Annual bird counts give scientists climate clues

Where are the wild turkeys? Why were no black rails found? What about fox sparrows and the 13 other species that are commonly counted on the preserve? Where have they gone?

Christmas bird count volunteers try to identify species, numbers of birds

Maureen Foos, of Chesterton, looks a bird guide during the National Audubon Society's 113th annual Christmas Bird Count on Thursday at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore near Gary.

Christmas bird count volunteers try to identify species, numbers of birds

Kay Sarti, center, of Dyer, and Pam VanRennes, right, of St. John, look for birds Thursday as part of the National Audubon Society's 113th annual Christmas Bird Count at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore near Gary.

Christmas bird count volunteers try to identify species, numbers of birds

Maureen Foos, of Chesterton, looks for birds during the Audubon Society's 113th annual Christmas Bird Count on Thursday at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore near Gary.

Christmas bird count volunteers try to identify species, numbers of birds

Local participants look for birds Thursday as part of the National Audubon Society's 113th annual Christmas Bird Count at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore near Gary.

Christmas bird count volunteers try to identify species, numbers of birds

Mourning doves are seen Thursday during the National Audubon Society's 113th annual Christmas Bird Count at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore near Gary.

Christmas bird count volunteers try to identify species, numbers of birds

Local participants look for birds Thursday as part of the National Audubon Society's 113th annual Christmas Bird Count at the Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore near Gary.

Cole's Suet Kibbles with Real Insects Enjoyed by Female Cardinal

Cole's Suet Kibbles is a high potency feed, bursting with berry flavor and loaded with beneficial dried insects for increased stamina in the wild. Works well in a sunflower feeder or mixed with favorite seed and loved by warblers, woodpeckers, bluebirds, and nuthatches.

Cater to snowbirds, and they will come

Food is the top priority for snowbirds, bird-watchers say. Feed them and non-migrating species will flock, adding a welcome splash of color and chirps to your yard.

Cater to snowbirds, and they will come

Food is the top priority for snowbirds, bird-watchers say. Feed them and non-migrating species will flock, adding a welcome splash of color and chirps to your yard.

Cater to snowbirds, and they will come

Hulled sunflower seeds attract jays, red-bellied woodpeckers (pictured), finches, cardinals, evening grosbeaks, pine grosbeaks, and small feeder birds.

Parrot alerts woman to potential intruders

Joey, a 21-year-old macaw, sits on the shoulder of his owner, Daniel Sturken at his Michigan City-area home Monday. Joey alerted Sturken's wife of two men looking in their window.

Parrot alerts woman to potential intruders

Bobbi Jo Sturken on Monday feeds her family's 21-year-old macaw, who alerted her to two men looking in her window last week.

LaPorte officer goes into tree for stray African grey parrot

The life of a stray parrot might have been saved by a police officer in LaPorte who climbed a ladder into a tree to bring down the talking bird.

Sandhill cranes return for spring migration

It's a sure sign of spring. The elusive throaty trill heard high in the sky. And unless you know its origin, you just might think you're in the midst of an invasion by some kind of prehistoric creature.

Winging it

A male cardinal sits on a branch Saturday at Indiana Dunes State Park.

Winging it

A male cardinal visits a feeder Saturday at Indiana Dunes State Park.

Winging it

A male cardinal visits a feeder Saturday at Indiana Dunes State Park, the starting point of the Audubon Christmas Bird Count.

Winging it

Ron Klingensmith, left, of Chicago, joins Conrad and Carol Fialkowski, of Burr Ridge, Ill., on Saturday in Cowles Bog at Dune Acres as they use binoculars to view an American sparrow in the trees. They were participating in the Audubon Christmas Bird Count at Indiana Dunes State Park. This w…

Turkey prices stay flat despite rise in wholesale costs

Competition for the consumer dollar has most local grocers keeping Thanksgiving turkey prices significantly below their wholesale costs. The retail prices of whole frozen birds are comparable to their 2009 price despite a 20 percent year-to-year increase in wholesale cost.