The Dearborn count is a portion of the Detroit River MI-ON Christmas Bird Count circle. For more information on this count, read a paper by Julie Craves and Jim Fowler published in Ontario Birds — Twenty-five years of the Detroit River MI-ON Christmas Bird Count. (pdf, 768 KB)
CBC data for official count circles is available on the Audubon web site. Data for Dearborn, shown here, is compiled separately and not to be used without permission.
Results
01 January 1995
Time: 6:00 am to 4:30 pm.
Weather: Temp in low 30s F, wind calm, sky cloudy, late in day wind picked up from north, skies cleared, temp dropped. River open, lake glazed over.
Observers: Julie Craves, Gary Hutman, Dorothy McLeer, Jerry Sadowski, Rick Simek. Five in field in two parties; 1 hours (1 party-hour) and 0.5 miles on foot owling. Total party hours 10.5, party miles 6 on foot.
Great Blue Heron, 1; Canada Goose, 148; American Black Duck, 2; Mallard, 174; Cooper’s Hawk, 1; Red-tailed Hawk, 5; Rough-legged Hawk, 1; Ring-billed Gull, 142; Herring Gull, 2; Rock Dove, 23; Mourning Dove, 12; Eastern Screech-owl, 4; Belted Kingfisher, 1; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 1; Downy Woodpecker, 23; Hairy Woodpecker, 3; Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker, 4; Blue Jay, 56; American Crow, 67; Black-capped Chickadee, 70; Tufted Titmouse, 14; White-breasted Nuthatch, 20; Brown Creeper, 1; American Robin, 73; Cedar Waxwing, 21; European Starling, 304; Northern Cardinal, 41; Song Sparrow, 1; Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco, 14; Snow Bunting, 28 American Goldfinch, 48;an House Sparrow, 27.
Total: 32 species, 1332 individuals.
Notes: Rick Crossland found one Yellow-bellied Sapsucker and four Yellow-rumped (Myrtle) Warblers. Cooper’s Hawk was adult, immatures in area in previous weeks. All gulls and Rock Doves were flyovers.
1 January 1996
Time: 7:45 am to 4:45 pm.
Weather: Temp in low 30s F, wind calm, sky cloudy, light snow or drizzle Most of river open, lake frozen.
Observers: Jan Blaine, Julie Craves, Gary Hutman, Dorothy McLeer, Jerry Sadowski, Rick Simek, Don Yee. Seven in field in two parties; 1.5 hours (1.5 party-hours) and 0.5 miles on foot owling.Total party hours 17.25, party miles on foot 7, by car 20.
Canada Goose, 453; American Black Duck, 1; Mallard, 253; Cooper’s Hawk, cw; Red-tailed Hawk, 8; Rough-legged Hawk, cw; American Kestrel, 1; Ring-necked Pheasant, 2; Ring-billed Gull, 56; Herring Gull, 4; Rock Dove, 132; Mourning Dove, 36; Eastern Screech-owl, 6; Belted Kingfisher, cw; Red-bellied Woodpecker, 2; Downy Woodpecker, 32; Hairy Woodpecker, 10; Northern (Yellow-shafted) Flicker, 1; Blue Jay, 37; American Crow, 69; Black-capped Chickadee, 138; Tufted Titmouse, 20; Red-breasted Nuthatch, 1; White- breasted Nuthatch, 47; Brown Creeper, 2; Carolina Wren, 2; Hermit Thrush, cw; American Robin, 44; Cedar Waxwing,1; Northern Shrike, 2; European Starling, 36; Northern Cardinal, 45; American Tree Sparrow, 60; Song Sparrow, 12; White-throated Sparrow, 2; Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco, 33; Red-winged Blackbird, 3; American Goldfinch, 46; House Sparrow, 123.
Total: 34 species (plus four count week), 1722 individuals.
Notes: Area expanded slightly from last year, included south of Evergreen Road to I-94 (excluding Greenfield Village) and former soybean field at Mercury Drive and Ford Road. One shrike seen at Dearborn Country Club across river from swamp by Rick Crossland; the other at Bobolink field by Karl Overman and Jim Fowler, Jr. All but 50 geese flyovers; Red-breasted Nuthatch, Hermit Thrush, and White-throated Sparrows present for some time; poor year for robins, all but one seen at Ford Test Track.
1 January 1997
Time: 8:00 am to 5:00 pm EST (owling 5:30 to 7:00 AM).
Weather: Temp held in low 30′sF, wind SSW – W 5 to 10 MPH, skies cloudy, drizzle, freezing drizzle and fog in PM. River open, standing water frozen.
Observers: Rose Atillio, Julie A. Craves, Debbie Dedona, Jim Fowler, Dan Gertisen, Gary Hutman, Greg Norwood, Mike O’Leary, Jerry Sadowski, Rick Simek, Tim Smart, Pam St. Amour, Dave Washington. Twelve in field in three parties; 1.5 hours (1.5 party-hours) and 0.5 miles on foot owling. Total party-hours 17, party-miles 7 on foot, 38 by car.
| Great Blue Heron 7 Black-crowned Night-heron 1 Canada Goose 471 Mallard 226 Canvasback 110 Redhead 4 Greater Scaup 5 Lesser Scaup 1 Common Goldeneye 3 Common Merganser 8 Cooper’s Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 7 (incl.1 B.j. calurus) American Kestrel 3 Ring-necked Pheasant 1 Ring-billed Gull 21 Herring Gull 46 Great Black-backed Gull 1 Gull sp. 16 Rock Dove 143 Mourning Dove 65 Eastern Screech-owl 3 Great Horned Owl 1 Belted Kingfisher 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker 6 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker cw | Downy Woodpecker 38 Hairy Woodpecker 7 Horned Lark 6 Blue Jay 44 American Crow 41 Black-capped Chickadee 68 Tufted Titmouse Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 9 Brown Creeper 4 Carolina Wren 7 Winter Wren 1 American Robin 33 Cedar Waxwing cw European Starling 210 Northern Cardinal 25 American Tree Sparrow 50 Song Sparrow 14 White-throated Sparrow 3 Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco 78 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 House Finch 11 American Goldfinch 44 House Sparrow 72 |
1 January 1998
Time: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm EST (owling 6:00 to 7:30 AM).
