Description:
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- Pine Creek Gamebird Habitat Area is a 700-acre
grassland / old field complex purchased in 1993 for pheasant hunting.
In 1996, Ducks Unlimited and the Indiana DNR combined to restore the
wetlands to about 150 acres of lowland. The wetlands were created by
damming a drainage system that drained the whole basin. A variety of
shallow wetland habitats developed as the marsh community has
reestablished, including emergent marsh (especially cattails and marsh
grasses), mudflats, and wet grassy meadows. The former drainage ditch
was not filled, and provides some deeper water (probably no deeper than
4-5 feet). The restoration created a series of basins north and south
of CR 200 N.
- The surrounding uplands are undergoing old field
succession and are dominated by various grasses and prairie forbs
(including a stand of Compass Plant along CR 220 N near Parking Lot #3). The
DNR is planting some areas in prairie grasses to encourage prairie
succession, but for the most part, the plant community is allowed to
develop naturally. Small ridges and bluffs are dominated by shrubs and
tree line vegetation. A small woodlot NE of the refuge is private
property, but has provided nesting habitat for a colony of Great Blue
Herons in the past.
- A typical visit starts at Parking Lot #3 along CR 200 N.
Walk across the county road to the bluffs overlooking the northern
part of the wetlands. A scope is useful in scanning open water for
cormorants, waterfowl, grebes, etc. Shorebirds often congregate on
exposed mudflats along the edges of the wetlands. If properly outfitted
with boots, walk down from the bluffs and along the edge of the wetland
to the east and north. At the eastern edge of the northern wetlands, a
trail leads back through the old fields to CR 200 N. The far NE corner
of the northern wetlands is often a spot where migrating shorebirds are
found.
- From Parking Lot #3, one can also walk south along
mowed paths to the southern group of wetlands, all of which are smaller
than the northern wetlands. The southernmost basin (to the SE from
Parking Lot #3) usually holds water the longest in dry seasons.
Immediately south of the parking lot is a small clump of trees and
shrubs that often hold migrants, especially in the fall. Follow the
mowed paths along the
former drainage ditches to the dam that forms the southernmost wetland.
This is usually a good spot to scan that wetland for shorebirds and
ducks. The tall weeds (mostly Giant Ragweed) along the old ditch can be
filled with migrant Bobolinks (August) and sparrows (late fall).
- If the sun is low in the east, then you will have
the sun in your eyes when standing on this dam. In this situation, it
is best to walk east on CR 200 N from Parking Lot #3, passing both
Parking Lot #4 and a house on the south side of the road. Beyond the
house, the public property comes up to the county road again, and you
can walk down to the southernmost wetland basin, approaching it from
the northeast where the sun won't be a problem.
- All parts of the refuge are accessible by walking
over grassy paths and through tall weeded fields. There are no
handicapped facilities on the property.
- Typical Time to Bird Site: The wetlands can be
scoped in about 2 hours from the bluffs and dams when there is open
water. To survey the wetland edges for shorebirds or search the fields
for grassland birds, allow at least 4 hours.
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Birds:
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- Overview:
- Pine Creek supports a diverse mix of wetland and
upland birds associated with the restored wetlands and old field /
grassland habitats. During spring and fall migrations, large numbers of
waterfowl and shorebirds are present if water levels are appropriate.
Regular migrant waterfowl include practically all of the dabbling
ducks--Gadwall, Northern Pintail, both teal species, American Wigeon
and Northern Shoveler. Diving ducks are rarer, but Redhead, Canvasback,
Ring-necked Duck, and Lesser Scaup have all been recorded in early
spring and late fall. All three mergansers are present in migration,
and Hooded Merganser has bred once since 1996. Bufflehead and Ruddy
Ducks are common in late fall. When water levels are right,
Pine Creek attracts good numbers of
virtually all of the shorebird species that regularly pass through
Indiana. Semipalmated Plovers, both yellowlegs species, Dunlin, Common
Snipe, both dowitchers, and Solitary, Spotted, Least, Semipalmated, and
Pectoral Sandpipers are all common during their migrations. Migrating
rails and cranes are also regular visitors, while herons and egrets are
present throughout the summer. Bitterns and migrating rails (usually
Sora and Virginia Rails) are most often seen from the marsh edges where
the county road crosses the property. In the uplands, most common
grassland specialties are found throughout the summer, while treelines
and patches of brush support shrub-associated breeding birds and many
species of migrants in spring and fall. An impressive array of hawks
can be seen in from late summer through winter. Late fall and early
spring are good times for sparrows--White-crowned, Fox, American Tree,
and Swamp are all regular. Tree Swallows are found in the thousands
during late summer and early fall. In all, at least 205 species have
been recorded at Pine Creek since 1996.
- Specialty Species:
- American Bittern - mid-April
through late August
- Least Bittern - May through July; has bred
- Little Blue Heron - May through August
- Black-crowned Night-Heron -
April through early June; occasional visitor
- Great Egret - early May
through late September
- Peregrine Falcon - throughout
September
- Merlin - mid-July through early
November; Merlins, like other falcons and hawks, are attracted to the
shorebirds that congregate on the mudflats at Pine Creek. Many of these
raptor species often stay for several weeks at a time.
