They’re back… the dreaded harbingers of winter! I saw two of them skulking around under the bird feeder earlier this week. I know it is hard to visualize two tiny birds as being skulkers, but believe me, they were definitely skulking.

Every year they show up and stay for months scrounging around under the bird feeder for tiny bits of broken sunflower seeds. Their striking and sophisticated array of black and white feathers makes them look like tiny butlers or formally dressed tiny undertakers. Yes… exactly like undertakers… here to bury and put an end to our beautiful fall days and transpose our weather to howling winds and bitter temperatures.

I’m referring to the dreaded ushers of winter weather… the Dark-eyed Juncos.

Dark-eyed Juncos show up every November and will stay in the glory of frigid weather all through winter and right up until April. They usher down from the far North, and right behind them are plunging temperatures and the ravages of winter.

I dread seeing their arrival each fall.

Looks I need to get out there and fill the sunflower feeder… looks like it is running low. I don’t want our regular diners and our new arrivals to run out of bits and pieces.

25 state parks close for deer hunts

Select Indiana State Park properties will close temporarily for controlled deer management hunts. 

On Nov. 30-Dec. 1 the participating state park properties will close to the public on the evening before each of the two hunts.

“Deer hunts at our properties are important in managing the deer population and its impact on habitat for native plants and wildlife,” said Anthony Sipes, natural resources manager for Indiana State Parks. “Each year, we evaluate which state park properties require a deer management hunt based on habitat recovery and previous harvest rates at each park.”

Participating state park properties are: Brown County, Chain O’Lakes, Charlestown, Clifty Falls, Fort Harrison, Harmonie, Indiana Dunes, Lincoln, McCormick’s Creek, O’Bannon Woods, Ouabache, Pokagon, Potato Creek, Prophetstown, Shades, Shakamak, Spring Mill, Summit Lake, Tippecanoe River, Turkey Run, Versailles and Whitewater Memorial state parks, as well as Cave River Valley Natural Area, Raccoon State Recreation Area and Trine State Recreation Area.

The state park properties will re-open the morning after each two-day hunt. All other Indiana state park properties will be open and operate under normal hours.

Only individuals selected from the draw may participate in the hunts at any site.

Information regarding 2027 state park deer management hunts, including online applications, will be available next summer at on.IN.gov/reservedhunt. 

Body recovered from White River

Indiana Conservation Officers were investigating a death after a body was recovered from the White River Oct. 8 in Indianapolis.

About 3 a.m., emergency responders were dispatched to the area near the 1100 block of Kentucky Avenue after receiving a report of a body in the water. 

The Marion County Coroner’s Office has identified the deceased as Jeremy Roberts, 46, of Indianapolis. The circumstances surrounding how Roberts entered the water are currently under investigation.

Man dies from injuries in hunting 

accident

Indiana Conservation Officers are investigating a hunting accident occurring Oct. 8 that claimed the life of a Fairmount man.

Shortly before 6 p.m., Indiana Conservation Officers responded to a report of a hunting-related accident in Wabash County.

The preliminary investigation determined a male hunter accidentally discharged a crossbow, causing the arrow to strike his right leg. The individual sustained life-threatening injuries and was treated at the scene before being airlifted to Parkview Regional Medical Center in Fort Wayne. He later died as a result of his injuries.

The victim’s identity was being withheld pending family notification. 

‘till next time, 

Jack

Readers can contact the author by writing to this publication or e-mail Jack at jackspaulding1971@outlook.com. Spaulding’s books, “The Best Of Spaulding Outdoors” and “The Coon Hunter And The Kid,” are available from Amazon.com as a paperback or Kindle download.