Weather: Temp under 20F in AM, low 30s PM with wind chills, wind S17 – 35 MPH, skies cloudy in AM, clear mid-morning on. River and standing water frozen.
Observers: Julie Craves, Andy Dettling, Jim Fowler, Dan Gertiser, Fred McDonald, Dorothy McLeer, Greg Norwood, Mike O’Leary, Jerry Sadowski, Rick Simek, Dave Washington. Eleven in field in three parties; 1.5 hours (1.5 party-hours) and 0.5 miles on foot owling. Total party-hours 17, party-miles 7 on foot, 38 by car.
| Great Blue Heron 7 Canada Goose 958 American Black Duck cw Mallard 210 Canvasback 100 Redhead 1 Greater Scaup 4 Common Goldeneye 3 Common Merganser 2 Hooded Merganser 1 Bald Eagle 1 Cooper’s Hawk 3 Red-tailed Hawk 11 American Kestrel 4 Ring-billed Gull 130 Herring Gull 30 Rock Dove 43 Mourning Dove 77 Eastern Screech-owl 3 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 4 Downy Woodpecker 24 Hairy Woodpecker 5 Northern Flicker cw | Blue Jay 30American Crow 68 Black-capped Chickadee 71 Tufted Titmouse 7 Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 9 Brown Creeper1 Carolina Wren 3 American Robin 734 Hermit Thrush 1 Cedar Waxwing cw European Starling 78 Northern Cardinal 29 American Tree Sparrow 90 Song Sparrow 8 White-throated Sparrow 5 Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco 98 Red-winged Blackbird 15 Brown-headed Cowbird 4 House Finch 75 American Goldfinch 138 Common Redpoll 11 Pine Siskin 1 House Sparrow 103 |
Total: 44 species plus 3 count week.
Notes: This count includes all of Dearborn, as last year.
1 January 1999
Time: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm EST (owling 6:00 to 7:30 AM).
Weather: Temp 11-15F with wind chills, wind NW15 – 20 MPH, skies clear. River and standing water frozen.
Observers: Pam St. Amour, Julie Craves, Rick Crossland, Andy Dettling, John Flora, Jim Fowler, Fred McDonald, Greg Norwood, Mike O’Leary, Jerry Sadowski, Rick Simek, Tim Smart, Dave Washington. Thirteen in field in six parties; 1.5 hours (1.5 party-hours) and 0.25 miles on foot owling. Total party-hours31, party-miles 6.25 on foot, 62 by car.
| Pied-billed Grebe 3 Great Blue Heron 10 Tundra Swan 6 Canada Goose 1022 Green-winged Teal 1 American Black Duck 2 Mallard 534 Canvasback 3 Cooper’s Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 19 American Kestrel 4 Ring-necked Pheasant 1 Ring-billed Gull 156 Herring Gull 99 Great Black-backed Gull 12 Rock Dove 94 Mourning Dove 35 Great Horned Owl cw Eastern Screech-owl 5 Belted Kingfisher 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 12 Downy Woodpecker 37 | Hairy Woodpecker 6Northern Flicker 1 Blue Jay 42 American Crow 88 Black-capped Chickadee 75 Tufted Titmouse 20 White-breasted Nuthatch 18 Carolina Wren 4 American Robin 43 European Starling 414 Northern Cardinal 59 American Tree Sparrow 113 Song Sparrow 5 Swamp Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 6 Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco 208 Red-winged Blackbird 1 Common Grackle cw Brown-headed Cowbird cw House Finch 54 American Goldfinch 75 House Sparrow 273 |
Total: 41 species plus 3 count week.
Note: We received a late report of an immature Bald Eagle on campus the day of the count from observers that were not part of the count party.
1 January 2000
Time: 8:30 am to 4:30 pm EST (owling 5:00 to 7:00 AM).
Weather: Temp, wind SW5 -15 MPH, skies clear. River mostly open, standing water mostly frozen.
Observers: Julie Craves, John Flora, Jim Fowler, Fred McDonald, Greg Norwood, Mike O’Leary, Jerry Sadowski, Tim Smart, Dave Washington. Ten in field in five parties; 2 hours (2 party-hours) and 0.5 miles on foot owling. Total party-hours 31.5, party-miles 15.5 on foot, 71.6 by car.
| Pied-billed Grebe 1 Great Blue Heron 11 Black-crowned Night-heron 2 Canada Goose 823 Mallard 348 Canvasback 14 Lesser Scaup 1 Ruddy Duck 1 Cooper’s Hawk 4 Red-tailed Hawk 19 American Kestrel 1 Ring-necked Pheasant 1 Ring-billed Gull 92 Herring Gull 49 Rock Dove 449 Mourning Dove 71 Eastern Screech-owl 2 Belted Kingfisher 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker 7 Downy Woodpecker 39 Hairy Woodpecker 5 Northern Flicker 6 Blue Jay 42 American Crow 255 | Black-capped Chickadee 80 Tufted Titmouse 21 Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 White-breasted Nuthatch 18 Carolina Wren 4 American Robin 262 Cedar Waxwing 3 European Starling 640 Yellow-rumped Warbler 2 Northern Cardinal 72 American Tree Sparrow 178 Fox Sparrow cw Song Sparrow 13 White-throated Sparrow 3 Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco 140 Red-winged Blackbird 2 Common Grackle 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 2 House Finch 48 Pine Siskin 5 American Goldfinch 110 House Sparrow 480 |
Total:45 species plus 1 count week.