- Northern Harrier - early
September through early May
- Rough-legged Hawk -
mid-November through early May; Rough-legged Hawks are present at Pine
Creek during most winters, usually found hunting over the grassland
areas.
- Cooper's Hawk - late September
through early May
- Virginia Rail - May through June and August and September
- Black-bellied Plover -
throughout May, and again mid-September through early October
- American Golden-Plover - early
April through early June, and again September through late October
- White-rumped Sandpiper - mid-May
through late June, and again August through September
- Baird's Sandpiper - throughout
September; the bird in this link was photographed at Pine Creek by John
Cassady in August 2002.
- Stilt Sandpiper - throughout
May, and again early August through early October
- Grasshopper Sparrow - mid-May
through mid-July, common
- Savannah Sparrow - early
February through late October, especially in wet grasses near wetlands
- Lincoln's Sparrow - regular in October and November
- Dickcissel - mid-May through
late July, common
- Bobolink - mid-May through late
August; flocks of over 200 can be seen in ragweed stands in late summer
- Sedge Wren - mid-May through
mid-September; Up to seven pairs of Sedge Wrens have nested at Pine
Creek, usually below the bluffs of the northern wetland or around the
dam at the southernmost wetland.
- Willow Flycatcher - mid-May
through late August; breeds in shrub lines along bluffs.
- Orchard Oriole - early May
through late August; These birds nest in the shrubs and trees that form
lines along the slopes.
- Bell's Vireo - mid-May through
early June; Although Bell's Vireos are present in the early spring at
Pine Creek, nesting evidence is still lacking.
- American Pipit - late January
through mid-May, and again mid-September through mid-November; Pipits
are most commonly found on the mudflats.
- Noteworthy Records:
- Spring: Red-necked Grebe,
American White Pelican, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron, Greater Scaup, King
Rail, Marbled Godwit, Ruddy Turnstone, Willet, Buff-breasted Sandpiper,
Wilson's Phalarope, Black Tern, Yellow-bellied Flycatcher, Mourning
Warbler, Wilson's Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler
Summer: Least Bittern, Little Blue
Heron, Cattle Egret, American Avocet, Bald Eagle, Caspian Tern, Cliff
Swallow, Marsh Wren, Henslow's Sparrow.
Fall: Plegadis Ibis - (1 - 3 Oct. 1996 - several records),
Black-necked Stilt - (8 - 18 Aug. 1998; attempted breeding 2006), Hudsonian Godwit, American
Woodcock, Red-necked Phalarope, Franklin's Gull, Greater White-fronted Goose, Orange-crowned
Warbler, Connecticut Warbler, Clay-colored Sparrow, Nelson's
Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Lincoln's Sparrow, Rusty Blackbird.
Winter: Common Loon, Tundra Swan,
Lapland Longspur, Northern Shrike (2006), Long-eared Owl (2006), Trumpeter Swan (2006)
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General:
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- Ownership:
- State of Indiana / Indiana Department of
Natural Resources
- Contact Number: Call the Willow Slough State Fish
& Wildlife Area Staff at 219-285-2704.
- Hours:
- None.
- Fees:
- None.
- Access Restrictions:
- In waterfowl season, duck hunting occurs in the
refuge north of CR 200 N. During this time, the entire refuge south of
CR 200 N is closed to everyone--hunters and birders alike. This
provides waterfowl with undisturbed habitat during this stressful time. In 2006 this pattern was reversed - duck hunting was done in the south.
- Restrooms:
- None.
- Lodging:
- The nearest lodging available is in Lafayette and
West Lafayette, some 25 miles to the southeast.
- Special Considerations:
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- Hunting: Hunters have priority
during early teal season (usually September), regular waterfowl season
(mid-October through December), and pheasant season (late fall).
Occasionally deer hunters may be present. It should be noted that
during pheasant season, hunters are allowed throughout the ENTIRE
refuge--including the area south of CR 200 N which is otherwise closed
to hunting. If pheasant hunters are present, it would be prudent for
birders NOT to enter the refuge.
- Parking: Do not park on any
portion of CR 200 N as it crosses the marsh. Parking in this area
blocks the road for vehicular traffic, especially the large farm
vehicles that regularly use the road. Local residents can get very
upset if birders interfere with their farm operations.
- Temporal Considerations:
- Birding is best during waterfowl and shorebird
migrations, and during the summer for upland songbirds. Waterfowl begin
to move through the area from late February through May, and again from
September through November. Shorebirds are present April through June
and July through November, as long as shallow water and mudflats are
available. Local water levels are dependent on rainfall, thus making
shorebird numbers quite variable from season to season. During
shorebird migration, species and numbers may change with each passing
weather system, especially those from the north.
- Birding the tree lines and patches of shrubs is most
rewarding in late spring (late April to May) and early fall (early
August through October). Breeding grassland birds are most visible in
May and June.
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