Implementation Plan (Government)

1

Report Credits:
Coordinating Team:
, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
, Detroit Zoological Society
, Detroit Audubon Society
, Detroit Audubon Society

2

TABLE OF CONTENTS
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

5

INTRODUCTION

6

METRO DETROIT BIRD COMPOSITION
Introduction
Migratory Species
Metro Detroit Nesting Species
Nuisance Species

7
7
7
9
9

DEMOGRAPHICS OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN AND DETROIT

9

HABITAT CONSERVATION
Managed Lands
• Introduction
• State Managed Lands
• Federal Managed Lands
• Local Government Managed Lands
• Other NGO Lands
• Important Bird Areas
• Corporation Lands
• University Lands
Invasive Species Control
Habitat Restoration Efforts

10
10
10
12
13
14
15
15
15
15
15
16

HAZARD REDUCTION

20

CITIZEN SCIENCE AND ENGAGMENT
Citizen Science Programs
Education and Outreach
Birding Opportunities and Public Events

23
24
27
30

SPECIES SPECIFIC PROJECTS
Common terns
Osprey
Peregrines
Black Terns

33
33
35
37
39

CONCLUSIONS AND TOP PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS 40
LITERATURE CITED

41

3

APPENDICES
A Letter to USFWS from the Metro Detroit Nature Network
B Support letter from the City of Detroit for the Metropolitan
Detroit Bird Agenda
C Additional information on Oakland County Parks
D Climate change data for Michigan species
E Regional and County Species Lists (eBird observations)

4

43
46
47
49
51

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
There are over 350 species of birds that are regularly observed and recorded in Metropolitan Detroit area.
Some are permanent residents that both breed and spend the majority of the year in the Detroit area.
Others spend winters in Central and South America, but breed here. Others pass through on their
migratory routes and use local habitats for feeding and resting during their journeys.
Key avian attributes of our metropolitan region include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

•
•
•
•

It is situated at the intersection of the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways;
Over 350 species of birds have been identified in the corridor;
30 species of waterfowl have been documented using the corridor;
More than 300,000 diving ducks use the lower Detroit River as stopover habitat during migration;
The lower Detroit River is one of the three best places to watch raptor migrations in the U.S., with
23 species of raptors migrating across the river;
Pointe Mouillee, Erie Marsh, and St. Clair Flats, one of the largest freshwater deltas in the world,
are important stopover points for feeding for migratory shore birds during fall migration;
The corridor has four “Important Bird Areas” designated by National Audubon Society;
In 2011, Ducks Unlimited identified Metropolitan Detroit as one of the top ten metropolitan areas
for waterfowl hunting in the U.S.;
Detroit River and western Lake Erie offer exceptional birding opportunities – a ByWays to
FlyWays Bird Driving Tour features 27 unique birding sites in southwest Ontario and southeast
Michigan;
This corridor has been recognized for its biodiversity in the North American Waterfowl
Management Plan, the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, the Western
Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network, and the Biodiversity Investment Area Program of
Environment Canada and U.S. Environmental Protection Agency;
Humbug Marsh in Trenton and Gibraltar, Michigan has been identified as a “Wetlands of
International Importance” under the International Ramsar Convention;
The Detroit River and western Lake Erie are part of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge,
the only international wildlife refuge in North America;
The Detroit River is the first river in North America to receive both American Heritage River and
Canadian Heritage River designations; and
There are many important upland sites for neo-tropical migratory songbirds during spring and fall
migration.

This Metropolitan Detroit Bird Agenda has:
•

Summarized the Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds Program and Metro Detroit’s
accomplishments to date;
Identified key issues currently facing migratory and resident birds in Metropolitan Detroit; and
Outlined high priority actions and “next steps” that Metropolitan Detroit partners will take over the
next five years.

•
•

It is not feasible to move forward on all next steps due to resource limitations and time constraints.
Therefore, the following actions are identified as high priorities over the next five years:
Habitat loss and fragmentation:
•
•
•

Recruiting new partners to the Metro Detroit Nature Network that will participate in the Urban Bird
Treaty as described in this document
Expanding cooperative programs for bird habitat conservation (e.g., creating more stop over
habitat and wildlife corridors, expanding corporate wildlife habitat programs lie Wildlife Habitat
Council)
Supporting and expanding green infrastructure programs

5

•

Expanding school yard and backyard habitat projects

Hazard Reduction:
•
•
•

Expanding Safe Passage
Promoting Bird Friendly Bird Design including offering training for architects on bird friendly
design
Coordinating the timing of construction and re-vegetation projects (e.g., mowing schedules, etc.)

Citizen Science Programs:
•
•
•
•
•
•

Compiling long-term, citizen science, trend data on peregrine falcon and osprey in southeast
Michigan and broadly disseminate this information to show the value and benefit of such
programs
Expanding peregrine falcon and osprey monitoring through citizen science to ensure long-term
sustainability of these programs
Expanding black tern and grassland bird monitoring programs under the leadership of Detroit
Audubon
Expanding participation in Christmas Bird Counts
Expanding backyard feeder watch program
Expanding monitoring under the Safe Passage Program

To help recruit new partners and volunteers for this important bird conservation work the Metro Detroit
Nature Network will convene an Urban Bird Summit within one year. This Urban Bird Summit will review
progress on key issues, recruit new partners, and to help identify and seek small grant funding to support
the above projects. This important Bird Agenda work will also be helpful in addressing the Metro Detroit
Nature Network and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Urban Wildlife Conservation Program goals of
developing develop the next generation of conservationists in urban areas because that is now where
80% of all U.S. citizens live.

INTRODUCTION
In 2016, the Metro Detroit Nature Network (MDNN) was established to work cooperatively among
conservation and outdoor recreational partners to bring conservation to cities and make nature part of
everyday urban life. The vision of the Network is that all people in the metropolitan Detroit region have
access to and actively steward nature and promote ecosystem sustainability. Over 20 partners signed a
partnership agreement in the first four months and it is projected that over 100 partners will eventually join
the Network. Currently the following MDNN organizations will be participating members of this Urban Bird
Treaty: Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, Detroit Zoological Society, Detroit Audubon Society,
City of Detroit, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Oakland County Parks, University of Michigan
Dearborn, The Nature Conservancy, Friends of the Detroit River, International Wildlife Alliance, Six Rivers
Land Conservancy, Michigan Recreation and Park Association, Greening of Detroit, Detroiters Working
for Environmental Justice, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG), and Macomb County
Parks. One of the next steps is to have more organizations, especially those managing land, to sign on
this partnership agreement.
The MDNN is represented by the entire Southeast Michigan Council of Governments (SEMCOG) seven
county area that includes the counties of Wayne, Macomb, Oakland, Livingston, Washtenaw, Monroe,
and St. Clair (Figure 1). For the purpose of this treaty, this area will be referred to as Metro Detroit. It is a
diverse geographical area that has dense urban areas, sprawling suburbs, sparsely populated agricultural
land, and is bordered on the east by the Great Lakes ecosystem from the St. Clair River to western Lake
Erie. According to SEMCOG, there are 4.3 million that live in Metro Detroit and there are almost 200,000
acres of public parkland and conservation land.

6

Figure 1. Metro Detroit Nature Network geographical area.

The MDNN partners support pursuing an Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds designation with
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and developing urban bird conservation plan. Through the MDNN
partnership agreement the partners have made long-term commitments to help protect and conserve
Detroit area birds through the following actions:
•
•
•
•

Habitat conservation and management
Reduce avian hazards
Citizen education and engagement
Species specific management actions

This Metropolitan Detroit Bird Conservation Plan will:
•
•
•

Summarize the Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds Program and Metro Detroit’s
accomplishments to date;
Identify key issues currently facing migratory and resident birds in Metropolitan Detroit; and
Outline high priority actions and “next steps” that Metropolitan Detroit partners will take over the
next five years.

A nomination letter is presented in Appendix A and a letter of support from the City of Detroit is presented
in Appendix B.

METRO DETROIT BIRD COMPOSITION
Introduction
Over 350 species of birds have been observed in the Detroit Metro Area. Some northern breeding
species winter in southeast Michigan, while millions of others utilize the area during spring and fall
migrations. Birds that breed in the Detroit Metro area can be categorized as permanent residents,
migratory species that are here from spring to fall, and nuisance species.
Migratory Species
Situated at the intersection of the Atlantic and Mississippi Flyways, the Metropolitan Detroit area is an
important migration corridor for thousands of raptor, shorebirds, colonial waterbirds, waterfowl, and neotropical species (Figure 2). An estimated three million ducks, geese, swans, and coots migrate annually
through this region. The region contains extensive feeding and resting habitats for waterfowl. For

7

example, over 300,000 diving ducks stop each year to rest and feed on beds of wild celery in the lower
Detroit River during their fall migration from western Canada to the east and south. This corridor has
been recognized for its biodiversity in the North American Waterfowl Management Plan, the United
Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, the Western Hemispheric Shorebird Reserve Network, and
the Biodiversity Investment Area Program of Environment Canada and U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency.

Figure 2. Waterfowl flyways of North America.
The corridor has four “Important Bird Areas” designated by National Audubon Society – St. Clair Flats
(the world's largest freshwater delta) and Harsen’s Island, Lake St. Clair, Detroit River, and the western
Lake Erie basin. The Detroit River supports outstanding migrant and wintering waterfowl and waterbird
concentrations; early winter surveys have recorded high counts of 79,300 Canvasbacks or over 10% of
the estimated global population, over 1,900 Tundra Swans, 1,000 American Black Ducks, 10,000
Mallards, and 3,500 Common Mergansers., Ducks Unlimited has identified Metropolitan Detroit as one of
the top ten metropolitan areas for waterfowl hunting in the U.S.
The lower Detroit River is one of the three best places to monitor fall raptor migrations in the U.S., with 23
species of raptors migrating across the river. To give you a feel of the magnitude of hawk migrations
through the lower Detroit River, dedicated volunteers recorded an astounding 190,121 broad-winged
hawks on September 17, 2011 at Lake Erie Metropark, representing the third highest single-day total
recorded at this site (Stein, 2011).
Many migratory colonial waterbirds nest in throughout the corridor including Black Terns, Forster’s Terns,
and Common Terns, Great Blue Herons and Black-crowned Night-Herons, and Herring and Ring-billed
Gulls, but are only censused every ten years in conjunction with the Great Lakes Decadal Survey. Pointe
Mouillee State Game Area is not only utilized by migratory waterfall, but is an important stop for many
migratory species including a stop-over site for shorebirds as they migrate from their northern breeding
sites to the winter range. It even occasionally supports white pelicans before they start fall migration.
The corridor is also an important site for songbird migration in spring and fall. Belle Isle State Park and
Lake St. Clair Metro Park are filled with warblers, thrushes, and sparrows during migration. Allen
Chartier, a long-term birding expert from Detroit, has recorded over 20 species of warbler in the spring,
including Golden-winged, Hooded, and Prothonotary Warblers. He recently observed on Belle Isle the
first Pileated Woodpecker in Wayne County in more than 100 years. The birding experience is also
excellent in other seasons as evidenced by the following quote from Allen Chartier “One fall day in 2005 I
experienced hundreds each of White-throated Sparrow, Yellow-rumped Warbler, both Kinglets, and
Hermit and Swainson’s Thrushes, many feeding on the abundant food crop in the swamp woods.
Northern Saw-whet Owls also migrate through Belle Isle, and sometimes over-winter in the tangles in the

8

woods.” Many of the other managed lands in the Metro area are utilized by migratory birds in both the
spring and fall. One of the goals of the UBT will be to utilize existing data, such as e-bird, to identify
important lands that can be cooperatively managed for migratory birds.
Metro Detroit Nesting Species
There are many species that utilize urban, suburban, and rural areas during nesting season. Species
such as Robins, Grackles, Cardinals, Downy Woodpeckers, Black-capped Chickadees, and Goldfinches
utilize even the most urbanized habitats. Sharp-shinned and Cooper’s Hawks commonly prey on these
species. The larger suburban and urban areas provide nesting opportunities for many migratory species.
The Great Lakes corridor and the many inland lakes have nesting waterbirds including Black-crowned
Night-Herons, Great Blue Herons, three Tern species, and nesting Bald Eagles.
Additional species have become dependent on human made structures for nesting sites. Purple Martins
almost exclusively depend on martin houses while Barn Swallows utilize manmade structures throughout
the metro area. Eastern Bluebirds, Tree Swallows, and House Wrens use specific nesting boxes.
Chimney Swifts have adapted to nest in masonry chimneys, but as these have disappeared “artificial
chimneys” are being utilized. Both Osprey and Peregrine Falcons have been reintroduced to metro
Detroit by utilizing specific nesting boxers or man-made structures such as cell towers.
Nuisance Species
Native and non-native bird species generally are considered a nuisance species when their populations
increase to the point that it creates human/wildlife conflicts. Native species such as Canada Geese are
found throughout Metro Detroit and create conflict on local lakes, golf courses, sport fields, and public
parks. The non-native Mute Swan population has grown and destroys wetland habitat, endangers native
waterfowl, and can threaten the public on watercraft and near shore. Both of these species are managed
by the Michigan DNR. Other non-native species such as European Starlings and House Sparrows outcompete with native cavity nesting species. Rock Pigeons nest and forage in large flocks leaving
droppings that can create a human health hazard and damage buildings. All of these species have the
potential to create a negative bird opinion to the public.