1 January 2001
Time: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm EST (owling 5:00 to 7:30 AM).
Weather: Temp 15-20F, wind NW 3-8 MPH; skies partly cloudy. Standing water frozen. Lower Rouge River open, main branch in few spots.
Observers: Julie Craves, Andy Dettling, John Flora, Jim Fowler, Dorothy McLeer, Fred McDonald, Greg Norwood, Mike O’Leary, Jerry Sadowski, Tim Smart, Dave Washington. Ten in field in four parties; 2 hours (2 party-hours) and 1.5 miles on foot owling. Total party-hours 22.25, party-miles 9.25 on foot, 112.1 by car.
| Great Blue Heron 7 Green-winged Teal 1 Mallard 358 Gadwall 1 Canvasback 55 Lesser Scaup 1 Common Goldeneye 2 Common Merganser 137 Ruddy Duck 2 Bald Eagle 2 Cooper’s Hawk 4 Red-tailed Hawk 20 American Kestrel 4 Ring-billed Gull 42 Herring Gull 195 Rock Dove 314 Mourning Dove 62 Great Horned Owl 1 Eastern Screech-owl 3 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 9 Downy Woodpecker 57 Hairy Woodpecker 3 | Northern Flicker 3 Blue Jay 74 American Crow 234 Black-capped Chickadee 74 Tufted Titmouse 17 White-breasted Nuthatch 14 Brown Creeper 4 Carolina Wren 5 Hermit Thrush 1 American Robin 93 Cedar Waxwing 17 European Starling 602 Yellow-rumped Warbler 19 Northern Cardinal 81 American Tree Sparrow 96 Song Sparrow 2 White-throated Sparrow 4 Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco 69 Brown-headed Cowbird 1 House Finch 69 American Goldfinch 66 House Sparrow 432 |
Total: 45 species.
Notes: Despite checking all open water, there were no Canada Geese in Dearborn! The two Bald Eagles — one adult and one immature — wear soaring over campus. A mink was seen along the Rouge near Evergreen Road.
1 January 2002
Time: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm EST (owling 5:00 to 7:30 AM).
Weather: Temp 14-32F, wind NW 5-8 MPH; skies clear. Standing water frozen. Lower Rouge River open, main branch in few spots.
Observers: Julie Craves, Rick Crossland, Andy Dettling, Mark Dettling, John Flora, Jim Fowler, Dorothy McLeer, Fred McDonald, Greg Norwood, Darrin O’Brien, Mike O’Leary, Carl Pascoe, Rachel Pascoe, Jerry Sadowski, Rick Simek, Tim Smart, Andrew Tluczek, Dave Washington. Eighteen in field in eight parties; 3 hours (3 party-hours) and 1 miles on foot and 8.3 miles in car owling. Total party-hours 32.25, party-miles 26.25 on foot, 69 by car.
| Double-crested Cormorant 1 Great Blue Heron 19 Canada Goose 543 Mallard 311 Canvasback 17 Redhead 2 Common Merganser 9 Cooper’s Hawk 1 Red-tailed Hawk 17 American Kestrel 2 Ring-billed Gull 117 Herring Gull 52 Great Black-backed Gull 10 Rock Dove 547 Mourning Dove 179 Great Horned Owl 2 Eastern Screech-Owl 2 (1 red phase) Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 Belted Kingfisher 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 18 Downy Woodpecker 54 Hairy Woodpecker 7 | Northern Flicker 2 Blue Jay 103 American Crow 289 Black-capped Chickadee 144 Tufted Titmouse 32 Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 White-breasted Nuthatch 30 Brown Creeper 2 Carolina Wren 11 Golden-crowned Kinglet 2 Hermit Thrush 1 American Robin 98 European Starling 738 Northern Cardinal 87 American Tree Sparrow 189 Song Sparrow 3 White-throated Sparrow 5 Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco 143 Blackbird sp. 1 House Finch 119 American Goldfinch 148 House Sparrow 661 |
Total: 44 species.
Notes: Cormorant and black-backed gulls were at the Rouge Plant, where waterfowl numbers were low. Only one screech-owl was found owling, the rest of the owls were found during the day. The Northern Saw-whet Owl was found on the UM-Dearborn campus. Five of the six Red-breasted Nuthatches were visiting feeders.
1 January 2003
Time: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm EST (owling 5:00 to 7:30 AM).
Weather: Temp 27-32F, wind N 15-20 MPH; skies cloudy. Most standing water frozen, Rouge River open.
Observers: Julie Craves, Andy Dettling, Mark Dettling, John Flora, Jim Fowler, Amy Goovers, Dorothy McLeer, Fred McDonald, Greg Norwood, Darrin O’Brien, Mike O’Leary, Carl Pascoe, Rachel Powless, Winifred Robinson, Jerry Sadowski, Leo Sist, Tim Smart, Alice St. Clair, Betty Welsh, Dave Washington. Twenty in field in eight parties; 2.5 hours (2.5 party-hours) and 1 mile on foot owling. Total party-hours 39.5, 18.5 on foot, 174 by car.
