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The Rouge River Bird Observatory (RRBO) Digital Archive is an independent initiative dedicated to preserving the rich ornithological history of Southeast Michigan. Originally established at the University of Michigan-Dearborn in 1992, the formal campus-based program concluded its operations in October 2018.
Preserving a Scientific Legacy
After the observatory's formal closure, the spirit of RRBO lived on through the tireless independent research of its founders and associates. Our goal is to ensure that the decades of valuable banding data and ecological insights remain accessible to the public and the scientific community.
We closely follow and celebrate the ongoing independent work of original researchers, such as Julie Craves, whose recent contributions include landmark studies on European Goldfinches (2023) and avian insect dispersal (2024).
Our Role as Independent Curators
Since 2026, this site has been maintained by a group of independent bird enthusiasts and citizen scientists led by Sarah Jenkins. We do not claim official affiliation with the University of Michigan, but rather act as independent curators of the RRBO legacy. Our mission is two-fold:
- Digital Preservation: Archiving historical field notes and making them searchable for a new generation.
- Community Monitoring: Continuing the tradition of urban bird observation in the Rouge River watershed through independent field reports.
We believe that "Every bird counts," and by keeping this digital home alive, we honor the past while contributing to the future of urban bird conservation.
*Note: This site is an independent project and is not officially endorsed by the University of Michigan-Dearborn. All archived materials are shared with respect to the original authors' contributions.