DEMOGRAPHICS OF SOUTHEAST MICHIGAN AND DETROIT
As of the U.S. 2010 Census, southeast Michigan has a population of 4,704,809 and is projected to remain
steady with a population of 4,646,938 in 2020.
Within southeast Michigan, 68.5% of the population identifies as White, 21.6% identifies as Black, 3.9%
as Hispanic, 3.6% as Asian, 2% Multi-Racial, and 0.4% as Other.
The highest levels of education within southeast Michigan are as follows: 28.5% High School Graduate,
23.2% Some College, 17% Bachelor’s Degree, 12.2% Did not Graduate from High School, 11.5%
Graduate/Professional Degree, and 7.7% Associate Degree.
As of the U.S. 2010 Census, the city of Detroit has a population of 713,862, following the trend of
decreasing population since the city’s population peak in 1950 of 1,849,568. The population is projected
to continue to steadily decrease to 628,000 by 2020.
Historically, the suburbanization after World War II stripped the city of Detroit of much of its population.
Housing discrimination blocked access out of the city for African Americans, which left the city extremely
segregated. Detroit is composed of various ethnic groups with the majority of residents identifying as
Black. The 2010 US census reported the population of Detroit as: 82.2% Black, 7.8% White, 6.8%
Hispanic, 1.7% Multi-Racial, 1% Asian, and 0.5% other.

9

The highest level of education within Detroit are as follows: High School Graduate 34%, 24.7% Some
College/No Degree, Did not graduate high school 23.2%, Bachelor’s Degree 7.2%, Associate Degree
6.3%, and Graduate/Professional Degree 4.6%.
A number of the education and outreach programs included in this agenda aim to reach disadvantaged
youth in the Metro Detroit Area. The Title 1 program provides financial assistance through state
educational agencies to local educational agencies and public schools with high numbers or percentages
of poor children to help ensure that all children meet challenging state academic content and student
academic achievement standards. Title 1, formerly known as Chapter 1, is part of the Elementary and
Secondary Education Act of 1965, and is committed to closing the achievement gap between low-income
and other students. Federal funding is provided to states and school districts for instructional activities
and program improvement. The number of Title 1 students reached by each program within this agenda
is listed below with each relevant education program description.

HABITAT CONSERVATION
Managed Lands
Introduction
The Lake Huron to Lake Erie Corridor lies within the northern limits of the Eastern Deciduous Forest
Region. The Corridor is regarded as part of the “Carolinian Life Zone” because of its link with forest
communities located farther south. Many of the species found here are at the northern boundaries of
their range. The Corridor also is a transition area between the hardwood forests of the east and the
prairies of the west.
The Corridor is made up of the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair and Detroit River, as well as the watersheds
of southwestern Ontario and southeastern Michigan that drain into these large waterways. Water in this
corridor flows from the mouth of Lake Huron through the St. Clair River, Lake St. Clair, the Detroit River,
into Lake Erie. The tributary rivers, creeks, streams and drains in the watersheds connect the surrounding
lands to the Corridor.
SEMCOG 2008 Land Use study identified 212,086 acres of parks, recreation and open space (Figure 3).
These areas have different managers including federal and state agencies, metro park system, county
and local governments, corporations, and universities. These lands are managed for a variety of
purposes, but provide the foundation for habitat restoration, invasive species control, and species
management. An effective management approach requires cooperative projects with shared
management objectives.

10

Figure 3. Parks and conservation lands greater than 200 acres in southeast Michigan (credit:
Southeast Michigan Council of Governments).
11

State Managed Lands
The Michigan Department of Natural Resources manages nearly 12,000 acres of land, including State
Parks (SP), State Recreations Areas (SRA), State Game Areas (SGA), or Wildlife Management Areas
(Table 1). Each of these lands has different missions that include recreation, hunting and fishing, bird
watching, and wildlife conservation. This includes five state parks, six state recreating areas, six state
game areas, and three wildlife areas.
•

Belle Isle SP, Lake Erie SP, Seven Lakes SP, Algonac SP, Wetzel SP

•

Petersburg SGA, Pointe Mouillee SGA, Holly SGA, Bald Mountain SGA, Horseshoe Lake SGA,
Port Huron SGA, Gregory SGA,

•

St Clair Flats Wildlife Area, Dickinson Island, St Johns Marsh Wildlife Area

•

Pinckney SRA, Island Lake SRA, Brighton SRA, Pround Lake SRA, Highland SRA, Pontiac Lake
SRA.

Table 1. Selected examples of conservation and outdoor recreational lands in southeast Michigan.
Organization

Units/Locations

Amount of Land

Huron Clinton
Metropolitan Authority

13 Metroparks

Over 25,000 acres

Michigan Department of
Natural Resources

Erie State Game Area, Sterling State
Park, Pointe Mouillee State Game
Area, Milliken State Park, Belle Isle
State Park, and St. Johns Marsh and
Wet Prairie

11,997 acres

Southeast Michigan
Land Conservancy

19 nature preserves and 18
conservation easements

3,410 acres

Washtenaw County
Parks

12 parks and 23 nature preserves

Over 5,000 acres

Wayne County Parks

Parks and nature areas

Over 5,600 acres

U.S. Fish and Wildlife
Service

Detroit River International Wildlife
Refuge

6,107 acres

Detroit Riverfront
Conservancy

5.5 miles of waterfront greenway trails
and parks

Over 100 acres

University of MichiganDearborn

Rouge River Bird Observatory

290 acres

Community Foundation
for Southeast Michigan

Greenways Initiative

Over 150 miles of greenway trails

Detroit Zoological
Society

Detroit Zoo

125 acres

The Nature Conservancy

Erie Marsh Preserve

2,217 acres

12

Monroe County

Parks

221 acres

Macomb County

Parks, nature areas, and greenspace

9,566 acres

Oakland County

Parks and nature areas

6,800 acres

City of Detroit

Parks

4,900 acres

Federal Managed Lands
Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
Today, the cleanup and recovery of the Detroit River represent one of the single most remarkable
ecological recovery stories in North America. Out of the recovery has come the Detroit River International
Wildlife Refuge that is one of 14 priority urban wildlife refuges in the county charged with bringing
conservation to cities and making nature part of everyday urban life. It represents a new model for
conservation – one that both restores habitats for fish and wildlife in an urban area through innovative
public-private partnerships and that provides a blueprint for bringing conservation to cities across the
nation. It extends along 48 miles of lower Detroit River and western Lake Erie, and focuses on
conserving, protecting, and restoring habitats for 30 species of waterfowl, 113 kinds of fish, and over 300
species of birds. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service currently owns or cooperatively manages 6,107
acres of unique habitats (Table 1) and partners with Michigan Department of Natural Resource on
conservation of 7,897 acres of state-owned land. A Canadian registry of lands now includes 3,797 acres
of Essex Region Conservation Authority lands and 981 acres of City of Windsor lands. In total, 18,782
acres of land in southeast Michigan and southwest Ontario are now being cooperatively managed for
conservation and outdoor recreation for nearly seven million people living within a 45-minute drive. This
critical work is being done to help develop the next generation of conservationists in urban areas because
that is now where 80% of U.S. and Canadian citizens live.
Next Steps:
•
Continue to grow the refuge through public-private partnerships to 25,000 acres in both the U.S.
and Canada in the next ten years.
•
Expand efforts to bring conservation to cities and help develop the next generation of
conservationists.
•
Continue to be a leader on habitat restoration and enhancement through the Cooperative Weed
Management Area.
Contact Person:

, Refuge Manager,

@fws.gov

Humbug Marsh
Michigan’s Only Wetland of International Importance: Following the preservation of Humbug Marsh in
2004, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service spent nearly
three years compiling scientific data on Humbug Marsh that were used as the rationale for obtaining a
Humbug Marsh “Wetland of International Importance” designation under the international Ramsar
Convention. In 2010, Humbug Marsh received this designation from the International Ramsar
Convention. There are over 2,200 such Ramsar designations worldwide, 38 in the United States, and
only one in Michigan – Humbug Marsh. The Ramsar Convention is an international treaty that was
signed in Ramsar, Iran in 1971 that provides a framework for voluntary international protection of
wetlands. Humbug Marsh is considered an internationally important wetland because of its ecological
importance in the Detroit River corridor and the Great Lakes Basin Ecosystem. Indeed, the Michigan
Natural Features Inventory has ranked this community as globally imperiled. It serves as vital habitat for
154 species of birds, along with seven species of reptiles and amphibians, and 37 species of dragonflies
and damselflies. Examples of unique species include: Canada Goose, Wood Duck, Double-crested
Cormorant, Osprey, Bald Eagle, Killdeer, Ring-billed Gull, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Northern Flicker,

13

Warbling Vireo, Tree Swallow, Blue-grey Gnatcatcher, Cedar Waxwing, Yellow Warbler, and Song
Sparrow.
Next Steps:
• Expand citizen science bird surveys.
• Open Humbug Marsh and Refuge Gateway to public use in 2017.
• Co-locate Hawk Migration Association of North America in the Refuge’s Visitor Center in 2017.
Contact person:
,

, Assistant Refuge Manager, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge,
@fws.gov

Local Government Managed Lands
Huron-Clinton Metroparks has 13 regional parks and each county in the Metro Detroit area maintains a
park department. There are additional parks managed by city or township municipal governments. Only
Oakland County Park system has signed the Urban Bird Treaty to date.
Regional Park System Lands
The Huron-Clinton Metroparks consist of 13 parks, covering over 25,000 acres throughout Southeast
Michigan, encompassing Wayne, Oakland, Macomb, Washtenaw and Livingston counties.
Next steps:
• Have HCMA become a partner of the UBT.
• Work with HCMA staff to describe the bird habitats at each park.
• Develop cooperative bird conservation management programs.
County Park Systems
All of the counties in the Metro area have park systems with several counties including Wayne, Oakland,
Washtenaw and Livingston managing a significant acreage of park lands.
Oakland County Parks
The Oakland County Park System includes 13 parks that total 6,743 acres. The park system has worked
with the Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) to identify potential natural areas, many that could
be managed for bird conservation. A total of 3,213 acres are currently under natural resource
management and the park system participates in a number of citizen science programs. See Table 1 for
park description. See Appendix C for more information on Oakland County parks.
Next Steps: Contact HCMA, the remaining six counties and the municipalities with larger park systems
and encourage them to sign the Partnership Agreement for the Metro Detroit Nature Network and to
participate in the UBT and work cooperatively in bird conservation programs.
Non-Governmental Organizations Lands
The Detroit Zoo
The Detroit Zoo is a 125-acre park in a suburban setting. The Zoo has two lakes, numerous water
features, and large open spaces. Unique to the area is a nesting Black-crowned Night-Heron colony of
over 50 pairs that is visible to the visitors and attracts a significant number of Turkey Vultures.
Next Steps:
• Complete nesting survey on Zoo grounds.
Contact person:

,

@dzs.org

14

Other NGO Lands
There are other organizations that manage land in the Metro Detroit area including The Nature
Conservancy, Southeast Michigan Land Conservancy, and Six Rivers Land Conservancy, among others.
The protected lands survey done by SEMCOG found 232 easements and 94 preserves, totaling 21,865
acres of protected lands within the region.
Important Bird Areas
Important Bird Areas (IBAs) is a global initiative of BirdLife International that conserves areas important to
bird conservation. Michigan IBAs are administered by Audubon Great Lakes and includes 103 IBA sites,
seven of which are in Metro Detroit. IBAs provide critical habitat for one or more bird species and can
include public or private land that may or may not be protected. The sites in the metro area include St.
Clair Flats and Harsen’s Island, Lake St. Clair, Detroit River, Western Lake Erie basin, Pinckney State
Recreation Area, and Lake Erie Metropark Hawk. More information on Michigan’s IBAs can be found at
http://www.audubon.org/important-bird-areas/state/michigan.
Contact Person:

;

@audubon.org

Corporation Lands
There are a number of large corporate campuses that contain significant habitat in the metro Detroit area.
Though some companies consider wildlife in their land management decisions, none have signed on as
partner in the UBT.
Next Steps:
• Identify potential corporate partners and determine the importance of their campuses for bird
conservation.
• Have at least three corporations become members of the UBT.
University Lands
There are several universities that have significant tracts of land that have are not UBT partners. These
include Oakland University, Wayne State University, Lawrence Tech, University of Detroit Mercy, and
University of Michigan’s Ann Arbor campus.
University of Michigan Dearborn’s Rouge River Bird Observatory
Rouge River Bird Observatory was established in 1992 to explore an understudied yet increasingly critical
area of research: the importance of urban natural areas to birds. In our rapidly urbanizing world, habitat
fragments in metropolitan areas become more critical to birds. Understanding how birds use them is
essential for conservation. We are the longest-running, full-time urban bird research station in North
America. In 2016, 28 Title 1 students visited the Rouge River Bird Observatory.
Next Steps:
• Secure sustained funding for the Observatory’s ornithologist
• Expand educational programming
Contact Person:

,

@umd.umich.edu

Invasive Species Control
Invasive Vegetation in Urban Natural Areas
Invasive plant species are among the biggest challenges facing our urban natural areas, and hence, the
habitat our native bird populations depend upon. Next to outright conversion of land, invasive species and

15

climate change are generally considered the most important threats to biodiversity. Invasive species play
a significant role in altering the landscape and fundamental ecosystem processes, decreasing
biodiversity, and damaging infrastructure. In an urbanized and fragmented area, invasive species pose a
particularly acute threat to remaining natural habitats. Invasive species generally outcompete native plant
species, and provide less food, cover and nesting value for native birds than native vegetation does.
Species such as reed canarygrass and English and Irish ivies are capable of homogenizing the structure
and biota of habitats, creating biological deserts, which provide few, if any, resources for native birds.
The change in species composition in grasslands and forest understories is decreasing habitat for native
birds as well. The spread of rhizomatous, perennial grasses and understory weeds such as garlic
mustard eliminates bare ground which many native ground-nesting birds require. As mentioned under
“Timing of Construction and Revegetation Projects” above, another issue related to managing invasive
vegetation is how and when the management occurs. Removing invasive species during the nesting
season can be disruptive or even cause nest failure. It is important to plan and implement invasive
species removal to coincide with times best for eradication and to avoid disturbance to nesting birds.
Introduced and invasive birds can out-compete native birds for essential resources such as food and
nesting sites, with aggressive non-native birds such as house sparrows and European starlings often
usurping and/or depredating native bird nests and even killing native competitors. These actions can have
drastic negative effects on native bird populations already stressed by alteration of their historic habitat.
Detroit River-Western Lake Erie Cooperative Weed Management Area
This project is a partnership to more efficiently and effectively treat invasive species, restore coastal
wetlands, and perform research and monitoring to support adaptive management. Partners include:
BASF Corporation, DTE Energy, Ducks Unlimited, Eastern Michigan University, Huron-Clinton
Metropolitan Authority, International Wildlife Refuge Alliance, Michigan Department of Natural Resources,
Monroe Conservation District, Southeast Michigan Council of Governments, Stewardship Network, The
Nature Conservancy in Michigan, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Wildlife Habitat Council, the City of
Monroe, National Park Service, and others. In 2015, a $211,000 grant was awarded from the Michigan
Invasive Species Grant, resulting in surveys of priority invasive plants and treatment of 700 acres of
Phragmites.
Next Steps:
• Seek grant funding to support this effort
• Expand the number of partners
• Ensure strong science component to strengthen the science-policy linkage
Contact person:

, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge,

@fws.gov

Habitat Restoration Efforts
Habitat Loss and Fragmentation
Numerous studies show that habitat loss and fragmentation are the leading cause of bird population
declines. In urban areas, this is especially true as native habitat tends to get destroyed, degraded or
increasingly fragmented with increasing development. These habitat fragments lose important ecological
functional value.
In the SEMCOG region, the rate at which land conversion is occurring in the urban-rural interface is a
huge threat and impact, resulting in the continued loss of quality habitat to development. Conservation
and preservation areas and parks within Metropolitan Detroit and surrounding areas provide sanctuary to
neotropical migratory landbirds for the breeding season, but also during migration as stopover habitat. It
is within these areas that retention of snags and downed wood is most likely. These elements are
essential to many bird species for cover, shelter, food, nesting, roosting, and perching. Yet, they are often
removed by both public and private landowners because of perceived hazards or for aesthetics.