| Great Blue Heron 26 (high count) Black-crowned Night-Heron 1 Canada Goose 406 Mallard 166 Canvasback 26 Common Merganser 12 Cooper’s Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 12 American Kestrel 2 Ring-necked Pheasant 1 Ring-billed Gull 37 Herring Gull 82 Rock Dove 111 Mourning Dove 221 Eastern Screech-Owl 1 Northern Saw-whet Owl 1 Belted Kingfisher 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 14 Downy Woodpecker 49 Hairy Woodpecker 12 (high count)Northern Flicker 3 Blue Jay 29 (low) American Crow 18 (low count) Blk-capped Chickadee 30 (low count) Tufted Titmouse 1 (low count) | White-breasted Nuthatch 5 Brown Creeper 4 Carolina Wren 8 Winter Wren 2 Golden-crnd Kinglet 16 (high count) Hermit Thrush 1 American Robin 350 N. Mockingbird 1 (2nd for count) European Starling 253 Cedar Waxwing 10 Yellow-rumped Warbler 5 American Tree Sparrow 79Chipping Sparrow 4 (1st winter record) Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 14 White-thr. Sparrow 40 (high count) White-crowned Sparrow 1 (2nd winter record, 1st for count) Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco 350 Northern Cardinal 96 Red-winged Blackbird 2 Brown-headed Cowbird 16 House Finch 351 American Goldfinch 90 House Sparrow 290 |
Total: 51 species (high count), 3205 individuals.
Notes: Corvids and parids low, probably due to West Nile Virus. Large numbers of House Finches and the Chipping, Fox, White-crowned sparrows, most White-throated Sparrows, and Red-winged Blackbirds at fields planted in sunflowers by Ford at Southfield and Hubbard. Greenfield Village not covered this year.
1 January 2004
Time: 8:30 am to 5:00 pm EST (owling 5:00 to 7:30 AM).
Weather: Temp 27-32F, wind SW 3-7 MPH; skies partly to mostly cloudy. All water open.
Observers: Julie Craves, Mark Dettling, John Flora, Jim Fowler, Amy Goovers, Ruth Hart, Dorothy McLeer, Fred McDonald, Greg Norwood, Darrin O’Brien, Mike O’Leary, Carl Pascoe, Joanne Poske, Jerry Sadowski, Rudy Sells, Rick Simek, Tim Smart, Jason Sodergren, Alice St. Clair, Dianne Thomas, Betty Welsh, Dave Washington. Twenty-two in field in nine parties; 3.5 hours (3.5 party-hours) and 1.75 mile on foot owling. Total party-hours 31.25, 26.75 on foot, 4.5 by car.
| Great Blue Heron 17 Black-crowned Night-Heron 11 Mute Swan 1 (new for count) Canada Goose 768 Mallard 115 Canvasback 9 Common Merganser 4 Cooper’s Hawk 9 Red-tailed Hawk 11 American Kestrel 5 Merlin 1 (new for count) Ring-necked Pheasant 1 Great Black-backed Gull 6 Ring-billed Gull 32 Herring Gull 91 Gull sp. 91 Rock Dove 263 Mourning Dove 944 (high count) Eastern Screech-Owl 4 Great Horned Owl 3 Northern Saw-whet Owl cw Belted Kingfisher 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker 17 Downy Woodpecker 64 Hairy Woodpecker 8 Northern Flicker 2 Horned Lark 2 Blue Jay 26 (low) American Crow 5 (low count) | Blk-capped Chickadee 29 (low count) Tufted Titmouse 4 (low) Red-breasted Nuthatch 2 White-breasted Nuthatch 17 Brown Creeper 4 Carolina Wren 11 Winter Wren 2 American Robin 145 N. Mockingbird 1 European Starling 412 Eastern Towhee cw (new for count) American Tree Sparrow 95 Chipping Sparrow 1 Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 10 Swamp Sparrow 1 White-thr. Sparrow 28 White-crownd Sparrow 11 (high count) Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco 392 Dk-eyed (Oregon) Junco cw Snow Bunting 2 Northern Cardinal 81 Red-winged Blackbird 62 (high count) Rusty Blackbird 1 (new for count) Common Grackle cw Brown-headed Cowbird 3 House Finch 377 American Goldfinch 194 House Sparrow 1344 (high count) |
Total: 53 species (high count) plus three count week, and one subspecies, 5742 individuals.
Notes: Corvids and parids still low. Four sunflower fields planted by Ford Motor Co. accounted for large majority of House Sparrows, Mourning Doves, and have attracted the raptors, including the Merlin. Most White-crowned Sparrows and the Rusty Blackbird and Chipping Sparrow were also at the sunflower fields. Snow Buntings and Horned Larks along the concrete channel of the Rouge River. Greenfield Village not covered this year.
1 January 2005
Time: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm EST (owling 5:00 to 7:30 AM).
Weather: Temp 21-24F, wind N-ESE 4-10 MPH; skies partly to mostly cloudy. All water open.
Observers: Cathy Carroll, Julie Craves, Rick Crossland, John Flora, Jim Fowler, Amy Goovers, Kim Hall, Greg Norwood, Darrin O’Brien, Mike O’Leary, Carl Pascoe, Trudy Sells, Rick Simek, Pam Simek, Tim Smart, Alice St. Clair, Dianne Thomas, Betty Welsh, Dave Washington. Fourteen in field in seven parties; 5.25 hours (5.25 party-hours) owling (18 miles in car, 1.5 miles on foot). Total party-hours 31.75, 22 on foot, 9.75 by car. Total party miles 93, 21.25 on foot, 71.75 in car. Five feeder watchers, 3.75 hours feeder watching.
