Outdoor Living

Birds are busy making and using nests each spring! We recently attended a program by Phelicia Jozwiak from Elkhart County Parks (ECP) to learn more about nest building. Since ECP has a permit for educational purposes, we were able to see many recovered nests up close, using clues from the materials, shape, and size of the nests to figure out which bird had made it.

Some of the nests we investigated included: • Ruby-throated Hummingbird—tiny nests made of light colored lichen and spider webs • Red-winged Blackbird—wide grasses and weed stems woven into a deep cup and lined with delicate plant fibers • Eastern Phoebe—cup-like, made of moss and mud, lined with delicate plant fibers • American Robin—a deep cup shaped nest of mud and stems/grasses • House Sparrow—a messy pile of grasses, straw, trash, string and paper, with hair, feather, or wool inside • House Wren—another messy nest of twigs with fine fibers and downy feathers • Baltimore Oriole—a woven bag made of string, plant fibers, and hair, lined with fine plant fibers • American Tree Swallow—dried grasses lined with white feathers

While we have seen many of these nests in the wild, including a phoebe nest out the kitchen window, a messy house wren nest in our mud kitchen bucket, a cup shaped robin nest in a nearby gazebo, and a tiny hummingbird nest on a branch in our front yard, seeing all these nests together allowed us to compare the different building approaches, materials used, and sizes and textures of the nests. We could see similarities and differences and marvel that a bird created this special place to hatch eggs and raise young, protecting them from predators and the elements.

We also made nesting balls. Using a variety of natural materials—bark, cattails, grasses, twigs, moss, and more—we were able to create a ball of grape vines filled with nesting materials for the birds in our area. We then were able to hang this in our yard to watch as the birds build nests nearby.

As we progress in nesting season, watch (from afar) the birds and nearby nests. What nests might you find? How can you help the nesting birds?

Dr. Carla Gull blogs at www.insideoutsidemichiana. com and hosts the podcast Loose Parts Nature Play. She is often seen with her four adventurers in the greater Michiana area.

Phelicia Jozwiak holds a Baltimore Oriole nest.

Each nesting ball had materials birds can use for nesting.

Hummingbird nests are about the size of a quarter.

Join Park Superintendent Tom Enright at Riverbend Park to walk through the wooded wetlands looking for some of the first wildflowers of the year, like Jack in the Pulpit, Marsh Marigold, Violets, and Buttercups. Learn how the wetlands in the park act as a sponge to hold the flood waters that typically take place in spring. Wetlands also act as filter to keep the river clean. You will leave with a better appreciation for the wetlands of Riverbend and the free benefits they provide for our community. Meet in the pavilion in the park.

Spring is a time of renewal, and now is the time to renew your Friends of the Middlebury Parks (FOMP) membership. If you’ve been a member, you should get a letter in the mail. If you haven’t been a member, you can become one by sending your membership dues to FOMP, P.O. Box 1235, Middlebury IN 46540. Dues are $30 for an individual, $50 for a family, and $200 for businesses. Dues support the Middlebury Parks Department programs, and members are encouraged to volunteer their time for events if possible.

Summer Fun will run from June 13 – July 22 (excluding the week of July 4 – 8) from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. in Riverbend Park for kids ages 6 – 12. There are four field trips planned this year: Dutch Creek Farm Animal Park, the Air Zoo in Kalamazoo, the South Bend Chocolate Company and Howard Park, and the Kroc Center in South Bend. (The daily camp is free, but parents are asked to pay the entry fees if their children attend a field trip.) Last year water slides and inflatables replaced the field trips, but this year we hope to have both. Varns and Hoover, Affairs to Remember, and the First State Bank are sponsors for this year (Thank you!), and we are still looking for a few more to cover the costs of the water day activities. This program has been in existence for over 40 years and serves kids from Middlebury, Jefferson, and York Townships as well as the Town of Middlebury. Applications are now available at http:// www.middleburyin.com/.../park.../just_for_kids.php

April 22 is Earth Day. April 29 is Arbor Day. And April 17 – 23 is National Volunteer Week. Do something good for the environment! April 23 - Town Arbor Day Planting – Meet at Town Hall at 8 am for coffee and donuts.

Boys & Girls Club members from across Elkhart County spent the winter creating artwork for a county-wide art show and competition in January. Twentyseven members from the Middlebury Club showcased their work at the show.