16

Protection and restoration of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, Metroparks and city parks,
creation of new habitats like for common terns and grassland birds, preservation of existing quality
habitats, and increasing habitat connectivity for birds to move safely across the landscape are needed to
ensure birds can successfully use and traverse the urban landscape throughout the year. Backyards of
homes, urban agriculture, and vacant lots can provide some of these important habitats for birds, and
should not be overlooked.
Timing of Construction and Revegetation Projects
For years, the City of Detroit’s Planning Department had only two City Planners on staff. In the last year
and a half, the number of City Planners has grown to 30. As the Planning Department prepares to
address the many infrastructure and parks and recreation needs of the city, it is vital that the areas in
question are assessed prior to project implementation to determine if nesting birds will be impacted. Many
urban activities and projects can potentially impact nesting birds: stream enhancement; re-vegetation;
mowing; construction, removal and maintenance of structures; water-level management; and projects that
include native or non-native invasive vegetation removal. Planning projects to avoid disturbances to birds
by scheduling project activities outside of the nesting season is the most effective way to ensure birds will
not be harmed. Detroit Audubon’s Conservation Committee is working on a mowing schedule, with direct
recommendations to the City for vacant lot maintenance, that will not disturb ground-nesting birds (i.e.
mowing the perimeter or window pane of the vacant lot and doing so only in early Spring and Fall, to
avoid the nesting season).
Six Rivers Land Conservancy
Six Rivers has several citizen science efforts, ranging from participation in the annual butterfly count with
the North American Butterfly Association to training volunteers to do field assessments of property. This
latter effort is the most intensive and returns the most amount of detail. Six Rivers has developed parcel
level land conservation priorities using GIS mapping with data layers that include natural feature, parcel
size, proximity to other protected land and similar attributes. Other conservation professionals are
consulted for insight and guidance, and citizens and communities are consulted to factor in their interests.
Once the priorities have been created and mapped, Six Rivers then recruits and trains volunteers to field
verify the accuracy of the information, ranging from “windshield” surveys to determine if a property
remains undeveloped, to site assessment if the landowner is interested knowing more about the natural
features on their property. This information informs Six Rivers’ ongoing land protection efforts, eliminating
properties that have been developed and providing detail for conservation easements, baseline
documents and funding applications. Examples include providing the detail necessary to complete
applications for Michigan DEQ 319 grant funds, and providing the descriptions of flora, fauna and features
that are part of baseline documents for easements.
These efforts are based on the Huron River Watershed Council’s “Bio Reserve” project. They have been
adapted to the land conservation mission of Six Rivers and replicated in other watersheds we work in,
including most recently serving as a critical component of grant projects in the Clinton and Belle
watersheds that focused on identifying lands most important to protect in order to preserve water quality.
Six Rivers currently has 23 easements totaling 1,705 acres and six preserves totaling 120 acres.
Next Steps:
• Working with Macomb County Planning, Economic Development Corporation, and Ducks Unlimited to
acquire and preserve a 300 acre globally rare mesic flatwoods forested wetland complex to create
Anchor Bay Woods Preserve. This is a critical habitat for both waterfowl and migratory songbirds.
• Secure the remaining funding needed to complete the project.
• Develop a program with MI Science Center which brings kids out to natural areas.
Contact Person:

,

@sixriversrlc.org

Detroit Audubon’s Vacant Land Project

17

Detroit Audubon’s Conservation Committee partnered with Urban Neighborhood Initiatives (UNI) on a
small grant to convert an empty lot in Southwest Detroit into native habitat. Trash was removed, and
invasive species and weeds were pulled, by UNI volunteers. Native grasses and flowers were planted
and an education group led by Detroit Audubon made bird houses that were installed in the lot. Detroit
Audubon’s Conservation Committee wrote a booklet on gardening for birds as part of this partnership with
UNI, which is available on their website. Detroit Audubon has co-hosted bird walks with Urban
Neighborhood Initiative students in the area that circle the restored lot.
The Conservation Committee is also working with the City of Detroit Planning Department and the
Open Spaces Working Group to convert 5 unused city parks to intentional meadows per the City’s 2016
Parks and Recreation Improvement Plan. Ultimately the goal is to replicate this conversion process for
other unused city parks that have also been recommended to become meadows per the Improvement
Plan.
Next Steps:
• Network with Greening of Detroit, UNI, Detroit Future City and City Planners on acquiring access
to city-owned vacant lots and unused parks.
• Create mowing schedule that would reduce impact on breeding birds.
• Acquire new funding to restore these lots to native habitat, and get educational plaques in the lots
to inform the community about the importance of the habitat.
• Add a public program component to inform communities of the importance of being stewards of
these converted vacant lots and lead bird walks in these areas.
• Create a network of volunteers to assist with restoration, education and outreach and monitoring
of the restored lots to ensure garbage dumping and vandalism do not occur.
• Disseminate the booklet on Gardening for Birds more widely.
• Interface with Detroit Future City’s and National Audubon’s national database and tool kits for
restoring native grasslands.
Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org
Detroit Audubon’s Detroit Area Native Grasslands Initiative
In its early stages, this project was established by the Detroit Audubon board of directors in Fall 2015.
Through this initiative, Detroit Audubon in collaboration with other environmental groups promotes the
preservation of, maintenance and expansion of native grasslands habitats in the Detroit metro area.
Detroit Audubon is also embarking on educational programs for schools and youth groups on the
importance of native grasslands. Detroit Audubon held its annual conference at the Belle Isle Nature Zoo
on Nov. 5, 2016 with a major emphasis on bringing together experts and concerned citizens to think and
strategize about how to expand native grasslands in the Detroit area.
Next Steps:
• Expand grassland education program and dissemination of materials to the general public, pubic
officials, and agencies with authority over vacant land.
• Work with city officials and other environmental groups to identify one or more large tracts (500
cares or more) that could be restored to native prairie similar to what our neighbor across the
river, Windsor, Ontario has done at Ojibway Prairie. An interpretive center might eventually be
incorporated as well.
• Have staff and key leaders participate in developing a management plan for key parks like Belle
Isle State Park that keeps key areas in native grasslands in perpetuity.
• Produce a film extolling the virtues of native grasslands using the ring-necked pheasant as an
entry point and symbol—one of Detroit Audubon’s board members is an independent filmmaker
who is committed to making such a film when funding can be found.
• Creating public service announcements about the importance of native grasslands to air on local
radio and television stations, and advertise about the importance of native grasslands on key
billboards around the Detroit area similar to the Michigan Wildlife Council.

18

•

Produce a float extolling the virtues of native grasslands in the Michigan Thanksgiving Parade
which is telecast around the country and the world. Need major funding or a business to sponsor
such a float. Hold a contest for school children to actually submit designs for such a float.

Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org
Open Spaces Working Group
A unique feature of Detroit that is full of potential for habitat creation is its vacant lots. The City of Detroit
has over 24 square miles of vacant open space within city limits. An Open Spaces Working Group, made
up of partners such as Detroit Future City, Greening of Detroit, Detroit Audubon, Keep Growing Detroit,
and others, is working with Detroit City Planners with the hope of seeing an Open Spaces Strategic Plan
come into effect in 2017 and beyond. The Open Spaces Working Group will work together to advocate
for, educate each other about, and advance the vision laid out in the Detroit Future City report Achieving
an Integrated Open Space Network in Detroit. The collaborative effort between non-profits, community
organizations and the City Planning Department, would aim to carefully select land parcels and convert
them into intentional habitat including meadows, grasslands, woodlands or wetlands. Other land uses
proposed within the working group include: stormwater infrastructure, buffers, parklands, greenways, and
production of solar energy and urban agriculture. Still in its early stages, the Open Spaces Working Group
is in the process of determining how best to engage the community and get input from the neighborhoods
that will directly benefit from the conversion of vacant land parcels.
The habitat most likely to benefit from the Open Spaces Strategic Plan will be grasslands, as letting turf
grass ‘go wild’ is the most affordable option for habitat creation, until more funding is obtained for removal
of turf grass and plantings of native grasses and wildflowers. One key component to the success of this
plan is public perception of grasslands as unkempt lots that should be mowed and well-groomed.
Education and outreach will be a necessary aspect of restoration in order to promote stewardship and
long-term success of restored or converted vacant lots. Grasslands may be the most endangered habitat
in North America of which 42 bird species rely.
Next Steps:
• Continue working with partners to create a Community Engagement Plan.
• Establish policy initiatives and positions focused on the creation of an open space network,
addressing immediate and long-term issues.
• Develop and advocate for a decision-making tool to determine where and what type of open
space is appropriated or desired. Educate and inform ourselves and others on open space,
including opportunities and technical information.

Other Habitat Restoration Projects
There have been a number of programs that received federal funding for habitat improvement projects
including two projects coordinated by Friends of the Detroit River restoration of Blue Heron Lagoon on
Belle Isle and Stony Island, a DNR owned island that has a large great blue heron colony. The Nature
Conservancy has been involved in the restoration of oak savannah grasslands at Petersburg State Game
Area.
Next Steps:
• Define scope of these projects and identify any other significant habitat restoration efforts that
have occurred.
• Monitor sites for changes in how birds use the habitats.

Backyards and School Yards for Wildlife

19

Urban and suburban backyards can provide significant habitat for native bird and butterfly species,
especially those adapted to an urban environment. Properly planting yards with native plants can also
provide refueling stations for migratory birds.
Next Steps:
• Detroit Zoo will plant an example of Backyard Habitat on Zoo grounds and install informative
signage for visitors
• Detroit Audubon’s Conservation Committee has written a small booklet on Gardening for Birds,
which will get distributed at Spring events and advertised on online.

HAZARD REDUCTION
Cat Predation
A study published in 2013 by the Smithsonian Conservation Biology Institute and the U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service has found that outdoor cat predation results in the death of 1.3 to 4 billion birds
annually in the U.S., a much larger number than previously estimated. The study showed that outdoor
owned cats still hunted like their unowned counterparts, however, it was clear that unowned cats were
responsible for a majority of the estimated bird deaths (~69%). The feral cat population in Metro Detroit
has been estimated at 657,000 by Petsmart Charities. This population often strains animal control and
animal welfare groups in the area. Educating the public about the new insights into cat-caused bird
deaths may encourage cat owners to leave their pets indoors. Promoting the spaying and neutering of pet
cats and encouraging the spaying and neutering (or removal or containment) of feral cats on one’s
property, would help decrease the population of feral cats and the consequential number of birds they
prey upon.
Next Steps:
• Create pet cat and feral cat predation education program and disseminate materials to the
general public.
Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org

Dogs in Natural Areas
Metropolitan Detroit made national headlines when it was estimated that 50,000 feral dogs roamed the
city streets in 2013. Since then two other surveys have been conducted estimating 3,000 and 7,500 stray
dogs within the city. With such disparate estimates, further surveys of the city are needed. All surveyors
agreed that vacant neighborhoods and buildings provide stray dogs with shelter and areas to breed,
much like stray cats. The demolition of 10,000 additional vacant homes in 2017 should help reduce the
populations of stray dogs and cats within the city. Encouraging people to spay and neuter their dogs, not
abandon their pets, and not tether them outside, would help decrease the stray dog population within the
city.
People take their pet dogs to natural areas as well to run and exercise. While dogs are allowed in some
natural areas on leash, letting a dog run free in land that has been set aside for wildlife is not appropriate.
Dogs in natural areas can harm wildlife through direct predation, disruption of nesting (especially ground
nesting birds), and harassment. Education and outreach and informative signage in natural areas could
help prevent this kind of disturbance.