| Canada Goose 42 Mallard 278 Canvasback 7 Greater Scaup 2 Lesser Scaup 1 Bufflehead 1 (new for count) Common Merganser 152 (high count) Pied-billed Grebe cw Great Blue Heron 27 Black-crowned Night-Heron 11 Cooper’s Hawk 4 Red-tailed Hawk 12 American Kestrel 1 Gyrfalcon 1 (new for count) Peregrine Falcon cw (new for count) Ring-billed Gull 111 Herring Gull 107 Great Black-backed Gull cw Rock Pigeon 259 Mourning Dove 583 Eastern Screech-Owl 4 Great Horned Owl 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 12 Downy Woodpecker 60 | Hairy Woodpecker 20 (high count) Northern Flicker 3 Blue Jay 30 (low) American Crow 5 (low count) Blk-capped Chickadee 30 (low) Tufted Titmouse 6 (low) Winter Wren 2 American Robin 172 Red-breasted Nuthatch cw White-breasted Nuthatch 22 Brown Creeper 6 (high count) Carolina Wren 6 European Starling 1025 (high count) Cedar Waxwing 27 (high count) Yellow-rumped Warbler 1 American Tree Sparrow 142 Song Sparrow 7 White-thr. Sparrow 29 (high count) Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco 273 Northern Cardinal 100 (high count) Red-winged Blackbird 194 (high count) Brown-headed Cowbird 73 (high count) House Finch 567 (high count) American Goldfinch 374 (high count) House Sparrow 1352 (high count) |
Total: 46 species, plus four count week, 6133 individuals.
Notes: Corvids and parids still low. Five sunflower fields planted by Ford Motor Co. accounted for large majority of Mourning Doves, House Finches, blackbirds, and House Sparrows. Gyrfalcon, a fifth county record and the first county inland record, was at Parklane Towers office area. Greenfield Village not covered this year. Wild fruit crop poor, seed crop mediocre. Of the 5 sunflower fields, the only one with any appreciable seed set was the one near Parklane Towers. Although virtually all water was open and temperatures had been mild, the earlier very cold temperatures and deep snow probably explained the lack of geese on the count. Mysterious were 17 lemons found in the woods in an area without trails near the Lower Rouge.
1 January 2006
Time: 8:00 am to 4:00 pm EST (owling 5:00 to 7:30 AM).
Weather: Temp 33-37F, wind WSW 8-10 MPH; skies cloudy. Moving water open,
still water mostly frozen.
Observers: Ed Cable, Cathy Carroll, Julie Craves, Andy Dettling, Mark Dettling, Kathy Evans, Jim Fowler, Amy Goovers, Dave Lipkovich, Dorothy McLeer, Greg Norwood, Darrin O’Brien, Mike O’Leary, Jerry Sadowski, Gertrude Sell, Rick Simek, Tim Smart, Kathy Smith, Dianne Thomas, Dave Washington, and Betty Welsh. Twenty-one people in the field in seven parties; six party-hours and 16.5 party-miles owling. Total party-hours 33 (27 on foot, 6 by car); total party-miles 83 (23 on foot, 60 by car).
| Canada Goose 465 Cackling Goose 1 (new for count) American Black Duck 1 Mallard 250 Northern Pintail 1 (new for count) Canvasback 27 Greater Scaup 1 Lesser Scaup 2 Common Goldeneye 1 Great Blue Heron 31 (new high) Black-crowned Night-Heron 32 (new high) Cooper’s Hawk 17 (new high) Red-tailed Hawk 22 (new high) American Kestrel 6 (new high) Merlin American Coot 1 (new for count) Ring-billed Gull 46 Herring Gull 12 Rock Pigeon 678 (new high) Mourning Dove 2249 (new high)Eastern Screech-Owl 9 (new high) Great Horned Owl 2 Belted Kingfisher 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker 12 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 2 (new for count) Downy Woodpecker 84 (new high) Hairy Woodpecker 12 | Northern Flicker 5 Blue Jay 54 American Crow 8 Horned Lark 1 Blk-capped Chickadee 84 Red-breasted Nuthatch 8 (new high) White-breasted Nuthatch 24 Brown Creeper 9 (new high) Carolina Wren 7 Hermit Thrush 4 (new high) American Robin 252 Northern Mockingbird 1 European Starling 1048 (new high) Cedar Waxwing 18 Yellow-rumped Warbler count week Field Sparrow 1 (new for count)Fox Sparrow 1 American Tree Sparrow 68 Song Sparrow 2 White-thr. Sparrow 46 (new high) Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco 520 (new high) Northern Cardinal 128 (new high) Red-winged Blackbird 233 (new high) Common Grackle 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 171 (new high) House Finch 718 (new high)American Goldfinch 823 (new high) House Sparrow 1868 (new high) |
Total: 53 species, plus two count week, 10007 individuals.
Notes: Sunflower fields were covered by six teams simultaneously. The many high counts are mostly from these fields. They probably represent a combination of actual increases in these species, plus better detection due to concentrating individuals and improved coverage. An additional, regular mockingbird and a Merlin were found before and after count, but not on count day. Crows still not recovering, this year, and this is the first year Tufted Titmouse was completely missed.
1 January 2007
Time: 5:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Weather: 43 to 38 F; wind SSW 16 tp W 13 MPH; cloudy. Moving water open, still water open; December warmest on record, 7F above average.
