A survey of nesting birds at the University of Michigan Biological Station.

Abstract

This project is a study of the nesting birds of the UMBS's 45 acre campus, during the 1967 summer session. My objective was to observe as many of the breeding pairs as possible, noting the relative abundance of species as well as the apparent degree of nesting success. I placed emphasis on finding nests, determining their location, and recording, whenever possible, dates of egg-laying, hatching, fledging, and the number of young. The determination of this area's actual population was not made but I did make observations on territorial singing with the hope that this study would indicate a majority of the campus residents. Limited to the eight-week period from June 26 through August 19, I found, on my first day in the field, that nesting was in process and even completed for some species. At the time of this writing, nesting continues for such species as the American Goldfinch, Spinus tristis, and for these my data may remain incomplete.