Public Activity in Sensitive Areas
Many of the most valuable habitats that remain in Metropolitan Detroit are under public ownership. It is
important that public use and access are carefully sited and managed to ensure that habitat values do not
become diminished due to human disturbances and habitat degradation. Many of Metropolitan Detroit’s
parks and recreation departments have developed plans for habitat management and trails. These plans

20

use a set of guiding principles that makes habitat protection and restoration the highest priorities. Many
conservation partners work with neighbors and local schools on stewardship activities to enhance and
restore natural areas. While many of the plans are well thought out, there are sometimes instances
where plans are not adhered to and thus natural area values are lost. Education and support of top-level
management and local area managers would help mitigate this problem.
Climate Change
There is growing scientific evidence that some birds are already responding to the changing climate.
National Audubon Society’s 2014 Climate Change Report used statistical models based on the North
American Breeding Bird Survey and Audubon Christmas Bird Count datasets to assess geographic range
shifts for 588 North American bird species through the end of the century. 314 of these species were
classified as climate-endangered or threatened. In many cases both winter and summer ranges are
reduced or lost entirely. Many of the species projected to disappear or whose ranges might shrink are
those that feed on insects, which are key components of the diets of many of our migratory birds. See
Appendix D for a list of Metro Detroit birds that are projected to be threatened most by Climate Change.
Among the most important things that can be done to prepare and mitigate adverse effects is to protect,
buffer and connect habitats, and help restore resilient ecosystems.
Structural Hazards Communication Tower Collisions
A 2012 study funded in part by the American Bird Conservancy and Defenders of Wildlife estimates avian
mortality at communication towers in the U.S. and Canada to be 6.8 million birds per year. Neotropical
songbirds, which migrate at low elevations and at night, are particularly susceptible to collisions. In an
effort to understand which communication tower characteristics attracted migrating songbirds most, a
Central Michigan University post-doc now FAA Biologist Joelle Gehring, led a study that monitored
communication towers in MI in 2003. With the help of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, this study
discovered that towers with solid lights were most dangerous, compared to towers with non-flashing and
flashing lights. If steady lights were replaced with flashing lights, avian mortality could be reduced by up to
70% nationwide. The Federal Aviation Administration changed their lighting standards for newly
constructed communication towers in 2015. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service recently began to work with
owners and operators of existing towers across Michigan to switch to flashing lights. There are six FCC
registered cell phone towers within the City of Detroit.
Next Steps:
• Contact communication tower owners and encourage them to switch to flashing lights.
• Conduct outreach to community members regarding communication tower-bird collisions.

Window Strikes and Confusion and Mortality from Artificial Lights in buildings six stories or higher.
Collisions with windows have emerged as a significant threat to migratory birds in the U.S. and around
the world. A 2014 study ran a statistical analysis on 23 local studies, and estimated that between 365 and
988 million birds are killed in the U.S. annually by building collisions. Windows deceive the healthiest
individuals as readily as the weakest ones. During the day, birds are confused by reflections of trees,
clouds, and even skyline reflected in building glass, and may fly head-on into it because it appears to be
habitat. At night, it is thought that the lights on tall buildings confuse the navigation systems of birds
unlucky to have such buildings in their flight path. They circle the buildings repeatedly and either die of
exhaustion or by colliding with the illuminated building.
Window strikes are most common among low-rise buildings between four and 11 stories tall, accounting
for 56% of collisions. Neotropical migrants that travel at night are most impacted, likely due to confusion
caused by the artificial lights of these buildings. The 2014 study found that many nationally listed Birds of
Conservation Concern were highly vulnerable to building collisions: Wood Thrush, Canada Warbler, and
Golden-winged Warblers. Black-throated Blue Warblers and Ruby-throated Hummingbirds, while not
Birds of Conservation Concern, are also highly vulnerable to building collisions.
Safe Passage-Great Lakes

21

Endorsed by the Sierra Club, Detroit Audubon’s Safe Passage: Great Lakes project aims to save
thousands (optimistically tens of thousands) of birds each year during night migration by encouraging tall
buildings to turn their lights off during Spring and Fall migration. According to scientists at the Field
Museum in Chicago, avian mortality at these buildings could be reduced 80% if building lights were off.
Turning out those lights will not only spare birds, but money and energy, reducing pollution as well. It can
be a win-win-win situation for the environment, building owners and managers, and the birds. The Detroit
Audubon Society has requested building organizations, government agencies and property owners in
Detroit and surrounding cities to reduce the carnage by turning off lights in tall buildings from 11:00 p.m.
to dawn from the second weekend in March through May and from the second weekend in August
through October.
Former Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm showed her support of this effort by issuing a proclamation
naming “Safe Passage Great Lakes Days” – March 15 through May 31, and August 15 through October
31, where all state buildings must turn off their lights at 6pm. The City of Southfield also wrote a resolution
to encourage building owners to turn off their lights during this sensitive time. Detroit Audubon has been
gratified to receive support also from DTE Energy and Ford Motor Company.
Next Steps:
• Work with Michigan Audubon in the effort to inform people throughout our state of the benefits of
simply turning out lights during the bird migration season.
• Led by Detroit Audubon’s Research Coordinator and Safe Passage Committee, improve our
building monitoring efforts with the help of citizen scientist volunteers, and start a database of
avian mortalities and injuries caused by building collisions.
• Improve our Honor Roll system, so buildings who participate in Safe Passage are better
acknowledged and aware that they have received this honor.
Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org

Bird-Friendly Building Guidelines
Bird populations face many threats including habitat destruction or degradation in wintering, breeding,
and stop-over grounds, however collisions with buildings is one of the more serious man-made mortality
factors. It is estimated that between 100 million and one billion birds die annually in the United States
from bird collisions. Numerous cities including Chicago, New York, and San Francisco have used local
surveys to document the incidents of fatal bird strikes. The surveys address the elements of building
architecture that pose the greatest risks to birds. Detroit Audubon will be continuing its efforts with citizenled bird casualty surveys that cover downtown Detroit, Southfield, and Troy. Washtenaw Safe Passage,
a branch of Washtenaw Audubon, also has a very sophisticated survey program in Ypsilanti and Ann
Arbor. The information collected can then be used in the development of Bird Friendly Building Designs
and to convince owners to turn-off lights during migration.

Next Steps:
• Collaborate with American Bird Conservancy (ABC) to host a one-day certified continuing
education seminar with local architects to address incorporating bird friendly features into building
design.
• Consult with other cities that have implemented bird friendly programs.
• Host a one-day workshop with local architects, light engineers, city planners, developers, etc. to
discuss the challenges of implementing bird friendly design.
• Detroit and Washtenaw Audubon will work with ABC to distribute their materials and information
to architects and architects in training about bird safe building design.
• Metro Detroit Nature Network and Detroit Audubon will collaborate with Fatal Light Awareness
Program (FLAP) Canada and ABC to circulate their materials to homeowners for reducing bird
strikes in residential buildings.

22

•
•

Seek endorsement of bird friendly building design measures from local governmental agencies.
The Detroit Zoological Society will demonstrate the types of building designs that can be used to
reduce hazards. Interpretive signage will accompany these demonstration buildings to inform
homeowners.

Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org,
, Detroit Zoo,
@dzs.org
Invasive Vegetation in Urban Natural Areas
Invasive plant species are among the biggest challenges facing our urban natural areas, and hence, the
habitat our native bird populations depend upon. Next to outright conversion of land, invasive species and
climate change are generally considered the most important threats to biodiversity. Invasive species play
a significant role in altering the landscape and fundamental ecosystem processes, decreasing
biodiversity, and damaging infrastructure. In an urbanized and fragmented area, invasive species pose a
particularly acute threat to remaining natural habitats. Invasive species generally outcompete native plant
species, and provide less food, cover and nesting value for native birds than native vegetation does.
Species such as reed canarygrass and English and Irish ivies are capable of homogenizing the structure
and biota of habitats, creating biological deserts, which provide few, if any, resources for native birds.
The change in species composition in grasslands and forest understories is decreasing habitat for native
birds as well. The spread of rhizomatous, perennial grasses and understory weeds such as garlic
mustard eliminates bare ground which many native ground-nesting birds require. As mentioned under
“Timing of Construction and Revegetation Projects” above, another issue related to managing invasive
vegetation is how and when the management occurs. Removing invasive species during the nesting
season can be disruptive or even cause nest failure. It is important to plan and implement invasive
species removal to coincide with times best for eradication and to avoid disturbance to nesting birds.
Introduced and invasive birds can out-compete native birds for essential resources such as food and
nesting sites, with aggressive non-native birds such as house sparrows and European starlings often
usurping and/or depredating native bird nests and even killing native competitors. These actions can have
drastic negative effects on native bird populations already stressed by alteration of their historic habitat.
Pesticide Reduction
Pesticides can have negative environmental impacts, including those that adversely affect, and even
kill, birds.
Next Steps:
• Work on education to help minimize use and promote best management practices
• Promote household hazardous collection programs
• Expand awareness in partnerships with environmental and conservation organizations

CITIZEN EDUCATION AND ENGAGEMENT
Introduction
Whether it’s counting birds, listening for frogs, spotting salamanders, watching butterflies or dragonflies,
or identifying aquatic invertebrates collected from sediments— there is an increasing and ardent need for
citizens to participate in science (Hartig 2014). Further, natural resource and environmental management
agencies are frequently challenged with limited resources to properly collect and analyze data to
adequately inform management decision-making. Therefore, need for and interest in citizen science is
growing.
Citizen science is scientific research and monitoring conducted, in whole or in part, by amateur or
nonprofessional scientists (Hartig 2014). One easy way to think of it is as public participation in scientific
research and monitoring. Formally, citizen science has been defined as the systematic collection and
analysis of data, development of technology, testing of natural phenomena, and the dissemination of
these activities by researchers on a primarily advocational basis. For example, a fundamental premise of
citizen science is that anyone who watches birds, from backyards to city streets to remote forests, can

23

help make a contribution of our scientific understanding and management of birds, their habits, and their
habitats.
But it is not just scientists that benefit. Being an amateur scientist can be very rewarding as volunteers
gain hands-on experience with scientific methods, learn about ecological principles and practices, make a
contribution of to the growth and expansion of scientific knowledge, often help solve environmental and
natural resource problems, and network with others who have a common interest) . Many volunteers
welcome the opportunity to just be outside and participate in fieldwork.
Citizen Science Programs
Detroit River Hawk Watch
Each fall it is amazing to watch hundreds of thousands of raptors migrate across the lower Detroit River
from their eastern Canadian breeding grounds and head south to their wintering grounds, some as far
away as South America. Raptors use thermals to varying degrees to aid in their migration to save energy
for their long journey. Thermals are rising columns of warm air that are caused by the heating of the
earth by the sun. A raptor will literally ride up on a thermal, set its wings, and glide downward to the next
thermal using little energy. Thermals do not form over water, so as these raptors head south and come
upon lakes Erie and Ontario, they have one of two choices: fly east around Lake Ontario or fly west
around Lake Erie. Those that move west follow the northern shore of Lake Erie until they reach the mouth
of the Detroit River. Turning back is not an option, so they are forced to cross the 4-mile river mouth near
Holiday Beach in southwest Ontario to southeast Michigan in the vicinity of Lake Erie Metropark, Humbug
Marsh Unit of the Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, and Pointe Mouillee State Game Area. Lake
Erie Metropark is the primary location for the Detroit River Hawk Watch program and hosts an annual
Hawk Fest that attracts more than 5,000 birders. These raptors lose altitude as they cross the lower
Detroit River, making it easier for them to be observed. To give you a feel of the magnitude of hawk
migrations through the lower river, dedicated volunteers recorded an astounding 190,121 broad-winged
hawks on September 17, 2011 at Lake Erie Metropark, representing the third highest single-day total
recorded at this site.
This predictable hawk migration phenomenon provides U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) with a
unique opportunity to involve birders in the systematic collection of annual raptor migration data. The
USFWS, its friends group called the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance, and avid birders undertake
Detroit River Hawk Watch on an annual basis to: systematically count hawks during their migration
season; review and analyze the data; prepare summary reports; and disseminate the data and findings to
both managers and the public. A paid counter is employed to work with volunteer counters to collect the
data. USFWS oversees the Detroit River Hawk Watch monitoring effort, including quality
assurance/quality control and report preparation. A Detroit River Hawk Watch Advisory Committee has
also been established to provide citizen advice on all aspects of Detroit River Hawk Watch. Such hawk
watch data are invaluable in tracking raptor migrations and providing an early warning signal for changes
in trends. Further, these data are also entered into the Hawk Migration Association of North America
database to help understand raptor population status and trends on a continental scale.
Website: www.drhawkwatch.org/
Contact person:

,

@journeys.travel

Detroit Audubon Society’s Citizen Science Programs
Metroparks Grassland Bird Surveys
Detroit Audubon volunteers who are experienced birders do these surveys once per week for 45-minutes
to an hour (early mornings) for four weeks in the month of June providing base-line data and later data to
evaluate landscape management program success. Participants walk a transect through a piece of
grassland habitat and record bird observations (sighting, songs, fly-overs) at set stops along the transect.