Observers: Julie Craves, John Flora, Jim Fowler, Ruth Hart, Alice McClain, Fred McDonald, Dorothy McLeer, Greg Norwood, Darrin O’Brien, Mike O’Leary, Tom Olkowski, Jerry Sadowski, Gertrude Sell, Rick Simek, Tim Smart, Dave Washington, and Betty Welsh. Seventeen people in the field in six parties; two party-hours and 2.5 party-miles owling. Total party-hours 48.25 (17 on foot, 27.25 by car); total party-miles 48.25 (18.25 on foot, 24 by car).
| Canada Goose 693 Mallard 187 Canvasback 2 Common Merganser 2 Great Blue Heron 36 (new high) Black-crowned Night-Heron 36 (new high) Cooper’s Hawk 4 Red-tailed Hawk 10 American Kestrel 4 Ring-billed Gull 77 Herring Gull 45 Great Black-backed Gull 3 Rock Pigeon 96 Mourning Dove 516 Eastern Screech-Owl 4 Belted Kingfisher cw Red-bellied Woodpecker 6 Downy Woodpecker 47 Hairy Woodpecker 11 Northern Flicker 5 Blue Jay 37 American Crow 8 | Blk-capped Chickadee 36 Tufted Titmouse 6 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 14 Brown Creeper 2 Carolina Wren 5 Winter Wren 3 (new high) Golden-crowned Kinglet cw American Robin 278 European Starling 3191 (new high) Fox Sparrow 1 American Tree Sparrow 44 Song Sparrow 4 White-thr. Sparrow 34 Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco 281 Northern Cardinal 98 Red-winged Blackbird 226 Brown-headed Cowbird 32 House Finch 843 (new high) American Goldfinch 170 House Sparrow 2939 (new high) |
Total: 41 species (tied low count) plus 2 count week, 10,037 individuals.
Notes: A very warm December translated into open water all over the region, dispersing waterfowl and resulting in low counts for these species. Lack of snow cover and warm temperatures also provided increased food supplies for insectivorous birds, which were generally widespread and have been more difficult to find flocked up than in previous seasons. A generally wet fall and heavy rain the day previous to the count made sunflower fields saturated and difficult for birds to forage on ground. One field was not planted (Southfield and Rotunda) and another had no sunflower heads (Rotunda and Schaefer). The 204% increase in starlings over the previous high (and a 500% increase from the previous 10-year average) are from starlings found in the two oldest sunflower fields. A similar situation is found with House Sparrows, with this year’s new high a 328% increase from the previous 10-year average.
1 January 2008
Time: 8:15 AM to 4:00 PM, plus owling.
Weather: 13 to 33F; wind NNW 21 tp WNW 11 MPH; snow in morning, most of day overcast, sun breaking through in afternoon. Moving water open, still water open.
Observers: Cathy Carroll, Julie Craves, Andy Dettling, John Flora, Jim Fowler, Dorothy McLeer, Greg Norwood, Darrin O’Brien, Jerry Sadowski, Dave Washington, and Betty Welsh. Feeder watchers: Jim Boatwright, Rick Simek, Sarge Thomas. Eleven people in the field in seven parties; 3.5 party-hours and 9 party-miles owling. Total party-hours 20.25 (18.25 on foot, 2 by car); total party-miles 46.25 (18 on foot, 28.25 by car).
| Canada Goose 313 American Black Duck 1 Mallard 84 Canvasback 6 Hooded Merganser 1 Common Merganser 1 Great Blue Heron 20 Black-crowned Night-Heron 35 Cooper’s Hawk 5 Red-tailed Hawk 14 American Kestrel 3 Merlin 1 Peregrine Falcon 1 Ring-billed Gull 147 Herring Gull 7 Rock Pigeon 132 Mourning Dove 37 (low) Eastern Screech-Owl 5 Northern Saw-whet Owl cw Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 9 Downy Woodpecker 37 Hairy Woodpecker 8 Blue Jay 28 American Crow 3 | Horned Lark 1 Blk-capped Chickadee 44 Tufted Titmouse 6 Red-breasted Nuthatch 5 White-breasted Nuthatch 23 Brown Creeper 3 Carolina Wren 6 American Robin 304 European Starling 186 (low) Cedar Waxwing 15 Northern Shrike 1 American Tree Sparrow 584 (new high) Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 10 White-thr. Sparrow 22 White-crowned Sparrow 10 Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco 686 (new high) Snow Bunting 50 Northern Cardinal 95 Red-winged Blackbird 125 Brown-headed Cowbird 1348 (new high) House Finch 165 American Goldfinch 53 House Sparrow 1534 |
Total: 49 species plus 1 count week, 6416 individuals.
Notes: Two former sunflower fields plowed under (Rotunda and Schaefer and small portion of Hubbard and Southfield; one wildlflower field that was mowed last year was left standing this year (Lundy Parkway) and three more additional wildflower fields planted this year included in count (Ford Road, two at Ford World Headquarters). One party devoted to systematically counting birds at all these fields afforded a more accurate count. 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 very low count on count day. Starling count may have been low due to reduced coverage of residential areas. Three saw-whet owls were found without much effort 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. The number of cowbirds, in large flocks in three different fields, was nearly 8 times the previous high count of 171, and over a 3800% increase over the previous 11-year mean of 34. Will American Crows ever recover in this area from West Nile Virus? This is the sixth year of continuous barely-there counts.
1 January 2009
Time: 8:15 AM to 4:00 PM, plus owling.
Weather: 13 to 25F; wind calm to SSE 12 MPH; most of day overcast, sun breaking through in afternoon. Moving water partially open, still water frozen.
