Atlas results for 2006

Nearly 2000 records were received from 20 observers in 2006.  Here are some highlights.

Coverage

• All 76 blocks in the county now have at least some coverage, and all have at least one confirmed species. 
• Nearly 91% of the blocks have at least 20 species.  Considering that 10 blocks are partial blocks (less than the full 9 square miles), this is great, as it was our belief that even in the city of Detroit we should be able to find 20 species.  Our goal was met!
• Over two-thirds of the blocks have at least 40 species, up 21% from last year.  Half the blocks have at least 50 species, up 18% from last year.  
• The block with the most species (108) is T4S R8E block 4, home of Crosswinds Marsh.  Hot on its heels with 95 species is T4S R9E block 4, home of Oakwoods Metropark. 
• Over half the blocks have at least 20 confirmed species, an increase of 26% from last year.  We'd like to improve that!

Species

• New species this year:
• Osprey (nest building, but later abandoned)
• Barred Owl (numerous reports from one place by residents, but no nest site or sightings of a pair of birds by experienced observers yet)
• Herring Gull (nest with young found on a channel marker in Lake St. Clair)
• Ring-billed Gull (also may be nesting off the Grosse Pointes)
• Total number of species now 136 with 110 confirmed. 
• Eight species are only at the level of Possible.  With the exception of Barred Owl, these might be difficult to elevate further:
  • Cattle Egret
  • Sharp-shinned Hawk
  • Ring-billed Gull
  • Forster's Tern
  • Barred Owl
  • Golden-winged Warbler
  • Chestnut-sided Warbler
  • Western Meadowlark
• Nineteen species are stuck at Probable.  Species in bold can be surely confirmed with some work!
  • American Bittern
  • Least Bittern
  • Turkey Vulture
  • American Coot
  • Wilson's Snipe
  • Upland Sandpiper
  • Black-billed Cuckoo
  • Least Flycatcher
  • White-eyed Vireo
  • Bell's Vireo
  • Veery
  • Northern Mockingbird
  • Prothonotary Warbler
  • Ovenbird
  • Mourning Warbler
  • Hooded Warbler
  • Vesper Sparrow
  • Henslow's Sparrow
  • Pine Siskin
• There are another bunch of widespread, common species which we have high numbers of confirmations, but could likely get confirmed in nearly every block:
  • Canada Goose
  • Mallard
  • Killdeer
  • Rock Pigeon
  • Mourning Dove
  • Chipping Sparrow
  • Common Grackle
  • Northern Cardinal
  • House Finch
  • American Goldfinch 
• Other species we'd really like to get in more blocks and get more elevations for include:
  • Cooper's Hawk
  • American Kestrel
  • Eastern Screech-Owl
  • Common Nighthawk
  • Chimney Swift
  • Downy Woodpecker
  • Cedar Waxwing

  The Wayne County species list has been updated to show the number of blocks in which each species is possible, probable, and confirmed.  Nearly 50 species now have maps showing this graphically, just click on the name of the species if a link is present.  These will be produced for all species at the end of the Atlas.

  You can also go to the list of blocks and click on a block of interest.  The page will list all the species and their status in each of the four blocks in that township/range.  This page summarizes the numbers for all blocks.  Or you can view the total number of species and the number of species confirmed in each block on a map.