24

For the last two years, we have been doing surveys in Oakwoods Metropark, in partnership with the
Huron-Clinton Metroparks.
Next Steps:
• Continue with monitoring efforts at Oakwoods Metropark.
• Expand grassland monitoring efforts to Lake St. Clair Metropark.
Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org
Maheras-Gentry Park Restoration – Fall Migration Stopover Survey
Detroit Audubon is a subcontractor on a Greening of Detroit Grant to do bird surveys in this park in
November 2016 prior to a project to create native grassland habitat. Monitoring efforts will be conducted
at a nearby control site, Alfred Brush Ford Park, that is not to undergo restoration. Restoration is
scheduled for early Spring 2017. We could use volunteers who are experienced birders to help with this
survey.
Next Steps:
• Continue monitoring the park after restoration is complete and compare our dataset with that of
the control site.
• There is potential to apply for other restoration grants with Greening of Detroit with breeding bird
survey data as our priority. We have looked at other grassland restoration sites as well as
shoreline restoration sites along the Detroit River.
Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org

Chimney Swift Surveys
Detroit Audubon recently hired a Research Coordinator to help make this program and other Citizen
Science projects more sustainable. Due to the population decline of Chimney Swifts and reduction of
accessible chimneys for nesting and roosting, Detroit Audubon has made Chimney Swifts an area of
focus for their population monitoring efforts. Detroit Audubon has partnered with the Swift Sanctuary in
Farmington, MI which has a chimney with what we think is the highest concentration of Chimney Swifts in
a roost in North America. The swifts using this chimney have been counted every morning by Larry
Schwitters since 2015, who set up a LiveCam from his remote location in Seattle. The live video feed,
known as the Stephen Stackpole Memorial Chimney Swift Live Cam can be viewed on Detroit Audubon’s
website in real time from April through October.
Next Steps:
• Expand current Chimney Swift monitoring efforts during the migration and breeding seasons.
• Recruit a network of volunteers to monitor historical roosting sites and to search for new roosting
sites.
• Ultimately, catalyze the formation of a Chimney Swift Monitoring Network throughout the species
entire range.
Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org

Detroit Audubon Christmas Bird Count
Nationally, the Christmas Bird Count is in 117th year in 2016. Volunteers spend the day from before
sunrise (for owls) to sunset counting both species and numbers of each species as part of this network of
counts throughout North America. This count circle (all circles are 15 miles in diameter) is in what is now

25

mostly urban and suburbanized areas of Oakland County. We need experienced birders to volunteer.
This count is usually held the third Sunday of December.
Next Steps:
• Recruit network of volunteers to ensure all routes are covered each year.
• For less experienced volunteers, we’d like to provide training in bird identification over the course
of 1-2 weeks, ending in a bird ID quiz.
Contact Person:
Coordinator,

,

,

@gmail.com,
@detroitaudubon.org

, Detroit Audubon Research

Rockwood Christmas Bird Count
This is a similar count to the “Detroit Audubon Christmas Bird Count”, but in the Downriver area with the
center of the circle in Rockwood. This circle includes Grosse Ile, Trenton and Elizabeth Park, Oakwoods
Metropark, Lake Erie Metropark, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge, and Point Mouillee. Usually
held the closest Saturday to Christmas, but because of the way the holiday falls in some years, it can be
on weekdays between Christmas and New Year’s Day. Detroit Audubon manages the Grosse Ile route
and will be managing the International Wildlife Refuge route in 2016 and beyond, as it requires a permit
which often deters volunteers. Detroit Audubon hopes to recruit more volunteers this year to help with
local Christmas Bird Counts that need routes covered. This count also features a program for two hours
on Grosse Ile where we invite the public to join the count to see what it is like.
Next Steps:
• Recruit network of volunteers to ensure all routes are covered each year.
• For less experienced volunteers, we’d like to provide training in bird identification over the course
of 1-2 weeks, ending in a bird ID quiz.
Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org

,

Project Feeder Watch in February
Detroit Audubon has been advertising this joint program with Cornell Lab of Ornithology and National
Audubon for people to count species and species abundance at their feeders or a feeder at a nature
center for one day in February. Detroit Audubon is in the process of creating partnerships with school
groups in the area to provide bird feeders and seed (donated to us by Wild Birds Unlimited) to so that
classrooms can participate in data collection. The project will be highlighted to members in Detroit
Audubon’s Winter Newsletter and their website.
Next Steps:
• We hope to have a more organized effort in the future in the Detroit Metro Area, including a public
program at the Belle Isle Nature Zoo.
• We hope to include more classrooms in this project.
Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org

,

Great Backyard Bird Count
Similar to Project Feeder Watch, Detroit Audubon has been promoting this joint program between Cornell
Lab of Ornithology and the National Audubon Society that encourages people to go birding in their
backyards for as little as 15 minutes on one or more days of the four-day event in February and report
th
their sightings online at birdcount.org. Nationally, the Great Backyard Bird Count is in its 20 year and
the data collected has highlighted changes in bird movements from population irruptions as well as warm
weather patterns.
Next Steps:

26

•
•

Promote and encourage Detroit Audubon members and the general public to participate in this
bird count.
We hope to include this in a Public Program at the Belle Isle Nature Zoo.

Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org

,

e-Bird
Detroit Audubon field trip leaders enter bird sightings on our field trips into this international database, and
we encourage our members to do this after every birding trip they do on their own. Additionally, we enter
bird sightings from our days in the field monitoring Black Terns and grassland birds.
Next Steps:
• Link Detroit Audubon’s eBird profile, complete with all birding lists, to our website and Facebook
page.
• Consistently use eBird at all birding events and days in the field.
Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org

Education and Outreach
Detroit Audubon’s Environmental Education Programs:
Young Birder’s Program
Detroit Audubon has all season programs specifically for young birders between the ages of 6 and 18.
These programs are aimed at helping young bird enthusiasts expand their knowledge of birds and
birding, and allow them to explore career pathways. All youths are encouraged to attend. Detroit Audubon
provides field guides and binoculars to borrow at Young Birder Events. We provide an annual scholarship
to 1-2 lucky young birders to attend a birding camp for one week.
Next Steps:
• We hope to be able to offer more scholarships to our young birders each year.
• We are planning on expanding to a younger age group in creating the Young Birder’s Nestling
Program.
Contact Person:
.

, Detroit Audubon Program Coordinator,

@detroitaudubon.org or

Detroit Audubon Birding Field Trips
Detroit Audubon leads approximately 30 field trips in and around the Metro Detroit Area providing
binoculars, field guides, and a birding guide to help with bird identification. Birding field trips are designed
and planned for both beginning and expert birders.
Next Steps:
• Create a network of experienced birder volunteers to help lead these field trips and take our
members and other Detroit Metro Area citizens to new birding hotspots.
• Continue these field trips into 2017 and beyond.
• Continue to introduce birding to new audiences.
Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org
Belle Isle Nature Zoo Summer Day Camp

27

Detroit Audubon partnered with the Belle Isle Nature Zoo for Summer 2015 and Summer 2016 providing
environmental education programs focused on birds for the Summer Nature Day Camp. This weekly
summer camp has an innovative curriculum designed to meet the social and developmental needs of
young campers while giving them enriching experiences in nature. Students investigated the plants and
wildlife on the island, while discovering how they can care for the natural world around them. Belle Isle
Nature Zoo Summer Nature Camp is divided into two age groups of students: The Grasshoppers at 5 to 7
years old, and the Dragonflies at 8 to 12 years old. Programming focused on mindfulness in nature; with
every student group, they were asked to slow down and pay attention to the birds around them. 160 Title
1 students participated in this Summer Camp.
Next Steps:
• Continue education programs at the Summer Nature Day Camp in 2017 and beyond.
Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org
Classroom visits
Detroit Audubon visits classrooms providing environmental education programs focused on birds. Past
visits have included lessons on nature sketching, lessons on bird watching basics, programming around
preserved museum specimens, Project FeederWatch, and sensory lessons for special needs classrooms.
Detroit Audubon has reached approximately 320 students through classroom visits during 2016, 129 of
which were Title 1 students.
Next Steps:
• Continue to make connections with Detroit Public Schools and teachers that are interested in our
programs.
• Create our own curriculum kits for classroom visits that we can use multiple times.
Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org
Children’s Hospital of Michigan
Detroit Audubon is working with the Child Life Services of the Children’s Hospital of Michigan to provide
environmental education to young patients. Programming examples include: common birds of Michigan,
Owl identification, and beak adaptations.
Next Steps:
• Continue relationship with Children’s Hospital and expand on our lesson plans to increase
number of visits made to hospital each year.
Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org
Detroit Children’s Museum Bird Education and General Environmental Education Kits: The Detroit
Children’s Museum is owned and operated by the Detroit Public Community Schools District for the
benefit of the students in the district. The museum has an astounding collection of preserved and
taxidermied bird specimens that are loaned to a large number of science classes per year. Detroit
Audubon is partnering with the museum to develop educational materials to accompany each kit.
Next Steps:
• Secure the services of a graphic designer or graphic design class to design the format for the
educational materials to accompany these kits containing preserved bird specimens.
• Develop new kits to be disseminated to Detroit Public Community School District classrooms on
topics including: citizen science, the importance of native grasslands, and the biodiversity of the
Detroit River.

28

•

Hold programs on birds at the museum as long as outside funding can be found to support them
(the museum’s operational funds restrict it to serving Title I students, but it can go beyond that if
other funding is available to support those efforts. With external funding kits could also be
provided to home schoolers and others.

Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org
Public Education Talks
Detroit Audubon gives free talks to the general public at nature centers and public libraries. Topics have
included: gardening for birds, beginning bird watching, and Black Tern research.
Next Steps:
• Detroit Audubon will be holding monthly programs starting in 2017 with a wider range of topics at
the Belle Isle Nature Zoo.
• We hope to continue our public programs completed in 2016 into 2017 and beyond.
Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org
Detroit Audubon Symposium
Detroit Audubon hosted a 2016 Annual Symposium with the theme “Detroit: Take a Walk on its Wild
Side.” This was a free series of talks at the Belle Isle Nature Zoo. Some of the topics included: Common
Tern Conservation, Kirtland’s Warbler Sky Art, Peregrine Falcons in Detroit, Making Detroit a Green City,
Grassland Restoration, and the Comeback of Bald Eagles in Detroit. Over 60 people attended the
Symposium.
Next Steps:
• We are already planning to have our next Annual Symposium in April of 2017 with an array of
speakers from local organizations and non-profits.
Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org
RiverWalk Programs
Detroit Audubon and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service provide seasonal programs along Detroit’s RiverWalk
at the birding station at Gabriel Richard Park. Programs are designed to assist youth and adults in
engaging with local wildlife. In 2016, 30 Title 1 students participated in this program. Winter programs
focus on waterfowl that winter on the Detroit River, spring and fall programs focus on migration, and
summer programs focus on nesting birds.
Next Steps:
• We hope to increase our number of walks at Gabriel Richard Park and have some education and
outreach about the area to increase its use by the general public.
Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org
Chimney Swift Programs
The Swift Sanctuary of Farmington and Detroit Audubon have partnered to provide programming around
roosting Chimney Swifts. We organize two Swift Night Out events each year (spring and fall) at the Swift
Sanctuary, with the fall one actually a mini-festival complete with educational programming, swift
observation, live music, and refreshments. This event made the front page of the Detroit Free Press in
September 2016 and had over 500 people in attendance. Over 14,000 chimney swifts used the chimney
for roosting each night of that two-night program in late September. Programming included a
presentation on Chimney Swift natural history and a live projection of the birds inside the chimney. The

29

live feed is underwritten by Detroit Audubon in partnership with the Swift Sanctuary in Farmington Hills,
MI and hosted on Detroit Audubon’s website from April to October. In Spring 2016, there was also a
program around Chimney Swift natural history to welcome the Swifts back as they migrated up from their
wintering grounds in South America.

Next Steps:
• We’d like to organize an annual Swift Night Out event and other programs surrounding Chimney
Swifts for the general public and school groups.
• We are planning to write Chimney Swift education programs to be used by educators in
combination with the live webcam.
Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org
Maheras Gentry Park Education Programing
The Greening of Detroit and Detroit Audubon are working together to provide educational programming in
conjunction with formal bird monitoring and restoration at Maheras Gentry. Students will learn about bird
monitoring, how to identify local birds, and data collection with a focus on seeing themselves as
scientists. Past environmental programming at Maheras Gentry with a class of 60 Title 1 students focused
how litter affects local wildlife, particularly birds, and a litter cleanup before restoration began.
Next Steps:
• Restoration work will begin early Spring 2017.
• Students will return as citizen scientists for a day of education and data collection in Summer of
2017.
• Monitoring work will occur in November of 2017.
• Potential for another grant with Greening of Detroit to restore the shoreline of Maheras Gentry,
which would include educational programs on shorebirds, shoreline habitat, and the importance
of conserving both.
Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org
Pheasant Watch
In 2016, Detroit Audubon began a new program celebrating Ring-necked Pheasants and grassland
habitat in Detroit. Currently, elementary science programming is being developed around Pheasants and
Grasslands. Programming will be available for local teachers to implement and Detroit Audubon will visit
classrooms for Pheasant and Grassland lessons. Planning for a Pheasant walk is also underway. As part
of Pheasant Watch, Detroit Audubon is compiling a list of local Ring-necked Pheasant sightings and
creating an online art gallery for Pheasant themed art.
Next Steps:
• Complete program development around Pheasants and Grasslands.
• Connect with teachers and public schools that might be interested in our programs.
• Host local Pheasant bird walks in the Metro Detroit Area.
Contact Person:
, Detroit Audubon Research Coordinator,
@detroitaudubon.org
Birding Opportunities and Public Events
ByWays to FlyWays Bird Driving Tour Map

30

Over 350 species of birds have been identified in the Detroit River corridor by Detroit Audubon and other
eBird users. With knowledge of these many exceptional birding opportunities in the Detroit-Windsor
metropolitan area, Metropolitan Affairs Coalition, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Michigan Sea Grant,
the International Wildlife Refuge Alliance, Wild Birds Unlimited, and the National Fish and Wildlife
Foundation developed a unique “Byways to Flyways” bird driving tour map to promote 27 exceptional
birding sites throughout the Windsor-Detroit metropolitan area (Figure 4). Included within these sites are
many Important Bird Areas (IBAs) identified by National Audubon Society, two “Wetlands of International
Importance” identified under the international Ramsar Convention (i.e., Point Pelee National Park in
Ontario and Humbug Marsh in Michigan), several Christmas Bird Count sites, and two internationally
recognized hawk watch sites. These world-class birding opportunities are helping to reconnect many
watershed residents to stopover habitats right in there backyard.