Observers: Cathy Carroll, Julie Craves, John Flora, Jim Fowler, Greg Norwood, Darrin O’Brien, Mike O’Leary, Jerry Sadowski, and Dave Washington. Feeder watcher: Orin Gelderloos. Nine people in the field in five parties; 3.5 party-hours and 19 party-miles owling. Total party-hours 19.75 (16.5 on foot, 3.25 by car); total party-miles 60.75 (11.75 on foot, 49 by car).
| Canada Goose 549 Wood Duck (new) 1 American Black Duck 3 Mallard 182 Canvasback 17 Hooded Merganser 2 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Great Blue Heron 14 Black-crowned Night-Heron 30 Cooper’s Hawk 7 Red-tailed Hawk 11 American Kestrel 3 Merlin 1 Ring-billed Gull 6 Herring Gull 10 Great Black-backed Gull 3 Rock Pigeon 44 Mourning Dove 372 Eastern Screech-Owl 5 Great Horned Owl 2 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 17 Downy Woodpecker 33 Hairy Woodpecker 7 Northern Flicker 2 Blue Jay 29 American Crow 4 | Black-capped Chickadee 39 Tufted Titmouse 11 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 17 Brown Creeper 2 Carolina Wren 8 Golden-crowned Kinglet 6 Hermit Thrush 1 American Robin 445 European Starling 523 Cedar Waxwing 4 Yellow-rumped Warber 1 American Tree Sparrow 465 Song Sparrow 7 White-thr. Sparrow 32 White-crowned Sparrow 2 Dark-eyed (Slate-colored) Junco 304 Northern Cardinal 76 Red-winged Blackbird 231 Common Grackle 1 Brown-headed Cowbird 30 House Finch 214 White-winged Crossbill cw (new) Common Redpoll 1 Pine Siskin 1 American Goldfinch 478 House Sparrow 3497 (new high) |
Total: 53 species plus 1 count week, 7753 individuals.
Notes: A Wood Duck at the Ford Rouge Plant and White-winged Crossbills at several locations in the days following the count were new species for the Dearborn portion of this CBC, bringing the cumulative species total to 85. The main sunflower field on the south side of Hubbard at Southfield was left unplanted this year, slightly decreasing the number of sparrows and finches. The field on the north side, however, held the bulk of the blackbirds and House Sparrows; House Sparrow numbers have been increasing by leaps and bounds since these fields were first planted in 2002. I’ve posted a little write up at Net Results.
1 January 2010
Time: 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, plus owling.
Weather: 23 to 26F; wind W to NW 10 to 16 MPH; overcast with periodic snow flurries. Moving water open, still water frozen.
Observers: Cathy Carroll, Julie Craves, Rick Crossland, John Flora, Jim Fowler, Greg Norwood, Darrin O’Brien, Mike O’Leary, Jerry Sadowski, and Dave Washington. Ten people in the field in five parties; 5 party-hours and 18 party-miles owling. Total party-hours 21.5 (17.5 on foot, 4 by car); total party-miles 72.9 (19.9 on foot, 53 by car).
| Canada Goose 840 Mallard 76 Canvasback 4 Redhead 1 Hooded Merganser 5 Common Merganser 8 Ring-necked Pheasant cw Pied-billed Grebe 1 Great Blue Heron 11 Black-crowned Night-heron 15 Cooper’s Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 9 American Kestrel 2 Peregrine Falcon cw Bonaparte’s Gull (new) 1 Ring-billed Gull 56 Herring Gull 35 Great Black-backed Gull 1 Rock Pigeon 126 Mourning Dove 34 E. Screech-Owl 4 Great Horned Owl 1 N. Saw-whet Owl 1 Belted Kingfisher 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker 20 Downy Woodpecker 46 | Hairy Woodpecker 14 Northern Flicker 3 Blue Jay 49 American Crow 6 Black-capped Chickadee 46 Tufted Titmouse16 Red-breasted Nuthatch 3 White-breasted Nuthatch 20 Brown Creeper 6 Carolina Wren 4 Golden-crowned Kinglet 4 American Robin 198 European Starling 260 Yellow-rumped Warbler cw American Tree Sparrow 289 Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 14 Swamp Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 15 Dark-eyed Junco 116 Northern Cardinal 66 House Finch 94 American Goldfinch 179 House Sparrow 243 |
Total: 45 species plus 2 count week, 1921 individuals.
Notes: This count includes all of Dearborn, including UM-D, HFCC, Ford Rouge Plant, Greenfield Village, Fordson Island, Ford Field. No feeders this year at UM-D, and there were no feeder watchers.
1 January 2011
Time: 9:15 AM to 3:30 PM, plus owling.
Weather: 50 to 44F (temperatures dropping); wind S to WSW 7 to 17 MPH; overcast with rain in AM. Moving water semi-open, still water mostly frozen.
Observers: Cathy Carroll, Julie Craves, Jim Fowler, Terry Kowalczyk, Chris Norwood, Greg Norwood, Ruth Nowodworski, Darrin O’Brien, Mike O’Leary, Rick Simek, and Dave Washington. Ten people (plus baby) in the field in five parties; 4 party-hours and 10.5 party-miles owling. Total party-hours 18.25 (13.75 on foot, 4.5 by car); total party-miles 61 (12.9 on foot, 48.1 by car).
| Canada Goose 54 American Black Duck 1 Mallard 71 Canvasback 75 Greater Scaup 1 Hooded Merganser 3 Pied-billed Grebe 1 Great Blue Heron 3 Black-crowned Night-heron 25 Cooper’s Hawk 5 Red-tailed Hawk 7 American Kestrel 3 Peregrine Falcon 1 Herring Gull 6 Rock Pigeon 215 Mourning Dove 103 E. Screech-Owl 4 Belted Kingfisher 2 Red-bellied Woodpecker 20 Downy Woodpecker 34 Hairy Woodpecker 15 Northern Flicker 1 | Blue Jay 38 American Crow 15 Horned Lark 1 Black-capped Chickadee 65 Tufted Titmouse 10 Red-breasted Nuthatch 10 (high count) White-breasted Nuthatch 36 (high count) Carolina Wren 5 Winter Wren 3 Golden-crowned Kinglet 5 American Robin 283 European Starling 544 American Tree Sparrow 176 Song Sparrow 4 Swamp Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 30 Dark-eyed Junco 153 Northern Cardinal 79 Red-winged Blackbird 118 Brown-headed Cowbird 5 House Finch 701 American Goldfinch 718 House Sparrow 1244 |
Total: 45 species, 4894 individuals.
