Current year seasonal sightings from the University of Michigan-Dearborn campus as well as other locations around Dearborn. Archives of previous years can be found here. For other news, sign up for our newsletter here.
- 2013 UM-Dearborn campus bird sightings
- 2013 Dearborn sightings
- All UM-Dearborn sightings*
- All Dearborn sightings*
Clicking on any of the species will bring up a map of sightings; clicking on any markers will provide dates and numbers.
*Inclusive data is based on 17 years of mostly spring and winter data. New records are being added which include the past 20 years, all seasons. As this is public data, it also includes sightings that have not been vetted by RRBO staff, but has been filtered by eBird volunteers that are not associated with and do not consult with RRBO. Researchers interested in data for analysis should contact RRBO directly.
May 2013:
20 May: Three flyover Pine Siskins were either late spring migrants or birds which may have attempted breeding after the past winter’s influx. A Yellow-bellied Flycatcher near the old field was a little earlier than usual.
18 May: Twenty-one warbler species were noted today, including the first Canada and Cape May Warblers of the spring.
17 May: An Orchard Oriole was near the south end of the lake today.
16 May: A Red-breasted Nuthatch was near the stone bridge this morning, the same location where one was last heard two weeks ago. Eastern Wood-Pewees have also arrived for the season.
15 May: Blackpoll Warblers and Wilson’s Warblers were new arrivals today. The first Lincoln’s Sparrow of the season was also found.
14 May: A Yellow-throated Vireo was heard near the south end of the lake today, as was a lingering Ruby-crowned Kinglet.
13 May: An Orange-crowned Warbler was singing at the south end of the lake today, and a Yellow-billed Cuckoo was heard in the same area. A Ruby-throated Hummingbird was the first of the season today.
7 May: Much quieter today. Best sighting was a Northern Mockingbird on the west side of Jensen’s Meadow early in the morning. The bird could not be located later in the day, but should still be around.
6 May: Good diversity today, although not huge numbers. A singing male Hooded Warbler was along the Lakeside Trail near the north end of the lake. New arrivals included Indigo Bunting, Ovenbird, Swainson’s Thrush, and Chestnut-sided Warbler.
5 May: Spotted Sandpiper, Northern Parula, and Bay-breasted Warbler were new for the season today. Another White-eyed Vireo was also noted.
4 May: New spring arrivals today included Red-eyed Vireo, Blue-winged Warbler, and Magnolia Warbler.
3 May: The first Least Flycatcher of spring was found today.
2 May: A (the?) Wild Turkey made another appearance today, between the estate and the old Pony Barn. There was a very large outdoor event on campus, so it likely retreated to a quieter place, but if it’s the same one, perhaps it is hanging out in the area. A White-eyed Vireo was also found in the same vicinity. A Mourning Warbler was found along the lakeside trail, which is a new early arrival date for Dearborn. Northern Waterthrush and Great Crested Flycatcher were also new arrivals today.
1 May: Not a lot of numbers, but good diversity today, with quite a few first-of-season species: Wood Thrush, Eastern Kingbird, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, White-crowned Sparrow, and Baltimore Oriole.
April 2013:
30 Apr: New arrivals today were Warbling Vireo, Scarlet Tanager, and Nashville Warblers.
29 Apr: The season’s first Gray Catbird was found on today’s survey.
27 Apr: The season’s first Rose-breasted Grosbeak was found today.
26 Apr: New arrivals today were Green Heron and Chimney Swift.
25 Apr: The season’s first House Wren was found on today’s survey, and while more Palm Warblers were apparent, the cold weather has still held back many migrants.
23 Apr: The first Black-and-white Warbler and Palm Warblers of spring were seen on today’s survey. If you are interested in Pine Warblers, this seems to be the year for them. At least two males and one female were in amongst the Yellow-rumped Warblers along the lake this morning.
22 Apr: A photograph of a male Hooded Warbler was taken today at Fairlane Woods, across Evergreen Road from the north end of campus.
