Belle Isle Birding page updated

I have just added substantial text to the Belle Isle Birding page, covering where, when, and how to bird the island. I have also uploaded a minor update to the Bird Checklist (as of January 31, 2020). Check it all out by clicking on the Belle Isle Birding link above.

Fall 2019 Bird Banding Report

I have just posted the complete, detailed report for the fall 2019 bird banding season at Lake St. Clair Metropark. You can access it by clicking on the "Bird Banding Reports" link from the "menu" above.

July Trip Report Uploaded

In July this year, Nancy and I celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary by taking a road trip to Glacier National Park in Montana, the South Hills in Idaho, and Yellowstone and Grand Teton National Parks in Wyoming. I did not post updates in real time because of the time needed to download and sort through hundreds of photos each day. Instead, I have created a PDF document that can be accessed on the new Trip Reports tab above.

Also, you can click here to access that page directly.

There are also a couple other recent trip reports on this page, and it is hoped that many more will be added over time.

New Belle Isle Birding page

I have just uploaded a page with information and resources about birding on Belle Isle, Detroit, Michigan. Click the Belle Isle Birding link at the top of this page. It is not yet complete, and will be updated with more birding information in the coming weeks.

Fall 2019 Bird Banding Totals - Lake St. Clair Metropark

The fall bird banding season came to a close on Saturday, November 2. Highlights and details of the season can be found by clicking on the Bird Banding Blog link above. The contents of the Bird Banding Blog page will be moved to an archive page (not yet set up) at the end of each year, and will then be accessible via links. Presented below are the overall totals for the fall 2019 bird banding season at Lake St. Clair Metropark, Macomb County, Michigan.

The station was open on 23 days from August 4- November 2, for a total of 146.00 hours, and 1981.25 net hours. A total of 1432 birds of 74 species was banded this fall, plus 57 individuals returning from previous years. A more complete report will be compiled over the next couple of months and will be posted to the Bird Banding Reports page accessible via the link above.

Fall 2019 Banding Totals (number in parentheses is number of returns)

Green Heron - 5
Ruby-throated Hummingbird - 65
Yellow-bellied Sapsucker - 1
Downy Woodpecker - 7 (1)
Hairy Woodpecker - 1
Northern Flicker - 2 (1)
Eastern Wood-Pewee - 5
Yellow-bellied Flycatcher - 7
Alder Flycatcher - 1
Willow Flycatcher - 2
"Traill's" Flycatcher - 8
Least Flycatcher - 8
Eastern Phoebe - 15
Eastern Kingbird - 1
Blue-headed Vireo - 4
Warbling Vireo - 25 (3)
Philadelphia Vireo - 2
Red-eyed Vireo - 12
Blue Jay - 5
Black-capped Chickadee - 8 (9)
Tufted Titmouse - 1 (2)
White-breasted Nuthatch - 2
Brown Creeper - 10
Carolina Wren - 2
House Wren - 12
Winter Wren - 7
Marsh Wren - 14
Golden-crowned Kinglet - 37
Ruby-crowned Kinglet - 121
Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - 1
Veery - 2
Gray-cheeked Thrush - 18
Swainson's Thrush - 84
Hermit Thrush - 106
Wood Thrush - 2
American Robin - 36 (1)
Gray Catbird - 26
European Starling - 2
Cedar Waxwing - 1
Tennessee Warbler - 5
Nashville Warbler - 13
Yellow Warbler - 84 (5)
Chestnut-sided Warbler - 4
Magnolia Warbler - 47
Cape May Warbler - 2
Black-throated Blue Warbler - 9
Yellow-rumped Warbler - 35
Black-throated Green Warbler - 2
Palm Warbler - 7
Bay-breasted Warbler - 10
Blackpoll Warbler - 16
Black-and-white Warbler - 7
American Redstart - 55
Northern Waterthrush - 24
Connecticut Warbler - 1
Mourning Warbler - 1
Common Yellowthroat - 16
Wilson's Warbler - 19
Canada Warbler - 2
Yellow-breasted Chat - 1
Northern Cardinal - 5 (6)
Rose-breasted Grosbeak - 1
Indigo Bunting - 2
Chipping Sparrow - 1
Fox Sparrow - 3
Song Sparrow - 21 (4)
Lincoln's Sparrow - 2
Swamp Sparrow - 32
White-throated Sparrow - 95
White-crowned Sparrow - 2
Dark-eyed Junco - 10
Red-winged Blackbird - 8
Baltimore Oriole - 1 (1)
House Finch - 16
American Goldfinch - 203 (24)
House Sparrow - 3

October & November 2019 bird banding results

Results and highlights of bird banding at Lake St. Clair Metropark, Macomb County, Michigan during October and November are now posted to the Bird Banding Blog page (click the link at the top of this page, or click here). The next update to the Bird Banding Blog will include an overall summary of birds banded, and hopefully will be posted in a couple weeks.

Thank you to the following volunteers who made banding during October and November possible:

Cassandra Arsenault, Rich Ashcraft, John Bieganowski, Mike Charlebois, Guadalupe Cummins, Rachel Darling, Tamika Jaja, Ryan Jaja, Dave Lancaster, Ava Landgraf, Harry Lau, Rose Lau, Ava Lau, Tessa Lau, and Blanche Wicke.

September 2019 Bird Banding Results

Results and highlights of bird banding at Lake St. Clair Metropark, Macomb County, Michigan are now posted to the Bird Banding Blog page (click the link at the top of this page, or click here). The next update to the Bird Banding Blog will cover banding during October and the first week of November, when the season ends.

Thank you to the following volunteers who made banding during August and September possible:

Cassandra Arsenault, John Bieganowski, Mike Charlebois, Guadalupe Cummins, Lorie Dietz, Sam Heilman, Tamika Jaja, Ryan Jaja, Dave Lancaster, Joyce Lander, Ava Landgraf, Steve Mangas, Barb Saul, Tom Schlack, and Blanche Wicke.