Notes: Below freezing weather most of December, until a few days before the count, froze nearly all water in the area, including most of the Rouge and Detroit Rivers, pushing gulls and waterfowl out. This is the first year Ring-billed Gull was missed. Rebound in the number of blackbirds and seed-eating passerines due to more sunflowers being planted on Ford properties, although several still had mostly cover crops. The Peregrine Falcon was “Ember,” the young female from Kentucky present since summer. Most of the eastern U.S. experienced a Black-capped Chickadee invasion this fall, reflected in the highest number on this count since 2006.
1 January 2012
Time: 8:15 AM to 2:30 PM, plus owling.
Weather: 44 to 39F (temperatures dropping); wind SSE 8 to W 32 to 44 MPH; overcast with occasional rain in AM. Water open.
Observers: Cathy Carroll, Julie Craves, John Flora, Jim Fowler, Terry Kowalczyk, Greg Norwood, Darrin O’Brien, and Dave Washington. Eight in the field in five parties; 4 party-hours and 8.5 party-miles owling. Total party-hours 17 (13.75 on foot, 3.25 by car); total party-miles 70.1 (12.7 on foot, 57.4 by car).
| Canada Goose 286 Mallard 20 (new low) Great Blue Heron 18 Sharp-shinned Hawk cw (new) Cooper’s Hawk 2 Red-tailed Hawk 9 American Kestrel 7 (new high) Peregrine Falcon 1 Ring-billed Gull 47 Rock Pigeon 244 Mourning Dove 360 E. Screech-Owl 4 Great Horned Owl 1 Belted Kingfisher 3 Red-bellied Woodpecker 14 Yellow-bellied Sapsucker 1 (2nd count) Downy Woodpecker 27 Hairy Woodpecker 6 Blue Jay 33 American Crow 1 (new low) | Horned Lark 2 Black-capped Chickadee 37 Tufted Titmouse 6 Red-breasted Nuthatch 1 White-breasted Nuthatch 12 Brown Creeper 1 Carolina Wren 4 American Robin 92 Gray Catbird 1 (new for count) European Starling 530 American Tree Sparrow 26 (new low) Fox Sparrow 1 Song Sparrow 4 White-throated Sparrow 17 Dark-eyed Junco 97 Northern Cardinal 61 Red-winged Blackbird 118 House Finch 1038 (new high) American Goldfinch 161 House Sparrow 206 |
Total: 39 species plus one count week, 5361 individuals.
Notes: No access to the Ford Rouge Plant this year resulted in low numbers/missing species of waterfowl, and the usual roost of Black-crowned Night-herons not being counted. Mild temperatures and open water all season thus far dispersed many birds; most small seed-eating passerines were found in the sunflower field in front of Ford World Headquarters. A good fall fruit crop was stripped earlier in the season, so American Robin numbers were low. The Gray Catbird was one of two found on the UM-Dearborn campus on 20 December, and brings the cumulative species count for the Dearborn portion of this count to 87 species; the count week Sharp-shinned Hawk is also new to the count. American Crow numbers seem as if they will never recover!
1 January 2013
Time: 8:30 AM to 1:30 PM, plus owling.
Weather: 24 to 26F; wind NNW to W 7 MPH; fair to overcast. Still and slow moving water frozen. Some portions of Rouge River with faster current open.
Observers: Cathy Carroll, Julie Craves, Jim Fowler, Greg Norwood, Darrin O’Brien, Rick Simek, and Dave Washington. Seven people in the field in four parties; 2.25 party-hours and 1 party-mile owling. Total party-hours 14.5 (10 on foot, 4.5 by car); total party-miles 71.5 (8.5 on foot, 63 by car).
| Canada Goose 394 Mute Swan 5 (2nd count) Mallard 77 Canvasback 3 Common Merganser 9 Double-crested Cormorant 1 (2nd count) Great Blue Heron 18 Black-crowned Night-heron 20 Bald Eagle 1 Cooper’s Hawk 3 Red-tailed Hawk 12 Ring-billed Gull 20 Herring Gull 15 Great Black-backed Gull 9 Rock Pigeon 141 Mourning Dove 482 E. Screech-Owl 4 Great Horned Owl 2 N. Saw-whet Owl 1 Belted Kingfisher 1 Red-bellied Woodpecker 13 Downy Woodpecker 20 Hairy Woodpecker 6 Peregrine Falcon 1 | Blue Jay 20 American Crow 3 Horned Lark 5 Black-capped Chickadee 36 Tufted Titmouse 15 Red-breasted Nuthatch 6 White-breasted Nuthatch 19 Brown Creeper 2 Carolina Wren 8 Winter Wren 1 American Robin 66 European Starling 797 American Tree Sparrow 93 Song Sparrow 1 White-throated Sparrow 18 Dark-eyed Junco 267 Northern Cardinal 53 Red-winged Blackbird 220 Brown-headed Cowbird cw House Finch 422 White-winged Crossbill 10 (new) Pine Siskin 25 (high) American Goldfinch 278 House Sparrow 3979 (high) |
Total: 47 species plus one count week; 7602 individuals.
Notes: Bald Eagle adult along Lower Rouge near Evergreen seen by several parties. Mute Swans were flyovers. Low numbers and diversity of waterfowl at Ford Rouge Plant. An excellent winter finch year due to wide-scale cone and seed crop failure, produced the crossbills and siskins; and concentrated thousands of birds at the one Ford field that was planted with sunflowers (at Ford World Headquarters). The horse paddock at Greenfield Village once again hosted Horned Larks. Poor soft mast crop reduced number of robins. With the addition of the White-winged Crossbills, the cumulative species count for the Dearborn portion of this CBC now stands at 86.