Henslow's Sparrows - Wayne and Washtenaw Cos. (long)

Thu Jun 7 12:43:37 EDT 2007

While I feel sure that Allen is sharing his sightings with the folks
actively
working to conserve these species, this is an opportune moment to
remind 
everyone to be sure to submit an reports of state listed threatened and

endangered species to either the local DNR Wildlife Biologist or the
Michigan 
Natural Features Inventory (or both!). A recent sighting of two
different 
state listed endangered species on a DNR property was posted to a
birding 
listserv with no notification made to our local Wildlife Biologist.
These 
observations are very important to us as they provide us with more 
information on the species our lands support as we plan for the future
management of these lands.

You may think it's hard and time consuming to do, but all you need to
do
is CC the local Wildlife Biologist on the email you send to a listserv
reporting 
your finds. You can find a list of all of the DNR's Wildlife Biologists
online at
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/wildlife_151802_7.htm and you can 
find the list of endangered and threatened species at 
http://www.state.mi.us/orr/emi/admincode.asp?AdminCode=Single&Admin_Num=29901021&Dpt=NR&RngHigh=

It takes a little bit more work to submit a sighting to MNFI, but the
database
of observations that they maintain is used by state agencies to review

applications for permits that may cause environmental impacts. If you
report 
a Henslow's sparrow, trumpeter swan, or prairie warbler on an area
before 
development happens, it's much more likely that active steps can be
taken to 
ensure that these critters don't get adversely impacted. You can find
MNFI's 
form for submitting animal observations online at 
http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/contact/Special_Animal_Form.pdf 

Not submitting your observations because "everyone knows they're
there"?
That's probably what everyone else thought, and the observation never
got submitted. This is a fairly simple, easy, and cheap way for you to
play
a role in conserving some of our rarest and most sensitive species.

Karen

P.S. And this is the last year of data collection for the 2nd edition
of the
Michigan Breeding Bird Atlas. Be sure to send your data in now to be
sure
that the Atlas is as good as it can be!

----------------------------------------------------------------------
Karen T. Cleveland                                        517-241-4250
Acting Waterfowl & Wetlands Specialist
All-Bird Biologist                               clevelak at michigan.gov
Michigan Dept. of Natural Resources
----------------------------------------------------------------------

>>> "Allen Chartier" <amazilia1 at comcast.net> 06/07/2007 8:16 AM >>>
Birders,

Yesterday morning (June 6), Neil Gilbert and I set out for birding
sites in 
western Washtenaw County. First, we stopped at Willow Run Airport
(Wayne 
Co.) where we found three singing HENSLOW'S SPARROWS. The birds were at
the 
east end of the airport. On the map in A Birder's Guide to Michigan
(page 
84), this is south of Tyler Road, on the east side of the north-south
road 
around the airport. There were also Bobolinks in this field, and at
least 8 
Grasshopper Sparrows at various other places around the airport. A
single 
Western Meadowlark was singing a great distance away, in the middle of
the 
runways, as is often the case here. (Western Meadowlarks arrived here
on 
April 19.) We did not find any Upland Sandpipers despite looking hard
for 
them. When birding this area, please be aware that security patrols
have 
asked some (but not all) birders to move along, and that stopping is
not 
allowed, even though this is a public road. If you park well off on the

shoulder, and do not walk near the fencing, you may not be bothered.

Next we went to Embury Road in the Pinckney SRA in northwestern
Washtenaw 
County, where we easily found the previously reported Prairie Warbler 
singing in the tall pines at the first pullout on the left (perhaps 100

yards north of North Territorial Road). We also had about 5 Hooded
Warblers, 
a Cerulean Warbler, 3 Acadian Flycatchers and a single Alder Flycatcher

along here.

Next stop was Stinchfield Woods a few miles to the east, where the 
previously reported Yellow-throated Warbler took a few minutes to
locate, 
but was easily found singing high from the tops of pines within 200
yards of 
the parking area on Stinchfield Woods Road. We also had a very
cooperative 
Blue-headed Vireo and Red-breasted Nuthatch in this area, and heard
single 
Pine and Hooded Warblers, and a single Brown Creeper. Although our
visit was 
brief (and it was still only about 50-degrees), I was surprised to
leave 
this area without hearing a single Black-throated Green Warbler.