Winners were selected in a variety of categories, but one piece caught the eye of President and CEO Kevin Deary. He was struck by the colors and detail in a painting by Middlebury Club member Jaeli Hart, 13.

The work featured a winterscape against a colorful background with a deer standing in the snow.

Hart said she was inspired to create the work by the beauty of the winter season.

“I wanted to do something with the woods and an animal. I did what came into my mind. It was the first image that popped into my head,” she said.

Deary praised Hart’s talent and encouraged her to keep working on her skills.

“She is a blooming Thomas Kinkade. She has a lot of natural talent,” he said.

In addition to receiving the CEO Choice Award, Hart’s painting was featured in a display at Essenhaus Restaurant.

Other Club members also won recognition at the art show. Keiara Reed won first place for a multi-colored drawing. Adrian Ochoa won second place for a sculpture.

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The Northridge Raiders Dance Team (NRDT) recently completed their 6th season of competitive dance. NRDT is composed of the Emeralds high school competition team, the Raiderettes middle school competition team, and the non-competition JV team. The Emeralds and Raiderettes once again competed in several Indiana High School Dance Team Association (IHSDTA) invitationals, the Northern Regional Championship, and finally the IHSDTA State Championship on March 12.

The Emeralds and Raiderettes ended their season with some of the best performances of the year, full of emotional commitment to each and every routine! Members of the 2021-2022 Emeralds include sophomores Cydel Miller, Brooklyn Yoder, Elle Zimmerman, Makenna Helm, Payton Pippenger, Rylie Eichorst, Serafina Opacich, and Shelby Mack; junior, Wrigley Koch; and seniors, Natily Cripe, Katie Walther, and Grace Wittmer. Raiderettes members are Ashley Coil, Claire Bartley, Evelyn Barth, Kendall Meloche, Kya Elias, Maegan Schoenherr, Miley Mast, Wyatt Birky, Zayna Johnson, Zech Johnston, Bella Horvath and Zoe Barth.

The JV non-competition team is made up of members Alyse Groves, Daphne Schuelke, Gigi Hilary, Gwen Mellott, Isabella Barron, Kaylin Shuff, Kendal Shuff, Mallory Miller, Brooke Miller and Zoey Tepen. Besides competing in Jazz, Hip Hop, and Pom team competition, dancers competed in IHSDTA solo and ensemble competition as well.

The passion, dedication, commitment, and work ethic these dancers put into their routines was evident with every routine these dancers floored.

Dancers competing in IHSDTA solos include Zech Johnston, Wrigley Koch, and Grace Wittmer.

The small ensemble was made up of four Emeralds; Rylie Eichorst, Serafina Opacich, Shelby Mack, and Makenna Helm. Team Regionals were held on February 26th at Lake Central High School inSt. John, Indiana.

The Raiderettes Hip Hop performance placed 1st, giving them the title of Northern Regional Champions in Junior High Single A Hip Hop Competition! The Emeralds were also named Northern Regional Champions, placing 1st in both Varsity AA Competition Jazz and Hip Hop. These placements sent all of the NRDT teams to the state championship. The IHSDTA State Championship was held Saturday, March 12 at Jefferson High School in West Lafayette. The Raiderettes had their best performances of the year! Their Hip Hop and Pom performances each placed 6th in the state in the Junior High Single A division. The Emeralds placed 4th in the state in both Varsity AA Jazz and Pom, but it was their Hip Hop performance that earned the Emeralds

the title of IHSDTA State Champions in Varsity AA Hip Hop for the 2nd year in a row! All of this would not be possible if it weren’t for the talent and leadership of Coach Casey Nordman.

Coach Casey was awarded the IHSDTA Coach of the Year Award! The 6th Annual NRDT / CKDance Recital will be held at The Lerner theater on Saturday, April 30, from 2pm-5pm. Join us for an afternoon of family fun entertainment as we celebrate our 6th year of dance! A variety of styles will take the stage to showcase their hard work this pastseason! Tickets can be purchased at thelerner.com.The 7th season of the Northridge Raider Dance Team is going to start soon! If you’re interested in trying out for the 2022-2023 dance team, there will be a callout meeting on Thursday, May 19, at 6:00 pm(location TBD). Tryouts will then be held May 23-26, 2022. All current 4th -11th graders are welcome to try out.

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