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Rouge River Bird Observatory |
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Rouge River Bird Observatory |
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February 2004:29 Feb: A single Sandhill Crane flew near the Rouge River in east Dearborn. The Lark Sparrow, not reported since 24 Jan, reappeared briefly at an east Dearborn feeder today.
22 Feb: The Rusty Blackbird is still present at the sunflower field at Mercury and Michigan Ave., and was singing today. Fifteen White-crowned Sparrows were also tallied there. Nearly 20 White-throated Sparrows have overwintered on campus.
21 Feb: A young Bald Eagle was flying near the Rouge River in east Dearborn.
20 Feb: The first Common Grackle of the season was seen today on campus, as was a Winter Wren.
17 Feb: A Pine Siskin showed up at the same west Dearborn feeder as below. A singing male Red-winged Blackbird, a presumed migrant, was on campus today.
16 Feb: Three Common Redpolls briefly visited a feeder near Michigan Ave. and Telegraph today.
8 Feb: Horned Larks have been recorded at the sunflower field at Michigan and Mercury, and flying over campus. The Rusty Blackbird was relocated at the sunflower field recently, and White-crowned Sparrows are still present.
January 2004:
14 Jan: A Lark Sparrow has been present at a feeder in Dearborn since 12 Jan. This is the first winter record for Michigan.
13 Jan: The Northern Mockingbird was behind the Fairlane Estate today, feeding on sumac. The Merlin was seen again on Michigan Avenue near Ford World Headquarters.
10 Jan: An adult Bald Eagle and a Tundra Swan were seen on the Rouge River channel today. A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker was on campus. Two Fox Sparrows are in an east Dearborn neighborhood, visiting feeders.
8 Jan: The survey today turned up a Swamp Sparrow, Winter Wren, Hermit Thrush, and Yellow-rumped Warbler.
7 Jan: A Lesser Black-backed Gull at the Ford Rouge Plant today was a new species for Dearborn, #255.
4 Jan: Ten Great Black-backed Gulls were at the Ford Rouge Plant today.
1 Jan: A number of good birds were found on the Dearborn portion of the Detroit River Christmas Bird Count. Two of the best were found at the sunflower field at Michigan Avenue and Mercury -- a Merlin and Rusty Blackbird. Both were new for the Dearborn count, and first winter records for Dearborn; the Merlin was also a new bird for the 26-year-old Detroit River count. A Chipping Sparrow was also found in this field. Eleven White-crowned Sparrows were counted in three locations. These last two species were considered very rare in winter until a few years ago. Two Snow Buntings were on the concrete channel of the Rouge River, the first on the count since 1995. Two Horned Larks were nearby. Our semi-resident Northern Mockingbird was spotted along Evergreen Road behind the Big Fish restaurant at Fairlane Town Center. Two Winter Wrens and a Swamp Sparrow were on campus. A Fox Sparrow visited a feeder in east Dearborn. A Mute Swan on the concrete channel was also new for the count.
At least two Northern Saw-whet Owls were found during count week. Because people have trampled numerous new paths in the vegetation on campus looking for owls, we will not post their locations any longer. If you visit the campus natural area for whatever reason, PLEASE stay on the trails! Going off trail spreads the seeds of invasive plant species, creates excellent corridors for predators including feral cats and dogs, compacts the soils, crushes native wildflowers, etc.
A total of 166 species, plus two races ("Yellow" Palm Warbler and "Oregon" Junco) and one exotic (European Goldfinch) were recorded in Dearborn in 2003.