We then moved on to southwestern Washtenaw County, where we checked the

south end of Meyers Road between Bethel Church and Sharon Valley Roads

(northwest of Manchester), where Blue Grosbeak(s) had been reported
about a 
week ago. Although we did not succeed in finding a Blue Grosbeak, we
did 
hear a piece of song that sounded suspicious, but we could not track it

down. There are House Finches singing in this area, which can sound
somewhat 
similar to Blue Grosbeak when distant, but what we heard was different,
but 
sadly only given briefly twice. The homeowner near the large utility
towers 
that run through here was interested to know what everyone had been
looking 
for, and when we told her (and showed her illustrations and played her
the 
song) she said she'd keep an eye out for it, and would report it to
BIRDERS 
if she sees it (she seemed to know about this chat group). It seems
possible 
that the bird(s) may still be in the area. Die-hard searchers might
also try 
along the north side of Sharon Valley Road 200-300 yards east of
Meyers. We 
did find at least three Northern Mockingbirds, two Grasshopper
Sparrows, and 
one Vesper Sparrow along Meyers Road. There were also lots of Eastern 
Bluebirds in this area.

Next was the Nan Weston Preserve, where one of my objectives was to
improve 
on my photos of Puttyroot (Aplectrum hyemale) orchid, but apparently it
was 
too late in the season again, and I'll have to wait until it blooms
again 
next year. There were not a lot of birds singing here, but the cool 
temperatures made this perhaps the most mosquito-free visit I've ever
made 
to this preserve! We did finally find our singing Black-throated Green

Warbler for the day here, as well as a singing Louisiana Waterthrush. 
Several Acadian Flycatchers were very cooperative, and a single singing

Alder Flycatcher was along the power lines. It was a good location for

dragonflies (in sunny areas), as we found 7 species including an
incredibly 
cooperative Swift River Cruiser. Also seen were Ebony Jewelwing, Widow

Skimmer, Common Whitetail, Calico Pennant, Blue Dasher, and Black 
Saddlebags.

To the west, at the "white barn" in the Sharon Valley SGA (north side
of 
Sharon Valley Road, just west of Lamb Road) we stopped very briefly and

heard two HENSLOW'S SPARROWS singing from the far back side of the
field 
down the hill to the left (we stayed on the trail). Somewhat far off to
the 
right we heard a single Dickcissel singing. Surprisingly, no
Grasshopper 
Sparrows were heard here during our brief stop.

Going west to the county line, and heading north along Prospect Hill
Road to 
just where it bends east into Kendall Road, we found two Dickcissels
(one 
female), one Grasshopper Sparrow, and one Vesper Sparrow, all flirting
back 
and forth across the Jackson/Washtenaw county line.

Our final stop was along Jerusalem Road in the vicinity of the Urquhart
Tree 
Farm just east of Lima Center Road. We did not enter the property, and
did 
not hear the previously reported Clay-colored Sparrows, though we did
see 
two Northern Bobwhites along the road.

The day provided Neil with 4 new state birds,and me with 2 new county
birds 
and several new year birds for both of us. Not a bad day!

Some of you may know that Neil is moving to California at the end of
next 
week. In addition to being one of the most accomplished young birders
in 
southeastern Michigan, and presenting programs to several local Audubon

chapters, Neil has been a very regular volunteer at my bird banding
station 
at Metro Beach Metropark over the past year and a half, and has learned

quite a lot about the process. He has become extremely helpful, perhaps

irreplaceable. I wish him the best of luck in his new birding
adventures. He 
will be sorely missed.

Allen Chartier
amazilia1 at comcast.net 
1442 West River Park Drive
Inkster, MI  48141
Website: http://www.amazilia.net 
Michigan HummerNet: http://www.amazilia.net/MIHummerNet 
===============================================
Every day, the hummingbird eats its own weight in food.
You may wonder how it weighs the food. It doesn't.
It just eats another hummingbird.
---Steven Wright 

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