21 Apr: A Sandhill Crane was a flyover today. Also on campus was the first White-eyed Vireo of the season — a photo can be viewed in this eBird checklist.
18 Apr: The first Black-throated Green Warbler of spring was found today, as was the first Yellow Warbler, a new early spring date for Dearborn. White-throated Sparrows are beginning to arrive in larger numbers, and Ruby-crowned Kinglets are now outnumbering Golden-crowns.
17 Apr: More Blue-gray Gnatcatchers were apparent today, along with many more Yellow-rumped Warblers and Ruby-crowned Kinglets. A bright Pine Warbler was along the lakeside trail with Yellow-rumps. A Pine Siskin was in the alder trees in the same location.
16 Apr: The first Blue-gray Gnatcatcher of the season was seen today. Also, a Wild Turkey was seen by two observers, with another finding scratchings and a fresh track. Observations were scattered across campus, and at one point the bird visited the feeders behind the EIC. Turkeys have been increasingly reported throughout Wayne County (although mostly in western suburbs, and Belle Isle) as the DNR has been releasing them in Monroe County for a number of years. We’ve also had reports of domestic releases in the county. Either way, probably the first turkey report in Dearborn for 100+ years.
12 Apr: Waterfowl on the lake this morning included a Bufflehead, Ring-necked Duck, and eight Pied-billed Grebes. An Osprey was seen at the lake this afternoon. Many Tree and Rough-winged Swallows were joined by a couple of Barn Swallows, the first of the year, this morning. Hopefully, all the swallows can tough it out a couple of more days when flying insects should become more plentiful.
11 Apr: The first Northern Rough-winged Swallows arrived on campus today.
9 Apr: A bright Pine Warbler was hanging out with Yellow-rumped Warblers in the Rose Garden today.
8 Apr: A good influx of migrants occurred over the weekend. Highlights of today’s survey were two male Blue-winged Teal on Fairlane Lake, a Wilson’s Snipe flying over the Rouge River, and the first Ruby-crowned Kinglet. Other spring migrants included two Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers, several Eastern Phoebes, two Tree Swallows, a Winter Wren, several Fox Sparrows, and good numbers of Golden-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers. The first Field Sparrow is found in west Dearborn.
5 Apr: The first Hermit Thrush of the season was seen today.
3 Apr: Golden-crowned Kinglets and Yellow-rumped Warblers have arrived.
March 2013:
30 Mar: A Common Redpoll is visiting a feeder in west Dearborn.
24 Mar: A Merlin was seen along the Rouge River channel.
15 Mar: A Sandhill Crane flew over west Dearborn today.
10 Mar: The first American Woodcock of the season was seen on campus today.
9 Mar: Killdeer are found on campus.
4 Mar: An adult Bald Eagle was seen flying over campus, as was a small flock of migrant Red-winged Blackbirds.
February 2013:
25 Feb: Four White-winged Crossbills present today behind the Dearborn Inn.
24 Feb: Five White-winged Crossbills are still present on crabapples behind the Dearborn Inn on Oakwood Blvd.
22 Feb: Ten White-winged Crossbills have been found feeding on crabapples behind the Dearborn Inn on Oakwood Blvd. In other winter finch news, the Pine Siskin flock on campus has dwindled to just a few birds feeding mostly on the alders around the lake.
January 2013:
22 Jan: An adult Bald Eagle flew over campus this morning.
21 Jan: A flock of up to 30 Pine Siskins remains on campus, mostly on the alders around Fairlane Lake. What we thought was a single Peregrine Falcon at Ford World Headquarters was joined by another today. They were perched together at the top of the building.
1 Jan: Highlights of the Dearborn portion of the Detroit River Christmas Bird Count included Bald Eagle and Winter Wren on campus, Double-crested Cormorant and 9 Great Black-backed Gulls at the Ford Rouge Plant, a Peregrine Falcon and 220 Red-winged Blackbirds at Ford World Headquarters, 5 Horned Larks at Greenfield Village, and 10 White-winged Crossbills in west Dearborn. A summary can be found here; blog post at Net Results here.