The IMN Program and Learning to Identify Birds

I am currently a member of the class of 2022 Indiana Master Naturalist program in Allen County. I am one of twenty-five students. The purpose of the training is to make us well-rounded, generalist, naturalists who can then serve our communities as volunteers. The program lasts from February 22 until May 28. During that time we are taught by experts and experienced naturalists. The classes take place at Fox Island and Metea County Parks and the University of Purdue Fort Wayne’s Environmental Research Center. We learn about Native American history, soil and geology, insects, birds, retiles and amphibians, mammals, plants, and how to be a naturalist interpreter. The classes are both data driven and hands on. To become certified as a Master Naturalist we must also complete 24 volunteer hours.
 
Today was our second class on birds. We met at Fox Island and spent four hours “birding”. This required us to model birding ethics, to become familiar with our binoculars, and to use our guide books to identify birds. We had to utilize SCAN or Size, Color (including field marks), Actions or behaviors, Note, (their song) and Setting or their habitat. We broke into three large groups and slowly hiked the park which consisted of woods, fields, and wetlands. We assisted one another in our developing skills and recorded our finds. Afterward we gathered in the nature center and shared our findings. All together we had spotted 45 different species of bird. This included:

• Canada Goose
• Barred Owl
• Red-headed Woodpecker
• Red-bellied Woodpecker
• Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
• Downy Woodpecker
• Northern Flicker
• Pileated Woodpecker
• Eastern Crested Flycatcher
• Great Crested Flycatcher
• White-eyed Vireo
• Blue-headed Vireo
• Yellow-throated Vireo
• Blue Jay
• American Crow
• Tree Swallow
• No. Roughed-winged Swallow
• Carolina Chickadee
• Black-capped Chickadee
• Tufted Titmouse
• House Wren
• Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
• Eastern Bluebird (my favorite)
• Veery
• Wood Thrush
• American Robin
• Gray Catbird
• Nashville Warbler
• Yellow Warbler
• Black-throated Blue Warbler
• Yellow-rumped warbler
• Palm Warbler
• Black-and-white Warbler
• Mourning Dove
• Eastern Towhee
• Field Sparrow
• White-throated Sparrow
• Northern Cardinal
• Rose-breasted Grosbeak
• Indigo Bunting
• Red-wigned Blackbird
• Common Grackle
• Brown-headed Cowbird
• Baltimore Oriole
• American Goldfinch
• House Sparrow

 
Now to be sure, none of us saw all of these birds. There are 17 species on this list that I did not see today but my peers did. What is amazing to me is that practically next door at Eagle Marsh are a number of different and larger birds. At the marsh I have spotted Bald Eagle, Great Horned Owl, Mute Swans, Herons, Egrets, Red-tailed Hawk, and Turkey Vultures. In fact, 250 different species have been spotted in the wetlands.  
 
Last week we identified wildflowers. I felt ignorant and identifying the plants and using the field guides was a laborious challenge for me. Well the same could be said about today. However, I found this to be fun. I love using my binoculars. I love looking at habitat, behavior, color. Just like with the wildflowers, I simply need more practice and I will enjoy getting that practice.
 
Field work and hand-on exercises with the Indiana Master Naturalist program must be seen in context. Yes, we were looking for birds. However, along the way we also saw flowers, trees, squirrels and chipmunks, land snails, and thousands of tadpoles. Perhaps the best part of the morning as getting to know our peers and instructors in a different setting. It was fun to enjoy one another’s gifts, knowledge, and humor on a bright sunny day in a preserve. The IMN program is a great program.