February 2008:
29
Feb: A couple of non-latest-sightings updates
to report. A new issue of the RRBO newsletter, Net Results, can be
downloaded (as a PDF) from this
page. Back issues are also available. And we've added a PDF of a report on
a Baseline Odonata Survey done at the Humbug Marsh Unit of the Detroit River
International Wildlife Refuge to our Refuge partner
page here.
20 Feb:
The 16th annual Winter Bird
Population Survey has just been complete, and the results are posted
here.
January 2008:
28 Jan:
On campus today there were 6 Common Redpolls in the alders by the
boathouse at the Henry Ford Estate. Nearby was a Brown Creeper, and a Belted
Kingfisher was hanging around the small open spots on the river.
27 Jan:
At the fields at Hubbard and Southfield there were 17 Common Redpolls,
a White-throated Sparrow, a White-crowned Sparrow, a Fox
Sparrow, and 2 flyover Snow Buntings.
20 Jan:
A Pine Siskin was at a feeder in east Dearborn.
15 Jan:
Thirteen Common Redpolls were feeding on alders at the north end
of Fairlane Lake.
13 Jan:
A Golden-crowned Kinglet was found on the survey along with about ten Common
Redpolls at the north end of Fairlane Lake.
9 Jan:
A Horned Lark was recorded on the survey flying over campus.
1
Jan:
The Detroit River Christmas Bird count was conducted yesterday. In the Dearborn
portion of the count 49 species were recorded. Unusual species were Northern
Shrike (in the fields east of Ford World Headquarters), American Black
Duck, Hooded Merganser, and 35 Black-crowned Night-herons (all at the
Ford Rouge Plant), 50 flyover Snow Buntings, and a total of 53 Common
Redpolls, about half on campus and half in the fields at Hubbard and
Southfield. Other highlights at those fields were a Fox Sparrow and 10 White-crowned
Sparrows, and the dark-colored Peregrine Falcon. The female Merlin
was found near Ford World Headquarters. We had very high count of over 1300 Brown-headed
Cowbirds, with flocks split between the Hubbard and Southfield fields and
those at Rotunda and Southfield, where there were also over 100 Red-winged
Blackbirds.
Hunting pressure from raptors seems
to have driven Mourning Doves from the area. Many hundreds were present
in the sunflower fields earlier in the winter but a new low count on count
day. Three Northern Saw-whet Owls were found the day before
the count, but the strong low pressure system with accompanying snow and wind
the night before the count may have moved them along.
Will American Crows ever
recover in this area from West Nile Virus? This is the sixth year of continuous
barely-there counts, with only three recorded this year.
Complete results are posted
here.
December 2007:
30
Dec:
Around 40 Common Redpolls were at he fields at the Southfield
Fwy (M-39) Service Dr and Hubbard.
29 Dec:
Nineteen Snow Buntings were in the barren field at the Southfield
Fwy (M-39) Service Dr and Hubbard, along with over 300 Brown-headed
Cowbirds, 3 Fox Sparrows, 5 White-throated Sparrow, and one White-crowned
Sparrow.
28 Dec:
A Hoary Redpoll was found at the north end of the lake along with a
small flock of Common Redpolls. This is a first record for Dearborn!
18 Dec:
A Common Redpoll was at the feeders on campus, along with several Pine
Siskins and a half-dozen White-throated Sparrows. Over 200 American
Robins are now feeding on the ornamental crabapples on campus.
15 Dec:
A Common Redpoll was banded in east Dearborn along with -- surprise
-- a Northern Shrike, in a residential yard. The young male Peregrine,
along with six White-crowned Sparrows, were at the fields at the Southfield
Fwy (M-39) Service Dr and Hubbard.
11 Dec:
A single Common Redpoll was at an east Dearborn feeder.
8
Dec: The following birds were found at the fields at Southfield
Fwy (M-39) Service Dr and Hubbard today: Merlin, eight Horned Larks,
seven Common Redpolls, four White-throated Sparrows, and one
White-crowned Sparrow. The Fox Sparrow first seen on 4 Dec was
found again today at an east Dearborn feeder.
7
Dec: A single Common Redpoll was at an east Dearborn
feeder.
4 Dec: A
Fox Sparrow showed up at an east Dearborn feeder today.
2
Dec: Three Common Redpolls were seen in east Dearborn.
1 Dec: A
Northern Goshawk seen briefly near Ford Road and the Southfield
Fwy (M-39). One of the Peregrine Falcons was still being observed near field at Southfield
Fwy (M-39) Service Dr and Hubbard. A Northern Saw-whet Owl was found
roosting in a tree in an east Dearborn yard.
