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Rouge River Bird Observatory |
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Rouge River Bird Observatory |
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April 2000:29 April -- Some migrants finally arrived today. At Snow Woods (a woodlot in Dearborn owned by Ford Motor Company and posted no trespassing) there were dozens of Yellow-rumped Warblers, a Blue-headed Vireo, Nashville Warbler, Yellow Warbler, Black-throated Green Warbler, and some Blue-gray Gnatcatchers. A Tennessee Warbler was on campus.
Banding results 24-28 April: 5 days, 86 birds (75 new, 11 recaps) of 42 species. Highlights include Savannah Sparrow, 3rd Brown Thrasher, 8 year old House Sparrow, Song Sparrow that smelled like maple syrup 27 April -- Swamp Sparrows finally show their little chestnut wings today. Cliff Swallows have returned to underneath the Rouge River overpasses.
26 April -- The first Palm Warbler of spring was seen today.
24 April -- Another pair of Green-winged Teal were found on the Rouge River channel. This species is not common in the city. Chimney Swifts also arrived today.
23 April -- House Wrens, Green Herons, and Barn Swallows showed up on the scene today. The Osprey was still hanging around the lake. A Great Egret was south of Rotunda near the River, our first for spring.
Banding results 18-22 April: 3 days, 45 birds (35 new, 10 recaps) of 12 species. Highlights include Brown Thrasher, recaps from 1996, 1997, and 1998. 22 April -- The Tricolored Heron was not relocated after the day it was found. Today an Osprey was at Fairlane Lake. Yesterday, there were 3 Blue-winged Teal, and a Pine Warbler.
20 April -- A Field Sparrow in the meadow was the season's first.
19 April -- An adult Tricolored Heron in breeding plumage was found this morning by Jerry Sadowski on Fairlane Lake. It was still present at noon. It spent most of the time at the far north end of the lake, but was sometimes seen in other parts of the lake. It was usually close to shore and sometimes hard to see unless actively foraging. This bird is very shy and would flush -- often into the woods -- when approached even as closely as 50 yards. If you look for this bird, please walk slowly and quietly. An early Broad-winged Hawk was also found.
18 April -- A Louisiana Waterthrush found yesterday at the south end of Fairlane Lake was still there singing today. A Bald Eagle flew over this morning. Barn Swallows arrived at Greenfield Village yesterday.
16 April -- Blue-gray Gnatcatchers are prompt: Arriving today ties the early spring record, which has been recorded on 16 April in 4 other years.
14 April -- New arrivals continue to trickle in. Today had White-throated Sparrow, Chipping Sparrow, Ruby-crowned Kinglet, and Hermit Thrush. Six Hooded Mergansers were on the Rouge River on campus. Yellow-rumped Warblers and Golden-crowned Kinglets are increasing in number. An Eastern Towhee was seen by the Lake.
12 April -- Pied-billed Grebes are building up on Fairlane Lake, with 8 there today. A Swamp Sparrow was a new arrival.
11 April -- AN. Rough-winged Swallow had slim pickings along Fairlane Lake upon its arrival today, a new early record (formerly 16 Apr 1989).
7 April -- Return of the Yellow-rumped Warblers.
6 April -- An American Coot and singing Winter Wren at Greenfield Village. A Peregrine Falcon was also seen along the Southfield Freeway.
5 April -- A Red-shouldered Hawk on campus.
2 April -- A Tree Swallow was the pond at Oakwood and Beech, along with a pair of Bufflehead, an Eastern Phoebe, Red-breasted Nuthatch, and Golden-crowned Kinglets, which are increasing in numbers.
1 April -- A pair of Green-winged Teal was on Fairlane Lake; this is an uncommon bird here.
Archived sightings
