Author Archives: rcaudubon

Nature writer, landscape historian, garden designer

March 20 | 5 p.m. | BSU’s AJ 175 Audubon members and friends are invited to a presentation by Kathryn Aalto—a New York Times best-selling nature writer, landscape historian, garden designer, and teacher—on March 20, 5 p.m., in room 175 of the Arts and Journalism building on the Ball State campus.  Kathryn focuses on thoseContinue reading “Nature writer, landscape historian, garden designer”

INDNR Nature Preserves: East Central Region

April 19 |  7 p.m.  | Nature Lab & Zoom In April, Ryan Smith will speak about the Indiana Department of Natural Resource’s (INDNR) Division of Nature Preserves, with a focus on the preserves here in East Central Indiana. Ryan will tell us more about these important preserves—like Munsee Woods, Smith-Crisler Nature Preserve, Stout Woods,Continue reading “INDNR Nature Preserves: East Central Region”

Christmas Bird Count

For local Christmas Bird Count participants, on December 17, the day was highlighted with observations of a Northern Shrike, White-winged Scoter, Black-capped Chickadee, and, of course, lots and lots of European Starlings:  1,766, to be exact. Altogether, our counters observed 48 species and 3,680 individual birds.  In cars, on foot, and in view of theirContinue reading “Christmas Bird Count”

Audubon Great Lakes Advocacy Day

Jan. 30 | 11 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. | Indiana Statehouse State legislators make important decisions that impact the lives of millions of birds and people in Indiana. Your voice is more important than ever as we head into a new legislative cycle.  You’re invited to Audubon Great Lakes Advocacy Day at the Indiana Statehouse (200Continue reading “Audubon Great Lakes Advocacy Day”

2022-2023 season

Oct. Introduction to the world of orchid pollination: Following a tour of Ball State’s new Nature Lab, Carol Day, Orchid Curator of the Rinard Orchid Greenhouse, introduced us to the strategies that orchids use to entice hummingbirds, butterflies, and other insects to transfer pollen from one plant to another. Nov. Julian Grudens, a graduate studentContinue reading “2022-2023 season”

Forestry for the Birds

Last summer, a videographer for The Nature Conservancy spent some time with Dr. Kamal Islam and his students while they were in the field researching Cerulean Warblers in southern Indiana.  The resulting 5-minute video, titled Forestry for the Birds, is available on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M8BcRQoLPr0. Kamal, who is Professor of Wildlife Biology at Ball State UniversityContinue reading “Forestry for the Birds”