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Rouge River Bird Observatory |
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Rouge River Bird Observatory |
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April 2003:29 Apr: A very nice flock of migrants today, mostly White-throated Sparrows (~90) and Yellow-rumped Warblers (~120), and a smattering of other species including our first Ovenbird, Red-eyed Vireo (quite early), and Indigo Bunting (new early date). Others in the flock were Palm, Black-and-white, Black-throated Green, and Nashville Warblers, and Blue-headed Vireos. The first Chimney Swift of spring was also seen today.
28 Apr: A small push of migrants today -- more White-throated Sparrows and we banded our first White-crowned Sparrow, Nashville Warbler, and Blue-winged Warbler today. An early Northern Parula was in the Craves east Dearborn yard today. A Merlin was seen again by the lake.
27 Apr: The first Green Herons are found on the lake.
26 Apr: An American Bittern was found on the lake this morning. The habitat is all wrong for bitterns, so this is only our second record in over 20 years. Even stranger, a male Ruddy Duck (first campus record) was found very freshly dead near the banding lab. The first Caspian Tern of the season was on the Rouge River.
25 Apr: Five Common Loons in two groups flew over today.
24 Apr: A Merlin flew over campus today. Two Brown Thrashers were banded.
23 Apr: Finally, the first Blue-headed Vireo.
21 Apr: Our first Palm Warbler was seen today.
20 Apr: Two kettles of Broad-winged Hawks (one 14 birds, the other 13 with two Cooper's Hawks and one Sharp-shinned Hawk) were seen today in east Dearborn, as well as the first Northern Rough-winged Swallows. Also on campus the first Great Egret and Spotted Sandpiper.
19 Apr: The first Black-and-White Warbler of the year was found today, along with a kettle of 12-14 Broad-winged Hawks. A pair of Cooper's Hawks are building a nest.
18 Apr: 25 Double-crested Cormorants are on the concrete channel of the Rouge River south of Rotunda Ave., along with two Common Loons, found yesterday. Barn Swallows also arrive.
16 Apr: New arrivals include House Wren, Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, and Eastern Towhee.
15 Apr: Our first Field Sparrow is banded today.
14 Apr: Today was the first day of banding, and the first bird captured was a White-throated Sparrow first banded in October 2002, one of the many that spent the winter at our feeders. Our first Swamp Sparrow of spring was also banded, and a singing a Hermit Thrush was also heard. A female Red-winged Blackbird caught today had first been banded here in April 1998!
13 Apr: A Chipping Sparrow, first of the season, was banded in the Craves yard in east Dearborn today.
12 Apr: The first Common Loon flyby of spring and a singing Winter Wren were noted today.
11 Apr: A Northern Mockingbird was near the EIC feeders today.
10 Apr: A Pine Warbler has been visiting the EIC feeders since 8 Apr and was present again this morning. The first Ruby-crowned Kinglet of the season was found today. A pair of Hooded Mergansers has been seen often on Fairlane Lake for the past week. Fox Sparrows and Eastern Phoebes are around in small numbers.
March 2003:
30 Mar: Golden-crowned Kinglets are back, along with female Red-winged Blackbirds.
26 Mar: The Northern Mockingbird was seen again at the campus brush dump this morning. Eastern Phoebes have returned, and an Eastern Bluebird was also seen today, the latter being pretty rare in Dearborn due to lack of appropriate habitat.
24 Mar: Seven Black-crowned Night-herons and an American Coot were at the Ford Rouge Plant, along with a raft of Canvasbacks, and a few Lesser Scaup.
23 Mar: A male Hooded Merganser was on the Rouge River today. Ten Sandhill Cranes flew over the Southfield and Oakwood area.
21 Mar: A Pied-billed Grebe was on the pond in front of the Dearborn Civic Center, and a migrant Fox Sparrow appeared in the Craves yard. Common Grackles are already gathering nest materials.
20 Mar: A male Wood Duck and male Blue-winged Teal were on the lake today.
19 Mar: A Turkey Vulture over campus is a new spring arrival.
17 Mar: An adult Bald Eagle was in a perched near an office complex on Mercury Drive between Ford Road and Paul Street in northeast Dearborn. Killdeer have arrived, along with many new Common Grackles and Red-winged Blackbirds.
13 Mar: A Yellow-bellied Sapsucker competes for sap with the maple syrup sap collectors.
11 Mar: Along with the European Goldfinch, a Fox Sparrow was at the sunflower fields today, and six Horned Larks circled over.
4 Mar: The European Goldfinch was found in the sunflower fields today.
3 Mar: The Gray Catbird was seen again today; this might be one of Michigan's first overwintering records. A Golden-crowned Kinglet was seen on campus.
1 Mar: The Gray Catbird was seen all weekend in the Craves east Dearborn yard. At least seven observed the European Goldfinch in the sunflower fields today, along with a Fox Sparrow and at least one Chipping Sparrow. A Hermit Thrush was found on campus.