31

Figure 4. Byways to Flyways bird driving tour map (map credit: Metropolitan Affairs Coalition).
Hawkfest
This is a two-day event for the whole family focusing on birds of prey (eagles, hawks, falcons, and owls)
and the annual fall hawk migration over Lake Erie Metropark. It is a great weekend held each September
that is focused on birds of prey. It is a great weekend of games, crafts, guest speakers, and fun. Live
birds of prey are also on hand. Typically, 4000 people attend Hawkfest.
International Migratory Bird Day

32

This event recognizes the movement of nearly 350 species of migratory birds from their wintering grounds
in South and Central America, Mexico, and the Caribbean to nesting habitats in North America, and is
celebrated on the second Saturday in May at three locations in Canada’s Priority Natural Area and two
DRIWR locations.
World Wetlands Day
Observed worldwide each year on February 2nd to celebrate in importance of wetlands, including
“Wetlands of International Importance” designated under the Ramsar Convention in 1971 (over 1,200
high school students annually participate in a wetlands’ program and exposition at Gibraltar Carlson High
School). This event has a major emphasis on how birds use wetlands.
National Wildlife Refuge Week
This event is celebrated each October to showcase the premier land conservation network in the world
that includes Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge (a major emphasis is on birds).
Pointe Mouillee Waterfowl Festival
Held annually at Point Mouillee State Game Area on the first weekend after Labor Day and right before
duck hunting season opens – it is an annual tradition that showcases duck hunters’ abilities, celebrates
wildlife art and hunting equipment, and attracts 8,000-10,000 enthusiasts.
Eagle Tours
An annual tradition where participants watch more than 100 Bald Eagles that overwinter at DTE Energy’s
Monroe Power Plant in Monroe, Michigan.
Detroit River Front Bird Walks
The Detroit River Front Conservancy, the Detroit Audubon Society, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
and Detroit Parks and Recreation opening a unique birding spot along the Detroit RiverWalk at Gabriel
Richard Park in downtown Detroit. This unique birding spot has four wildlife spotting scopes (one
universally-accessible) and an interpretive panel identifying common birds like Canvasback Ducks,
Peregrine Falcons, Bald Eagles, Canada Geese, and Mallard Ducks that can be seen from this location,
and educational programming that is held four times per year to promote an urban birding experience
available right in our backyard.
Contact Person:
@fws.gov

, Visitor Services Manager, Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge.

Erie Shores Birding Association
Erie Shores Birding Association of Monroe, Michigan, was organized in September of 1986 for the
purpose of promoting the observation and study of birds and other related wildlife, their environment and
their conservation. This Association offers an opportunity to share experiences and enjoy the company of
others who have an interest in bird life. Its members include all levels of expertise - from the backyard
birder to world-traveled experts.
Next Steps:
• Expand field trip opportunities.
• Work in partnership with the Metro Detroit Nature Network to achieve a coordinated educational
effort.
Contact Person:

,

@sbcglobal.net

SPECIES SPECIFIC PROJECTS
Common Tern Monitoring and Management
Common Terns (COTE) naturally nest on gravel bars, beaches, and islands. In Michigan, they nest on
an-made structures including protection piers, man-made islands, and other structures. In many cases

33

they are susceptible to habitat degradation, predators, weather events, and human disturbance. In
southeast Michigan, they nest in several locations on the Detroit River and Lake St. Clair including Belle
Isle, both Grosse Isle protection piers, and one of the lighthouses in the St. Clair Flats. This project will
be coordinated by the Detroit Zoological Society (DZS) and include cooperation with the Detroit River
International Wildlife Refuge (DRIWR) and the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR).
Efforts to improve monitor and improve breeding success will vary by site and include:
•
Belle Isle – This site is located on the Detroit Water and Sewage water intake protection
peninsula on the eastern edge of the island. The location of a historic nesting COTE colony that
numbered in the hundreds, but was abandoned in the early 1960s when the gravel nesting area was
replaced with grass and vegetation became established throughout the site. DZS, DRIWR, and
Detroit Water and Sewerage Department restored the site in 2009 to encourage common terns to nest
in this location (Figure 5). Sound systems and decoys were used to attract terns and the site was
visited in 2010, nesting occurred in 2011, and the first chick fledged in 2012. Low numbers of birds
use the site and it needs annual habitat management and predator control.

Before

After

Figure 5. Common Tern habitat restoration on Belle Isle.
•

Grosse Isle – There are two colonies of terns located on the protection piers at both of the island’s
bridges. The county bridge site has had habitat work and monitoring by DRIWR staff, but recently
succession and high water levels has reduced the use of this site by common terns. Due to bridge
operations and vulnerability to predators, this is not an ideal nesting location. Discussions will occur to
determine if any habitat management should occur on this site, or if vegetation should be allowed to
grow making the site inhospitable for terns. If that is the case, it is expected that the terns would be
displaced to other sites such as Belle Isle or even the new nesting location at Stony Island.
The second Grosse Isle colony is located at the toll bridge. This site is privately owned and
inaccessible. It is recommended that the Metro Detroit Nature Network work with the bridge company
to monitor the site two or three times each nesting season.

•

South Channel Lights – The most northern Metro-Detroit COTE colony is located on the southern of
two light houses in the St. Clair Flats (Figure 6). These decommissioned light houses are owned and
managed by the non-profit Save Our South Channel Lights (SOSCL). Both lights were in disrepair
before SOSCL assumed ownership and the protection area had eroded away. SOSCL restored the
protection walls which included land area suitable for COTE. It is not known when this site was
colonized by terns, but its use was discovered in 2011. The site was visited in 2012 and there were
about 60 nesting COTE pairs between the two houses. Detroit Zoological Society and SOSCL began
managing the front house for terns in late 2012 including vegetation removal and bi-weekly monitoring.
All nesting shifted to the front house and it has had continued vegetation management and monitoring
since. Detroit Zoological Society and SOSCL will be adding additional improvements to the site
including adding a gravel base, removing hazards, and continued vegetation management.

34

Figure 6. Common Tern colony in the St. Clair Flats.
•

Stony Island – This island is owned by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and is
undergoing habitat restoration in 2016 and 2017. The Friends of the Detroit River has received Great
Lakes Restoration Initiative funding through NOAA for the restoration effort and this project includes
adding several shoals to reduce erosion on the island. Several of these shoals have been designed to
provide suitable nesting habitat for common terns and once work is completed in 2018 Detroit
Zoological Society will work with the DNR to determine if the use of decoys and sound system should
be employed to help attract terns. The DZS has committed to monitor this site several times each
nesting season.

Figure 7. Stony Island north shoal restoration.
Next Steps:
• Continue monitoring Common Terns on Belle Isle.
• Complete Restoration of Stony Island.
Contact Person:

,

@dzs.org

Osprey Monitoring and Management

35

The Michigan DNR partnered with the Detroit Zoological Society and Huron Clinton Metropark Authority to
introduce osprey to Southeast Michigan (Figure 8). This program began with the relocation of six osprey
chicks from nests in northern Michigan to Kensington Metro Park in 1988. For the next nine years, up to
six chicks were hacked annually at either Kensington or Stoney Creek Metro Park. Osprey migrate to
South or Central America and return to nest two to three years after their hatch year (Figure 9). The first
hacked osprey returned to the nesting tower in 2001 and the first recorded nesting happened the next
year. The Metro Detroit population has continued to increase, utilizing not only nesting platforms but cell
towers. There were at least 39 recorded nests in 2016.

Figure 8. Osprey nesting tower.
The citizen volunteers that assisted with the hacking program formed a non-profit organization, Michigan
Osprey (http://michiganosprey.org), to continue monitoring the Osprey once they started nesting in the
Metro area. This group monitors the success of each known nest and investigates reports of new nests.
They work with the Michigan DNR to band chicks and coordinate with the local cell towers and service
companies to access chicks nesting on the towers. Since 2013, they have been funding and coordinating
the placement of satellite telemetry units on Osprey chicks to track the Osprey migratory routes, identify
stopover sites and determine feeding areas during migration. They are also work on educational
outreach to schools and the public.

36

Figure 9. Osprey migration to South America.
Next Steps:
• Compile long-term trend data on Osprey and make them publicly-accessible.
• Work in partnerships to continue to utilize technology to monitor Osprey.
• Recruit and train volunteers to support Osprey.
Contact Person:

,

@michigan.gov

Peregrine Falcon Monitoring and Management
During the 1960s the United States Peregrine Falcon population declined precipitously due to pesticide
use. The shells of Peregrine Falcon eggs became extremely fragile because adult birds had accumulated
DDT, a pesticide that interfered with calcium metabolism. By 1968, there was no known successful
Peregrine nesting east of the Mississippi River.
In the 1980s, several Midwest cities, including Michigan, began creating Peregrine Falcon Restoration
Plans. After approving these plans, captive chicks from breeders were raised in hacking boxes, with
minimal human contact, and once fledging occurred the young birds were left to survive on their own
(Figure 10). In 1986, the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) began hacking peregrine
falcon chicks in downtown Grand Rapids. In 1987, the program was expanded to Detroit’s Guardian
Building and that year, five Peregrine chicks were hacked. In in 1988 seven chicks were hacked. In 1992
a pair of wild Peregrines nested on the Book Building, however, the eggs laid were on a ledge that
flooded, and the eggs failed to hatch. A nesting box was installed, and on what would have been the
hatching date, two “foster” chicks (from a breeder) were introduced to pair. They successfully raised and
fledged from the Book Building.
Since 1993, there has been continued successful nesting of wild Peregrines in Detroit at several sites
including the Book Building, and the Fisher Building. Once successful wild nesting occurred, the program
focus shifted from hacking chicks, to focusing on safe and secure nesting and fledging sites. This often

37

Figure 10. Peregrine Falcon hacking box.
meant working in close cooperation with building managers to have nesting boxes or trays placed on the
buildings, while the nest sites were actively monitored for nesting activity.
When the chicks reach18-22 days old, they can be safely banded for future identification and tracking.
Media is often invited to attend the bandings to help spread the word about peregrine recovery and to
give the building managers credit for their assistance. Two specific examples stand out as excellent
examples of partnerships and media.
The Michigan Metro Girl Scouts had an active peregrine nest outside of one of their offices on the Fisher
Building. Each year the Girl Scouts would have some lessons about peregrines as they would earn a
badge requirement. They would select few of the scouts to be present at the banding event and were
able to see the birds up-close. Always the media would be there to record the event often talking with the
girl Scouts. What a thrill for the girls.
Another example occurred in 2003, at the former Campbell Ewald Building (now General Motors Tech
Center building) in Warren. Video cameras were in placed in strategic, non-obtrusive locations, and video
of the active nest was livestreamed into Warren classrooms where teachers could use the footage for
class instruction.
The original MDNR goal was to have 10 successful nesting pairs of Peregrine Falcons by the year 2000.
It was thought that southeast Michigan and specifically the Metro-Detroit area, could sustain perhaps
three pairs. We learned that Peregrines actually had smaller territories than what was originally thought.
Currently, Detroit has 5 successful nesting sites. The Metro- Detroit Tri-County area has an additional 5
successful nesting sites, with 8 more sites in the general SE Michigan area (including Flint, Ann Arbor
and Monroe County). It is phenomenal that a Federally Endangered species would go from no
successful nests to 17 successful sites in the backyard of the most populated portion of the state.

38

While the 2000 goal was met, Peregrines are still on the Michigan Endangered Species list. To assist in
further recovery, securing safe nesting and fledging sites is still a top priority. Informed observations are
a key in this effort. Timing banding events for each location requires many observations. These events,
with the media attention they get, bring greater education and awareness to a valued resource.
Another key element in the success of the program has been in handling sick or injured Peregrines.
When adult or young falcons occasionally get injured or sick, rehabilitation is a key. The Detroit
Zoological Park and raptor rehabilitator Dave Hogan have been essential in assisting with rehabilitation
and subsequent releases of sick or injured peregrines. The scope or handling this program has
increased over the years. Informed observers help with making efficient, quick actions for recovery in
these cases.
Next Steps:
• There is a need to train and inform existing volunteers where they occur, and to expand the
number of volunteers at sites where there are not sufficient “eyes”. This can be done in several
ways, and will need a widening of collaborative efforts with other organizations. An example
would be to coordinate with a local school.
• A Peregrine Falcon education program is being developed for students in the tri-county area
(Macomb, Oakland and Wayne Counties).
• Monitoring during the 2017 nest season.
Contact person:
, Southeast Michigan Peregrine Falcon Coordinator, Michigan
Department of Natural Resources,
@yahoo.com
Black Tern Monitoring
Detroit Audubon has sustained a working partnership with National Audubon, MI Department of Natural
Resources, the Detroit Zoo, and the Fish and Wildlife Service since 2013 on a monitoring effort of the
Black Tern in St. Clair Flats (Figure 11). A Species of Special Concern for the state of Michigan, the Black
Tern has seen steady population declines over the last 50 years. At first volunteer-run, this project will
now be spearheaded by Detroit Audubon’s Research Coordinator, who took over the volunteer effort in
2016. Additional volunteers are needed for safety and assistance in data collection. We hope to continue
monitoring the St. Clair Flats colony, the largest remaining colony in MI, into 2017 and beyond. We hope
our findings can determine the causes of the population’s decline and lend managers insights into
strategies that will conserve the remaining population. There is potential for this monitoring project to
expand to other areas where Black Tern colonies have been found in the State of MI.
Detroit Audubon leads education and outreach events on Harsens Island as well as in the metro Detroit
Area regarding the Black Tern project in the form of informative talks and a fundraising cruise that allows
attendees to view the Black Terns from a distance with binoculars.
Next Steps:
•
Continue to improve monitoring efforts in 2017 and beyond with the help of a consistent Staff
member.
•
Work with National Audubon to acquire funding to expand Black Tern monitoring efforts at other
colonies found in the state of MI.
•
Recruit and Train a student volunteers to assist in data collection.

39

Photo by Diane Cheklich

Photo by Diane Cheklich
Figure 11. Black Tern monitoring.

CONCLUSIONS AND TOP PRIORITIES FOR THE NEXT FIVE YEARS
Approximately 47 million people in the United States, 16 years of age and older, observed birds around
their home and on trips in 2011 (Carter 2011). A large majority, 88% or 41.3 million people, observed
birds around the home, while 38% or 17.8 million people, took trips away from home to go bird watching.
Participants averaged 110 days of birding in 2011. In Michigan, Carter (2011) reported that there are
2.015 million birders and that 24% of the state population participated in birding, higher than the national
average of 20%.
The economic benefits of birding to local communities are remarkable. For example, the national
economic benefits of birding visitation to National Wildlife Refuges alone totaled $257 million in 2011
(Carver and Caudill 2013). This is the total monetary value of economic activity generated by birding

40

visits. In turn, this final demand generated $73.9 million in job income and 3,269 jobs (Carver and Caudill
2013).
As noted in the introduction of this Metropolitan Detroit Bird Agenda, one key goal is to identify high
priority actions and “next steps” that can be taken over the next five years to move forward on this
important conservation issue. It is not feasible to move forward on all next steps due to resource
limitations and time constraints. Therefore, the following actions are identified as high priorities over the
next five years:
Habitat loss and fragmentation:
•
•
•
•

Recruiting new partners to the Metro Detroit Nature Network that will participate in the Urban Bird
Treaty as described in this document.
Expand cooperative programs for bird habitat conservation (e.g., creating more stop over habitat
and wildlife corridors, expanding corporate wildlife habitat programs lie Wildlife Habitat Council).
Supporting and expanding green infrastructure programs.
Expanding school yard and backyard habitat projects.

