Wings soar at refuge

Birds have become an obsession for Terri Moore and Linda Sullivan.

From sparrows to warblers, they love them all.

Walking along the trails of Muscatatuck National Wildlife Refuge in Seymour early Saturday morning, the two friends were armed with high-powered binoculars and bird books.

Their goal?

To see and identify 80 different types of birds.

"We've already seen 33 so far," Sullivan, of Seymour, said. "We're expecting to see at least 80, if the fog ever lifts."

The fog was the only complaint from Sullivan, Moore and the handful of others who took the morning bird walk as part of Saturday's 10th annual Wings Over Muscatatuck Migratory Bird Festival. Led by area bird expert Bob Thompson, the walk gave bird enthusiasts an opportunity to identify many of their feathered friends.

"You want to be able to add one more bird to your list," Moore, of Norristown in Shelby County, said of why she enjoys birding. "It becomes a challenge to see as many different kinds as you can," she added.

This was the seventh year the two have attended the festival.

Some of their favorite birds of the morning?

"The Henslow and Lincoln sparrows," Moore said.

"And the blue wing warbler," Sullivan added. "It's beautiful. It's bright yellow with blue wings."

Hundreds of people from near and far attended the all-day festival, which featured a number of bird-related activities, programs, demonstrations and tours.

"I think it's wonderful," Sullivan said of the event. "It's kind of what we count on doing each spring."

"It's really become a tradition with us," Moore added. "And it's a great way to generate interest in wildlife."

Aurilla Lesley, from Louisville, has been attending the festival since 2003. She also enjoyed the bird walk.

"Birds are hidden treasures," she said. "Their colors are beautiful and each one has a different characteristic. They are all around you, but we hardly ever take the time to really look at them and appreciate them."

Her advice for beginning bird watchers?

"Get a pair of good binoculars," she said.

That wasn't a problem for 5-year-old Ellie Cornn and her sister, Marlo, 3, of Seymour, who took advantage of a children's activity that taught them how to properly use binoculars. Using a pair of binoculars provided by the refuge, the girls were able to locate birds from a distance.

The girls' mother, Holly Cornn, said it was their first time to attend the festival. Both girls were having a great time, she added.
"We made a bird call and saw a real owl," Ellie said, excitedly. "But my favorite is the cardinal."

Marlo said her favorite was the robin because of its red belly and because she sees them in her front yard all the time.

After learning how to use binoculars, the girls headed to another area where they were able to make bird feeders and eagles from natural and recycled materials. The crafts were sponsored by the Greater Seymour Chamber of Commerce Recycling Committee.
Donna Stanley, Muscatatuck outdoor recreation planner, was pleased with the day's turnout, even if it did start a little light.

"We're having a good day," she said. "It's a nice crowd. We were a little worried about the fog, but it's a great day for birding by ear."
Luckily, the sun came out late morning to allow for an optimum bird-watching experience.

Since the refuge is managed for migratory birds, Stanley said the festival is one method the refuge uses to draw public attention to them.

"Many birds are having problems right now," Stanley said. "Forests in the south are being destroyed and pesticides and development are ruining the birds' natural habitats. Our summer birds, which fly south for the winter, aren't able to find that habitat to survive and fewer and fewer of our birds are coming back here. It's a serious problem."

The good news, she said, is people are starting to take notice.

"There are many countries that are starting to protect these birds and make changes to ensure their survival," she said. "So that's encouraging."

Besides the bird walk, visitors could take guided tours of areas in the refuge that are normally closed to the public, learn how to make simple bird calls and observe how birds are banded for scientific study. At the end of the day, a frog and woodcock listening walk took place.

Taking their own stroll through the refuge, Scott Heyne of Seymour and his three children, Paxton, 5, Peyton, 9, and Preston, 6, were enjoying being outdoors together.

"It's our first time," Scott said of attending the festival. "We've done all the activities and it's just been a great morning."

Other highlights of the day were programs on hummingbirds, wild dogs, bluebirds, nature photography, general birding and birds of Antarctica.

One of the most popular programs was the Birds of the Day, presented by Tammy Davis, a volunteer with the Hardy Lake Wildlife Rehabilitation Center. People of all ages packed into the refuge's nature center to get up close and personal with several species of birds, including an American Kestral, more popularly known as a sparrow hawk, a red-shouldered hawk, a red-tailed falcon, a turkey vulture and the main attraction - a bald eagle. Later, visitors were able to meet some owls during the Birds of the Night program.

Davis said the programs are important because they educate people to respect and appreciate birds and nature.

Jim Pence of Brownstown was engrossed in Davis' presentation. As she introduced each bird, he followed along in his bird identification guide.

"I love it," Pence said of the program and festival. "I see a lot of these birds out where I live, so it's nice to be able to see them up close and learn more about them."

Andrea Corbells, 7, of Columbus didn't want to forget any of the birds she saw Saturday, so she drew each one. She attended the festival with her mother, Carol, and her 5-year-old sister, Erica.

"I can draw birds like a real artist," Andrea said.

The girls' interest in birds comes from their grandmother, Carol added.

"Our grandma just loves birds, and she gave me a book that shows all the different birds," Andrea said. "She loves it when I look at it with her. My favorite is the killdeer because it is really pretty and makes a neat sound."

As for Erica, she liked the blue jays and the doves.

"Because they walk like a chicken," she said, laughing.