Winter Birds, Wildlife Watching

Indiana Division of Fish and Wildlife Department of Natural Resources Winter 1999 Winter birds, wildlife watching Winter birds in Indiana The air is crisp and frost paints the American crow ground. The wind has left the trees American goldfinch bare and all the animals appear to be American kestrel hibernating. But, wait! If you look American tree sparrow closely, you can see a small movement Barred owl in a tree. Moving from branch to Black-capped chickadee branch is one of nature’s signs of Black duck winter, the white-throated sparrow. It Blue jay Canada goose leaves the shelter of the branches and Carolina chickadee lands on the ground to eat some seeds. Carolina wren The time for winter birdwatching has Cedar waxwing begun. Cooper’s hawk Birdwatching is a hobby enjoyed by Dark-eyed junco millions of people across the country. Downy woodpecker It is not just a warm weather Eastern screech-owl sport. In a survey completed in European starling 1996 by the U.S. Bureau of Evening grosbeak Census for the U.S. Fish & Golden-crowned kinglet Wildlife Service, 60.8 million Goldeneye Great horned owl people said they observed, fed or Hooded mergansers photographed wildlife around their House finch homes. Of this number, more than birds rely on seeds and insects to keep House sparrow half fed wild birds and 44 percent their metabolism running high. Mallard observed wildlife. Birds were reported Supplemental high energy food Mourning dove as the most frequently viewed wildlife sources, such as suet and black oil Northern cardinal by survey participants. sunflower seeds, help birds keep their Northern flicker Indiana has numerous bird species internal temperature high enough to Northern mockingbird that are either permanent year-round ➣ page 10 Pileated woodpecker residents or winter visitors. “During Pine siskin the winter months, birds are mainly Purple finch Red-bellied woodpecker concerned with finding food, water Topics this issue. Red-breasted nuthatch and shelter,” said John Castrale, Ruby-crowned kinglet biologist for the Division of Fish and Sharp-shinned hawk Wildlife. “The behavior you see while Nongame program funding Snow goose birdwatching is linked to meeting Song sparrow these needs.” Deer collisions Tufted titmouse Birds tend to flock together in the White-breasted nuthatch winter to gain more protection from White-throated sparrow predators and more eyes for finding Nuisance animal control White-crowned sparrow food. The food resources change as Winter wren fruit, berries and seasonal insects Yellow-bellied sapsucker The facts on catfish Yellow-rumped warbler disappear from the landscape. Winter 1 Director of Division Mission Fish & Wildlife “To manage fish and wildlife for As you may have heard, Mark Cottingham, the present and future editor of this newsletter and an information generations, balancing ecological, specialist with our division, died September 25 in a car accident in Indianapolis. recreational and economic benefits.” This Focus newsletter was Mark’s “baby” and, as you have probably noticed, a newsletter that Focus on Fish & Wildlife is a quarterly publi- was continually improving as he strove to cation from the Indiana Department of Natural improve our DNR division’s communication with Resources Division of Fish and Wildlife. Focus Indiana’s citizens. He was a good listener and a on Fish & Wildlife seeks to educate sportsmen good teacher. and women, conservationists, wildlife recreation- The most recent improvement came two issues ists and all Hoosiers on topics related to the man- ago when Mark expanded Focus from four pages agement of Indiana’s fish and wildlife resources. to twelve pages. He improved the paper and the Gary Doxtater printing and stuffed these extra pages with DFW Director better photographs and in-depth magazine style Larry D. Macklin, Director articles. More than one hundred of our readers Department of Natural Resources took the time to contact us and praise the improvements. Lori F. Kaplan, Deputy Director With Mark’s death, the citizens of Indiana Bureau of Water and Resource Regulation have lost a great friend and advocate. I spent many pleasant hours with Mark discussing Gary Doxtater, Director natural resources management, and Mark always Division of Fish and Wildlife had a very well developed sense of right and Linda Tuttle, Editor & Designer wrong. His convictions were strong and rooted in Amanda Wuestefeld, Editor a good up-bringing. Focus on Fish & Wildlife The accident reminded me that our time in Indiana is not endless. And that it’s not what we do for ourselves that will last, but what we do for others that will go on — like this Focus on Fish & Wildlife is distributed free of newsletter, or the informative charge. To subscribe, send name, complete news releases Mark developed and address, city, state and zip code. SEND address wrote, or the State Fair Wild changes or subscription requests to the follow- Game Cookout, an event