Hazard Reduction:
•
•
•

Expand Safe Passage.
Promote Bird Friendly Bird Design including offering training for architects on bird friendly design.
Coordinate the timing of construction and re-vegetation projects (e.g., mowing schedules, etc.).

Citizen Science Programs:
•
•
•
•
•
•

Compile long-term, citizen science, trend data on peregrine falcon and osprey in southeast
Michigan and broadly disseminate this information to show the value and benefit of such
programs.
Expand peregrine falcon and osprey monitoring through citizen science to ensure long-term
sustainability of these programs.
Expand black tern and grassland bird monitoring programs under the leadership of Detroit
Audubon.
Expanding participation in Christmas Bird Counts.
Expanding backyard feeder watch program.
Expanding monitoring under the Safe Passage Program.

To help recruit new partners and volunteers for this important bird conservation work the Metro Detroit
Nature Network will convene an Urban Bird Summit within one year. This Urban Bird Summit will review
progress on key issues, recruit new partners, and to help identify and seek small grant funding to support
the above projects. This important Bird Agenda work will also be helpful in addressing the Metro Detroit
Nature Network and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Urban Wildlife Conservation Program goals of
developing develop the next generation of conservationists in urban areas because that is now where
80% of all U.S. citizens live.
Finally, this important work of the Metropolitan Detroit Bird Agenda will be guided by the philosophy of
adaptive management where assessments are made, priorities set, and actions taken in an iterative
fashion for continuous improvement. This will also help ensure long-term sustainability of partner
collaborations that will be critical to achieving our common bird conservation goals.
Literature Cited
Carver, E. 2011. Birding in the United States: A Demographic and Economic Analysis. U.S. Fish and
Wildlife Service. Arlington, Virginia.

41

Carver, E. and J. Caudill. 2013. Banking on Nature. The Economic Benefits to Local Communities of
National Wildlife Refuge Visitation. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Washington, DC
Hartig, J.H. 2014. Bringing Conservation to Cities: Lessons from Building the Detroit River International
Wildlife Refuge. Ecovision World Monograph Series, Aquatic Ecosystem Health and Management
Society, Burlington, Ontario, Canada.
Loss, R. Scott, Will, T., Loss, S., Marra, P. 2014 Bird–building collisions in the United States: Estimates of
annual mortality and species vulnerability The Condor 116 (1), 8-23
National Audubon Society. 2015. Audubon’s Birds and Climate Change Report: A Primer for
Practitioners. National Audubon Society, New York. Contributors: Gary Langham, Justin Schuetz,
Canadan Soyken, Chad Wilsey, Tom Auer, Geoff LeBaron, Connie Sanchez, Trish Distler. Version 1.3.
Loss S.R. et al. 2012 The impact of free-ranging domestic cats on wildlife of the United States. Natural
Communications 4:1396 doi: 10.1038/ncomms2380
Longcore, Travis et al. 2012 An Estimate of Avian Mortality at Communication Towers in the United
States and Canada Ed. Martin Krkosek. PLoS ONE 7.4:e34025. Web source: 5 Jan. 2017.

42

Appendix A -

Letter to USFWS from the Metro Detroit Nature Network

43

44

45

Appendix B - Support

letter from the City of Detroit for the Metropolitan Detroit Bird Agenda

46

Appendix C - Oakland County Parks

County Park

Acreage

Habitat Note

Addison Oaks

140

Catalpa Oaks
Glen Oaks

24
122

Groveland Oaks

361

Highland Oaks

302

Independence
Oaks

1286

Lyon Oaks

1041

Orion Oaks

916

Red Oaks

141

Rose Oaks

640

Springfield Oaks

333

Waterford Oaks

199

46% of the park is identified as potential
natural area by MNFI, including open
space, natural areas and wetlands in
the headwaters of the Clinton River
watershed
Open space in an urban area
Woodlands along west boundary and
south of the creek at the north
boundary. No-mow areas filter and slow
rainwater before it enters the creek.
22% of the park is identified as potential
natural area by MNFI; including natural
areas that can be enjoyed from the
park’s trail system
45% of the park is identified as potential
natural area by MNFI; including rolling
hills, wetlands and old pastures in the
headwaters of the Shiawassee River
71% of the park is identified as potential
natural area by MNFI; including
ecologically significant wetlands and
natural areas within the headwaters of
the Clinton River watershed
46% of the park is identified as potential
natural area by MNFI; including 800
acres of environmentally sensitive
wetlands in the headwaters of the
Huron River watershed
36% of the park is identified as potential
natural area by MNFI; including open
space and natural areas in the Clinton
River watershed
36% of the park is identified as potential
natural area by MNFI; including wooded
areas surrounding the Red Oaks Nature
Center
84% of the park is identified as potential
natural area by MNFI; including gently
rolling open meadows and wooded
uplands, valuable wetlands and
frontage on several glacial lakes
15% of the park is identified as potential
natural area by MNFI; including
extensive wetlands and upland complex
within the Clinton River watershed; park
also contains a demonstration area for
stormwater and water quality best
management practices
15% of the park is identified as potential
natural area by MNFI; including

47

Citizen Science
Programs
Grassland Bird
Survey, NestWatch,
Christmas Bird
Count

NestWatch

Grassland Bird
Survey, NestWatch

Grassland Bird
Survey, Feeder
Watch, NestWatch,
Christmas Bird
Count, Annual
NestWatch

Grassland Bird
Survey, NestWatch,
Christmas Bird
Count

Grassland Bird
Survey

NestWatch

White Lake Oaks

238

extensive wetlands and upland complex
within the Clinton River watershed; park
also contains a demonstration area for
stormwater and water quality best
management practices
33% of the park is identified as potential
natural area by MNFI; including natural
areas along the boundary; golf course
also incorporates no-mow areas that
filter and slow rainwater before it enters
the creek

48

Appendix D - National Audubon Climate Change Report: Data Summary for Michigan Species

Bird Names

Summer Winter
Range
Range
Lost
Lost

Bird Names

Summer Winter
Range
Range
Lost
Lost

Black-and-white Warbler
Mniotilta varia

84%

46%

Red-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta canadensis

82%

42%

58%

Wood Thrush
Hylocichla mustelina

82%

46%

30%

Red-breasted Merganser
Mergus serrator

82%

51%

Bobolink
Dolichonyx oryzivorus

80%

Brown Creeper
Certhia americana

79%

20%

White-breasted Nuthatch
Sitta carolinensis

79%

36%

65%

Bufflehead
Bucephala albeola

79%

42%

92%

44%

Bank Swallow
Riparia riparia

79%

American Redstart
Setophaga ruticilla

90%

26%

Hairy Woodpecker
Picoides villosus

78%

30%

Veery
Catharus fuscescens

90%

Ruffed Grouse
Bonasa umbellus

77%

46%

Purple Finch
Haemorhous purpureus

89%

Common Redpoll
Acanthis flammea

77%

38%

Chestnut-sided Warbler
Setophaga pensylvanica

88%

Mallard
Anas platyrhynchos

75%

9%

Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Sphyrapicus varius

88%

3%

Hermit Thrush
Catharus guttatus

74%

31%

Pine Grosbeak
Pinicola enucleator

87%

37%

Bald Eagle
Haliaeetus leucocephalus

74%

58%

Northern Harrier
Circus cyaneus

86%

5%

White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis

74%

19%

Bohemian Waxwing
Bombycilla garrulus

100%

Blackburnian Warbler
Setophaga fusca

100%

Evening Grosbeak
Coccothraustes vespertinus

98%

Black-throated Green Warbler
Setophaga virens

98%

Mourning Warbler
Geothlypis philadelphia

96%

Nashville Warbler
Oreothlypis ruficapilla

95%

Scarlet Tanager
Piranga olivacea

94%

Hooded Merganser
Lophodytes cucullatus

92%

Magnolia Warbler
Setophaga magnolia

52%

35%

59%

49

Bird Names

Summer Winter
Range
Range
Lost
Lost

Common Goldeneye
Bucephala clangula

61%

35%

American Kestrel
Falco sparverius

72%

2%

Tree Swallow
Tachycineta bicolor

61%

57%

Common Merganser
Mergus merganser

72%

39%

Pine Siskin
Spinus pinus

60%

42%

Ring-billed Gull
Larus delawarensis

71%

32%

Common Loon
Gavia immer

56%

75%

Golden-crowned Kinglet
Regulus satrapa

70%

17%

Wild Turkey
Meleagris gallopavo

49%

87%

Swamp Sparrow
Melospiza georgiana

69%

17%

Herring Gull
Larus argentatus

38%

56%

Ovenbird
Seiurus aurocapilla

67%

75%

Baltimore Oriole
Icterus galbula

25%

68%

American Black Duck
Anas rubripes

63%

64%

Least Flycatcher
Empidonax minimus

61%

93%

50

Appendix E - 7County Regional Species List (eBird observations)

Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Northern Bobwhite
Indian Peafowl (Domestic type)
Ring-necked Pheasant
Ruffed Grouse
Wild Turkey
Red-throated Loon
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Eared Grebe
Western Grebe
Neotropic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
Magnificent Frigatebird
Lesser Frigatebird
Northern Gannet
Anhinga
American White Pelican
Brown Pelican
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Glossy Ibis
White Ibis
White-faced Ibis
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture

Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Greater White-fronted Goose
Graylag Goose (Domestic type)
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Brant
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
Muscovy Duck (Domestic type)
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Mallard (Domestic type)
Blue-winged Teal
Cinnamon Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Tufted Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
King Eider
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye

51

Osprey
Golden Eagle
Mississippi Kite
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Northern Goshawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Swainson's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Yellow Rail
King Rail
Virginia Rail
Sora
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Whooping Crane
Sandhill Crane
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-Plover
Snowy Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Piping Plover
Killdeer
Upland Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Long-billed Curlew
Hudsonian Godwit
Marbled Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Red Knot
Ruff
Stilt Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
Sanderling
Dunlin

Purple Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
American Woodcock
Wilson's Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Red Phalarope
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Willet
Lesser Yellowlegs
Pomarine Jaeger
Parasitic Jaeger
Long-tailed Jaeger
Ancient Murrelet
Black-legged Kittiwake
Sabine's Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Black-headed Gull
Little Gull
Laughing Gull
Franklin's Gull
Heermann's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Slaty-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull

52

Least Tern
Gull-billed Tern
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Common Tern
Arctic Tern
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Barn Owl
Eastern Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Snowy Owl
Barred Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Common Nighthawk
Chuck-will's-widow
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Gyrfalcon
Peregrine Falcon
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Acadian Flycatcher

Alder Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Loggerhead Shrike
Northern Shrike
White-eyed Vireo
Bell's Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Cave Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Boreal Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Winter Wren
Sedge Wren
Marsh Wren
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird

53

Mountain Bluebird
Townsend's Solitaire
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
White Wagtail
American Pipit
Bohemian Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Ovenbird
Worm-eating Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Virginia's Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Kirtland's Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Northern Parula

Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Bachman's Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Le Conte's Sparrow
Nelson's Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Green-tailed Towhee
Spotted Towhee
Eastern Towhee

54

Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Western Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Painted Bunting
Dickcissel
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Eastern Meadowlark
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird

Orchard Oriole
Bullock's Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
Pine Grosbeak
House Finch
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Common Redpoll
Hoary Redpoll
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
European Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak
House Sparrow

55

Appendix E cont… - By County Species’ Lists (eBird Observations)

Northern Bobwhite
Ring-necked Pheasant
Wild Turkey
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Eared Grebe
Lesser Frigatebird
Northern Gannet
Double-crested Cormorant
Anhinga
American White Pelican
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Glossy Ibis
White-faced Ibis
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Golden Eagle
Mississippi Kite
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Northern Goshawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Swainson's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk

Wayne County Species List
Black-bellied Whistling-Duck
Greater White-fronted Goose
Graylag Goose (Domestic type)
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Brant
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
King Eider
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck

56

Rough-legged Hawk
Yellow Rail
King Rail
Virginia Rail
Sora
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
American Avocet
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Upland Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Long-billed Curlew
Hudsonian Godwit
Marbled Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Red Knot
Stilt Sandpiper
Sanderling
Dunlin
Purple Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
American Woodcock
Wilson's Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Willet
Lesser Yellowlegs

Pomarine Jaeger
Parasitic Jaeger
Long-tailed Jaeger
Ancient Murrelet
Black-legged Kittiwake
Bonaparte's Gull
Little Gull
Franklin's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Slaty-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Gull-billed Tern
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Common Tern
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Eastern Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Snowy Owl
Barred Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Common Nighthawk
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker

57

Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Gyrfalcon
Peregrine Falcon
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Acadian Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Scissor-tailed Flycatcher
Northern Shrike
White-eyed Vireo
Bell's Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Cave Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Boreal Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch

White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Winter Wren
Sedge Wren
Marsh Wren
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
American Pipit
Bohemian Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Ovenbird
Worm-eating Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Virginia's Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
Mourning Warbler

58

Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Kirtland's Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Bachman's Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Golden-crowned Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow

Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Green-tailed Towhee
Eastern Towhee
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Dickcissel
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Eastern Meadowlark
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Pine Grosbeak
House Finch
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Common Redpoll
Hoary Redpoll
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
European Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak
House Sparrow

59

Macomb County Species List
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
Muscovy Duck (Domestic type)
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Cinnamon Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Northern Bobwhite
Ring-necked Pheasant
Ruffed Grouse
Wild Turkey
Red-throated Loon

Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Eared Grebe
Magnificent Frigatebird
Double-crested Cormorant
American White Pelican
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Golden Eagle
Mississippi Kite
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Northern Goshawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Virginia Rail
Sora
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Whooping Crane
American Avocet
Black-bellied Plover

60

American Golden-Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Piping Plover
Killdeer
Upland Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Marbled Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Red Knot
Stilt Sandpiper
Sanderling
Dunlin
Purple Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
American Woodcock
Wilson's Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Red Phalarope
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Willet
Lesser Yellowlegs
Parasitic Jaeger
Sabine's Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Little Gull
Laughing Gull
Franklin's Gull
Heermann's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull

Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Common Tern
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Eastern Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Snowy Owl
Barred Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Common Nighthawk
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Gyrfalcon
Peregrine Falcon
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher

61

Acadian Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Northern Shrike
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Winter Wren
Sedge Wren
Marsh Wren
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Mountain Bluebird
Townsend's Solitaire
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush

Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
American Pipit
Bohemian Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Ovenbird
Worm-eating Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Kirtland's Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler

62

Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Grasshopper Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Nelson's Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Dickcissel
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird

Brewer's Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Gray-crowned Rosy-Finch
Pine Grosbeak
House Finch
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Common Redpoll
Hoary Redpoll
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak
House Sparrow

63

Oakland County Species List
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
Muscovy Duck (Domestic type)
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Northern Bobwhite
Indian Peafowl (Domestic type)
Ring-necked Pheasant
Ruffed Grouse
Wild Turkey
Common Loon

Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Eared Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
American White Pelican
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Golden Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Northern Goshawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Virginia Rail
Sora
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
American Avocet
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Upland Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Ruddy Turnstone

64

Stilt Sandpiper
Sanderling
Dunlin
Baird's Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
American Woodcock
Red-necked Phalarope
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Bonaparte's Gull
Franklin's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Common Tern
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Eastern Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Snowy Owl
Barred Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl

Northern Saw-whet Owl
Common Nighthawk
Chuck-will's-widow
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Acadian Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Northern Shrike
White-eyed Vireo
Bell's Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Northern Rough-winged
Swallow
Purple Martin

65

Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Winter Wren
Sedge Wren
Marsh Wren
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
American Pipit
Bohemian Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Ovenbird
Worm-eating Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler

Prothonotary Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Grasshopper Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow

66

Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Green-tailed Towhee
Eastern Towhee
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Painted Bunting
Dickcissel
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Pine Grosbeak
House Finch
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Common Redpoll
Hoary Redpoll
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak
House Sparrow

67

Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Eared Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
American White Pelican
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Little Blue Heron
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Golden Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Northern Goshawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Virginia Rail
Sora
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Marbled Godwit
Stilt Sandpiper
Sanderling
Dunlin
Baird's Sandpiper

Livingston County Species List
Greater White-fronted Goose
Graylag Goose (Domestic type)
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
Gadwall
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Mallard (Domestic type)
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Northern Bobwhite
Ring-necked Pheasant
Ruffed Grouse
Wild Turkey
Red-throated Loon
Pacific Loon

68

Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
American Woodcock
Wilson's Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Lesser Yellowlegs
Bonaparte's Gull
Franklin's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Common Tern
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Eastern Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Snowy Owl
Barred Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Common Nighthawk
Chuck-will's-widow

Eastern Whip-poor-will
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
White-eared Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Acadian Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Northern Shrike
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow

69

Cliff Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Winter Wren
Sedge Wren
Marsh Wren
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Townsend's Solitaire
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
American Pipit
Bohemian Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Ovenbird
Worm-eating Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler

Nashville Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Grasshopper Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow

70

Spotted Towhee
Eastern Towhee
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Dickcissel
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Eastern Meadowlark
Rusty Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Bullock's Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Pine Grosbeak
House Finch
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Common Redpoll
Hoary Redpoll
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
European Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak
House Sparrow

71

Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Double-crested Cormorant
Anhinga
American White Pelican
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
White-faced Ibis
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Golden Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Northern Goshawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
Virginia Rail
Sora
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-Plover
Semipalmated Plover

Washtenaw County Species List
Greater White-fronted Goose
Graylag Goose (Domestic type)
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Mallard (Domestic type)
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Northern Bobwhite
Ring-necked Pheasant
Ruffed Grouse
Wild Turkey
Red-throated Loon

72

Killdeer
Upland Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Hudsonian Godwit
Marbled Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Ruff
Stilt Sandpiper
Sanderling
Dunlin
Baird's Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
American Woodcock
Wilson's Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Red Phalarope
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Willet
Lesser Yellowlegs
Sabine's Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Laughing Gull
Franklin's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Slaty-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull

Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Common Tern
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Barn Owl
Eastern Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Snowy Owl
Barred Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Long-eared/Short-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Common Nighthawk
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Rufous Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Peregrine Falcon
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Acadian Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe

73

Great Crested Flycatcher
Western Kingbird
Eastern Kingbird
Loggerhead Shrike
Northern Shrike
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Boreal Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Winter Wren
Sedge Wren
Marsh Wren
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin

Varied Thrush
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
American Pipit
Bohemian Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Ovenbird
Worm-eating Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Kirtland's Warbler
Cape May Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler

74

Yellow-throated Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Gray Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Grasshopper Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Nelson's Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Western Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Dickcissel
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Eastern Meadowlark
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Common Grackle

Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Common Redpoll
Hoary Redpoll
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak
House Sparrow

75

Northern Bobwhite
Ring-necked Pheasant
Wild Turkey
Red-throated Loon
Pacific Loon
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Eared Grebe
Northern Gannet
Double-crested Cormorant
American White Pelican
Brown Pelican
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Little Blue Heron
Tricolored Heron
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
White Ibis
Glossy Ibis
White-faced Ibis
Black Vulture
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Golden Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Northern Goshawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Swainson's Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk

Monroe County Species List
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Brant
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Mallard (Domestic type)
Blue-winged Teal
Cinnamon Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
King Eider
Common Eider
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck

76

Rough-legged Hawk
Yellow Rail
King Rail
Virginia Rail
Sora
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
Black-necked Stilt
American Avocet
Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-Plover
Snowy Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Piping Plover
Killdeer
Upland Sandpiper
Whimbrel
Hudsonian Godwit
Marbled Godwit
Ruddy Turnstone
Red Knot
Ruff
Stilt Sandpiper
Curlew Sandpiper
Sanderling
Dunlin
Purple Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Buff-breasted Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Western Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
American Woodcock
Wilson's Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope

Red Phalarope
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Willet
Lesser Yellowlegs
Parasitic Jaeger
Black-legged Kittiwake
Bonaparte's Gull
Black-headed Gull
Little Gull
Laughing Gull
Franklin's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull
Great Black-backed Gull
Least Tern
Gull-billed Tern
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Common Tern
Arctic Tern
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Barn Owl
Eastern Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Snowy Owl
Barred Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Common Nighthawk
Eastern Whip-poor-will

77

Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Gyrfalcon
Peregrine Falcon
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Acadian Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe
Great Crested Flycatcher
Western Kingbird
Eastern Kingbird
Loggerhead Shrike
Northern Shrike
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow

Cliff Swallow
Cave Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
House Wren
Winter Wren
Sedge Wren
Marsh Wren
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Mountain Bluebird
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Varied Thrush
Gray Catbird
Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
White Wagtail
American Pipit
Cedar Waxwing
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Ovenbird
Worm-eating Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler

78

Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Kentucky Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler
Wilson's Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Bachman's Sparrow
Grasshopper Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
Le Conte's Sparrow
Nelson's Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Lark Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow

White-throated Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Blue Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Dickcissel
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Western Meadowlark
Eastern Meadowlark
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
House Finch
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Common Redpoll
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
House Sparrow

79

Ring-necked Pheasant
Ruffed Grouse
Wild Turkey
Red-throated Loon
Common Loon
Pied-billed Grebe
Horned Grebe
Red-necked Grebe
Eared Grebe
Western Grebe
Neotropic Cormorant
Double-crested Cormorant
American White Pelican
American Bittern
Least Bittern
Great Blue Heron
Great Egret
Snowy Egret
Cattle Egret
Green Heron
Black-crowned Night-Heron
White Ibis
Turkey Vulture
Osprey
Golden Eagle
Northern Harrier
Sharp-shinned Hawk
Cooper's Hawk
Northern Goshawk
Bald Eagle
Red-shouldered Hawk
Broad-winged Hawk
Red-tailed Hawk
Rough-legged Hawk
King Rail
Virginia Rail
Sora
Common Gallinule
American Coot
Sandhill Crane
American Avocet

St. Clair County Species List
Greater White-fronted Goose
Snow Goose
Ross's Goose
Brant
Cackling Goose
Canada Goose
Mute Swan
Trumpeter Swan
Tundra Swan
Wood Duck
Gadwall
Eurasian Wigeon
American Wigeon
American Black Duck
Mallard
Mallard (Domestic type)
Blue-winged Teal
Northern Shoveler
Northern Pintail
Green-winged Teal
Canvasback
Redhead
Ring-necked Duck
Tufted Duck
Greater Scaup
Lesser Scaup
King Eider
Harlequin Duck
Surf Scoter
White-winged Scoter
Black Scoter
Long-tailed Duck
Bufflehead
Common Goldeneye
Barrow's Goldeneye
Hooded Merganser
Common Merganser
Red-breasted Merganser
Ruddy Duck
Northern Bobwhite

80

Black-bellied Plover
American Golden-Plover
Semipalmated Plover
Killdeer
Upland Sandpiper
Ruddy Turnstone
Stilt Sandpiper
Sanderling
Dunlin
Purple Sandpiper
Baird's Sandpiper
Least Sandpiper
White-rumped Sandpiper
Pectoral Sandpiper
Semipalmated Sandpiper
Short-billed Dowitcher
Long-billed Dowitcher
Wilson's Snipe
American Woodcock
Wilson's Phalarope
Red-necked Phalarope
Red Phalarope
Spotted Sandpiper
Solitary Sandpiper
Greater Yellowlegs
Willet
Lesser Yellowlegs
Pomarine Jaeger
Parasitic Jaeger
Black-legged Kittiwake
Sabine's Gull
Bonaparte's Gull
Little Gull
Franklin's Gull
Ring-billed Gull
California Gull
Herring Gull
Thayer's Gull
Iceland Gull
Lesser Black-backed Gull
Glaucous Gull

Great Black-backed Gull
Caspian Tern
Black Tern
Common Tern
Arctic Tern
Forster's Tern
Rock Pigeon
Mourning Dove
Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Black-billed Cuckoo
Eastern Screech-Owl
Great Horned Owl
Snowy Owl
Barred Owl
Long-eared Owl
Short-eared Owl
Northern Saw-whet Owl
Common Nighthawk
Eastern Whip-poor-will
Chimney Swift
Ruby-throated Hummingbird
Belted Kingfisher
Red-headed Woodpecker
Red-bellied Woodpecker
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker
Downy Woodpecker
Hairy Woodpecker
Northern Flicker
Pileated Woodpecker
American Kestrel
Merlin
Gyrfalcon
Peregrine Falcon
Olive-sided Flycatcher
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher
Acadian Flycatcher
Alder Flycatcher
Willow Flycatcher
Least Flycatcher
Eastern Phoebe

81

Great Crested Flycatcher
Eastern Kingbird
Northern Shrike
White-eyed Vireo
Yellow-throated Vireo
Blue-headed Vireo
Philadelphia Vireo
Warbling Vireo
Red-eyed Vireo
Blue Jay
American Crow
Horned Lark
Northern Rough-winged Swallow
Purple Martin
Tree Swallow
Bank Swallow
Barn Swallow
Cliff Swallow
Black-capped Chickadee
Tufted Titmouse
Red-breasted Nuthatch
White-breasted Nuthatch
Brown Creeper
Rock Wren
House Wren
Winter Wren
Sedge Wren
Marsh Wren
Carolina Wren
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher
Golden-crowned Kinglet
Ruby-crowned Kinglet
Eastern Bluebird
Mountain Bluebird
Veery
Gray-cheeked Thrush
Swainson's Thrush
Hermit Thrush
Wood Thrush
American Robin
Gray Catbird

Brown Thrasher
Northern Mockingbird
European Starling
American Pipit
Bohemian Waxwing
Cedar Waxwing
Lapland Longspur
Snow Bunting
Ovenbird
Worm-eating Warbler
Louisiana Waterthrush
Northern Waterthrush
Golden-winged Warbler
Blue-winged Warbler
Black-and-white Warbler
Prothonotary Warbler
Tennessee Warbler
Orange-crowned Warbler
Nashville Warbler
Connecticut Warbler
Mourning Warbler
Common Yellowthroat
Hooded Warbler
American Redstart
Cape May Warbler
Cerulean Warbler
Northern Parula
Magnolia Warbler
Bay-breasted Warbler
Blackburnian Warbler
Yellow Warbler
Chestnut-sided Warbler
Blackpoll Warbler
Black-throated Blue Warbler
Palm Warbler
Pine Warbler
Yellow-rumped Warbler
Yellow-throated Warbler
Prairie Warbler
Black-throated Green Warbler
Canada Warbler

82

Wilson's Warbler
Yellow-breasted Chat
Grasshopper Sparrow
Henslow's Sparrow
American Tree Sparrow
Chipping Sparrow
Clay-colored Sparrow
Field Sparrow
Fox Sparrow
Dark-eyed Junco
White-crowned Sparrow
Harris's Sparrow
White-throated Sparrow
Vesper Sparrow
Savannah Sparrow
Song Sparrow
Lincoln's Sparrow
Swamp Sparrow
Eastern Towhee
Summer Tanager
Scarlet Tanager
Northern Cardinal
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
Indigo Bunting
Dickcissel
Bobolink
Red-winged Blackbird
Eastern Meadowlark
Yellow-headed Blackbird
Rusty Blackbird
Brewer's Blackbird
Common Grackle
Brown-headed Cowbird
Orchard Oriole
Baltimore Oriole
Pine Grosbeak
House Finch
Purple Finch
Red Crossbill
White-winged Crossbill
Common Redpoll

Hoary Redpoll
Pine Siskin
American Goldfinch
Evening Grosbeak
House Sparrow

83