This month we are indebted to Greg Tompkins for the pictures on this page. Greg is a new contributor to Birds of Madison County. He found these Hooded Mergansers in the Killbuck Wetlands in late December.
The Hooded Merganser's summer range extends from southern Indiana northward to the south end of James Bay, in Canada. Their winter range is from southern Indiana southward to the gulf coast, although they are occasionally found throughout Indiana in the winter. We think these birds are probably from Canada and have elected to stay in Indiana in what has so far been a mild winter.
Greg also sent us this picture of a Green Heron, taken in the Killbuck Wetlands last summer. Indiana is in the summer range of this bird, although they are not common.