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Rouge River Bird Observatory |
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Rouge River Bird Observatory |
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May 2003:29 May: Our highlight today in the nets was a Gray Catbird first banded here in 1996 as an adult. We caught him again in 1997, 1998, and 1999, but not since. He is at least 8 years old. Seven Wilson's Warblers was a good number for this late in the season, and we are still catching one or two Lincoln's Sparrows every day (May 31 is our late date for them). A Gray-cheeked Thrush finally showed up in the nets today; thrushes have not been abundant this spring.
22 May: A Mourning Warbler was heard today, but things are still quiet on brisk east and north winds.
20 May: The weather front did not produce an influx of migrants, but an Acadian Flycatcher was found today, which has become an increasingly rare migrant in the area.
19 May: An Orchard Oriole and tardy White-throated Sparrow were in the Craves east Dearborn yard today, and we finally saw our first Common Nighthawk.
16 May: Another Summer Tanager, this one by the front entrance, hung around all day. The first Blackpoll Warbler of the year is here. A good variety of warblers and other migrants are widespread through the area.
15 May: A White-eyed Vireo is in the Craves east Dearborn yard.
11 May: Wind and rain once again made birding difficult, but there were clearly a new mix of birds, with Scarlet Tanager, Canada Warbler, and Wilson's Warblers all putting in an appearance. In contrast with the very fat birds we've been banding, nearly every bird banded today was quite lean, indicating they were newer arrivals. Perhaps storms in the south restricted feeding somewhat.
10 May: Morning rain hampered banding and surveying today, but we managed to get out and find the first Tennessee Warblers of the year, among over a dozen other warblers species. The mockingbird continues at the brush dump. Blue Jay migration is peaking, with a number of good-sized flocking winging north over campus.
8 May: An Orchard Oriole was in west Dearborn.
7 May: Before the rain hit, we tallied some new arrivals: Cape May Warbler, Orange-crowned Warbler, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Eastern Kingbird, and Veery. A Peregrine Falcon was a fly-by over the Ford estate, and the Northern Mockingbird was chasing robins in the brush dump.
6 May: A Clay-colored Sparrow was banded today, in an area about a half mile from where one was last seen on May 2. A male Wood Thrush originally banded in 1995 is recaptured today; he is one of the first birds color banded in our study of Wood Thrush nesting success. Also recaptured was a Gray Catbird first banded in 1998. This is the 25th time we've caught this bird, who has returned to the area each year.
5 May: Zonotrichia sparrows are still here in abundance. The first Black-throated Blue Warbler is seen.
4 May: The first Cliff Swallows begin staking out their nest sites under the bridges of the Rouge River.
3 May: Things quieted down considerably. Great Crested Flycatcher and Blackburnian Warbler were a new arrivals. Two Tundra Swans flew over, and two Whippoorwills were calling before dawn.
2 May: Still many birds around, with new arrivals including Yellow-throated Vireo, Golden-winged Warbler, and American Redstart. The Clay-colored Sparrow was seen again today, working his (singing) way through campus...last seen by the playhouse in front of the Ford estate. A Grasshopper Sparrow, of which we have only a handful of records, was found in the brush dump in the afternoon. The first Ruby-throated Hummingbird of the season was in the Craves yard.
1 May: A large fallout of migrants overnight, with 72 species of birds recorded, 15 of them warblers. Most interesting were two Hooded Warblers, a Kentucky Warbler, Whippoorwill, Northern Mockingbird, and Clay-colored Sparrow. New arrivals on campus were: Solitary Sandpiper, Swainson's and Wood Thrush, Gray Catbird, Lincoln's Sparrow, and Baltimore Oriole. In the warbler department, recorded our first spring Yellow, Chestnut-sided, Magnolia, and Bay-breasted (tied for early spring date), and Common Yellowthroat. In east Dearborn, the first Warbling Vireos, Northern Waterthrush, and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks were found.
