 s. Lake Co. Josh Grube e. side of Clay St s. of SR2

13-Jan 1 s. Kosciusko Co. Jeff Tucker n. of Yellow Creek Lake

14-Jan 1 Hamilton Co. Ed Snyder Gwinn Rd where E 281st T's

14-Jan 1 w. Elkhart Co. Kim Case CR 28 & CR 11

15-Jan 1 Cass Co. Unidentified farmers along 400E near 650N

16-Jan 1 Carroll Co. Darin (?) Diane Justice 400S & 350W

17-Jan 1 Elkhart Co. Mo Betta (?) Bristol: road 17 and CR 8

21-Jan 1 Porter Co. Airport Becky Lamprecht-Smith e. side of Valpo

27-Jan 1 Warrick Co. Kathy Cail Roadkill I-64 & hwy 231

30-Jan 1 w. LaGrange Co. John & Elaine Harley white bird;1050W & 500S

Total 17

Spr 2013-14, page 7

February Snowy OwlsFebruary Snowy OwlsFebruary Snowy OwlsFebruary Snowy OwlsFebruary Snowy OwlsDate # Location Reporter Comment5-Feb 1 e. LaPorte Co. John Lindsay near 300E & Division Rd

7-Feb 1 Montgomery Co. Kyle Rush at the Burn

8-Feb 1 Clinton Co. Sam Niemann w. of Kirklin, SR38 & 400E

10-Feb 1 Newton Co. Ellen & Doug Gerbracht 550E & 1300S one was new

15-Feb 1 n. of South Bend Frank Collins Auten/Laurel Road

17-Feb 1 w. edge of Adams Co. Rachel Isch, photos Between 200S & 300S

17-feb 2 Starke Co. Barry Sayger 2100S, e. of US 421

Total 8

March Snowy OwlsMarch Snowy OwlsMarch Snowy OwlsMarch Snowy OwlsMarch Snowy OwlsDate # Location Reporter Comment1-Mar 1 Reynolds Creek G.H.A. John K. Cassady Near CR1500N & CR600E

3-Mar 1 Monticello Barbara Allison White Oak Health Campus

4-Mar 1 Off Dunes State Park Brendan J. Grube 0.75 mi out on the pack ice

Total 3

Spr 2013-14, page 8