that ing: Mark organized every year. Mark’s Focus on Fish and Wildlife work impacted hundreds of 402 W. Washington St., Room W273 thousands of people and raised Indianapolis, IN 46204 awareness about fish and wildlife resources throughout the state. If you have questions about the Division of Fish And it also reminded me of how and Wildlife, please write to the above Indiana is better because of the address or call 317/232-4080. many DNR employees like Mark— people dedicated to improving Visit the DNR our state even when other Division of Fish & Wildlife Mark Cottingham pastures were often greener. website: 1961-1998 We could always count on Mark. He was our www.state.in.us/dnr/fishwild/index.html go-to guy when things got rough. He was intelligent and usually cheery in all types of weather. And I believe that somewhere he’s still pulling for us. It’s always good to have a friend and advocate in high places. Printed on recycled paper 2 A deer in the headlights Hoosier motorists are most driven in each county. This likely to be involved in deer- standardization gives a more vehicle accidents during the fall meaningful picture of the deer months, but it is important to herd over time. remain alert year round. In 1997, there were 146 deer- In 1997 alone, 10,268 deer- vehicle collisions per billion miles vehicle accidents were reported in driven – a 19 percent decrease Indiana. Even though this number over the previous year. Seventy- sounds high, when compared to eight percent of Indiana counties other states, Indiana’s deer-vehicle showed a decrease in accidents per collisions are quite low. billion miles traveled over 1996 The number of reported deer- levels. Despite the drop in vehicle accidents is one of the accidents, it is still important to more important indices that stay alert and follow a few biologists use to evaluate deer precautions to avoid collisions population trends. Studies in a with deer. (See below.) number of states, including The recent decline in the deer Indiana, have shown positive harvest has caused some people correlations between the number concern about Indiana’s deer herd. of deer-vehicle accidents and deer The Division of Fish and Wildlife wildlife watchers and hunters, harvest figures. sets hunt seasons and bag limits to decreases deer-vehicle collisions, In 1997, Indiana’s deer harvest maintain the herd at a healthy, and reduces crop and habitat dropped 15 percent from the stable level, and, according to DNR damage by deer.ò previous year’s harvest. In the biologists, deer continue to thrive same year, the state saw a 12 throughout the state. This prepared by Mark Weaver, Deer Survey percent decline in deer-vehicle management goal promotes Biologist. collisions – a drop of more than ecological balance, provides 1,200 deer-vehicle collisions in a recreational opportunities for year. Motorists tend to drive more miles as urban areas and human populations grow. Biologists Avoiding the Collision improve the use of deer-vehicle accidents as an indicator of deer • Adjust driving speed to lighting situations. Slower driving population trends when they take during low light situations gives you more time to react. into account the number of miles • Scan the roadside for deer (often eyes will reflect headlights). Feeding deer could easily dart into traffic. Slow down. • Deer often travel in groups, seeing one deer may mean that others are nearby. Reduce your speed. Stay alert. • Be aware of deer crossing signs. The Indiana Department of Transportation posts the warning signs to alert drivers of frequent deer crossing areas. The signs indicate a general area rather than an exact crossing point. • Deer are creatures of habit. They will cross a road in the same general area time after time. • To increase visibility, use high-beam headlights at night in rural areas whenever other vehicles are not present. • Do not swerve to avoid hitting a deer. State police reports indicate that accidents resulting from loss of control of the vehicle generally are more severe than accidents resulting from an impact with an animal. 3 Tim and Matt Christie urban areas today, the Christie’s business is one that is in great demand. Wildlife control professionals are required by the state of Indiana to have permits that allow them to control, outside the regular hunting and trapping seasons, a nuisance wild animal. These individuals must also submit year end reports that track the types and numbers of animals that the individuals handle, the name and address of the landowner assisted, the date of assistance and the method of disposition. The law also states that animals taken under this permit shall not be possessed for more than twelve hours and shall not be sold, traded, bartered, or gifted. The Christie’s have always carried the appropriate permits through the Division of Fish and Wildlife, they also carry insurance so they are protected in case of accidents.

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