Date: 7/16/25 4:49 am From: Don Henise <kiskadee37...> Subject: Re: [birders] Savannah Sparrows
We do see Savannah Sparrows on the ground under our feeders, but very infrequently, usually in early spring when they are first arriving or passing through.
Don Henise
On July 16, 2025, at 6:49 AM, Fred Kaluza <fkaluza...> wrote:
If they mostly eat seeds and sometimes insects…shouldn’t we expect them around bird feeders at least sometimes? I don’t think I ever have.
From: Allen Chartier <amazilia3...>
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2025 7:54:15 PM
To: Fred Kaluza <fkaluza...>
Cc: BIRDERS@UMICH <birders...>
Subject: Re: [birders] Sparrow Talk
Savannah Sparrows are very common in open areas including agricultural fields, and airports, etc.
You should have seen Swamp Sparrows when you and Linda helped me with banding at Lake St. Clair Metropark, because I caught a lot of them there in the marsh.
On Tue, Jul 15, 2025 at 7:49 PM Fred Kaluza <fkaluza...> wrote:
As a kid, growing up in metro Detroit, the only “Sparrow” I knew about was the “English House Sparrow” which I learned much later isn’t a Sparrow at all but a Weaver Finch instead. Anyway…growing up and camping in Ontario, I got to know the White-Throated Sparrow. Gradually I learned there were Song Sparrows around my grandmother’s yard and eventually I grew up and moved to Warren along the Red Run and learned about bird migration. At least twice a year I was seeing and hearing White-Crowned Sparrows and Field Sparrows and Fox Sparrows and where I worked in Farmington Hills there were Chipping Sparrows. In the field guides there were references to others I’ve still not seen like Henslow’s Sparrows and Swamp Sparrows. Lately however, my Merlin app has been hearing some Savannah Sparrows. I’m trying to decide if I’ve been hearing these all along or are their numbers increasing around here in recent years. Just how common are Savannah’s Sparrows where you live?
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On Wed, Jul 16, 2025, 6:49 AM Fred Kaluza <fkaluza...> wrote:
> If they mostly eat seeds and sometimes insects…shouldn’t we expect them
> around bird feeders at least sometimes? I don’t think I ever have.
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Allen Chartier <amazilia3...>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, July 15, 2025 7:54:15 PM
> *To:* Fred Kaluza <fkaluza...>
> *Cc:* BIRDERS@UMICH <birders...>
> *Subject:* Re: [birders] Sparrow Talk
>
> Savannah Sparrows are very common in open areas including agricultural
> fields, and airports, etc.
>
> You should have seen Swamp Sparrows when you and Linda helped me with
> banding at Lake St. Clair Metropark, because I caught a lot of them there
> in the marsh.
>
> Allen T. Chartier
> Inkster, Michigan
> Email: <amazilia3...>
> Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mihummingbirdguy/collections/ > Website/Blog: http://mihummingbirdguy.blogspot.com/ >
>
> On Tue, Jul 15, 2025 at 7:49 PM Fred Kaluza <fkaluza...> wrote:
>
> As a kid, growing up in metro Detroit, the only “Sparrow” I knew about was
> the “English House Sparrow” which I learned much later isn’t a Sparrow at
> all but a Weaver Finch instead. Anyway…growing up and camping in Ontario,
> I got to know the White-Throated Sparrow. Gradually I learned there were
> Song Sparrows around my grandmother’s yard and eventually I grew up and
> moved to Warren along the Red Run and learned about bird migration. At
> least twice a year I was seeing and hearing White-Crowned Sparrows and
> Field Sparrows and Fox Sparrows and where I worked in Farmington Hills
> there were Chipping Sparrows. In the field guides there were references to
> others I’ve still not seen like Henslow’s Sparrows and Swamp Sparrows.
> Lately however, my Merlin app has been hearing some Savannah Sparrows. I’m
> trying to decide if I’ve been hearing these all along or are their numbers
> increasing around here in recent years. Just how common are Savannah’s
> Sparrows where you live?
>
> --
> Birders is a service of the Great Lakes Commission. Visit us at
> www.glc.org
> ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Birders" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to birders+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/a/great-lakes.net/d/msgid/birders/<SJ0PR22MB3478C96C303502FFC3690786F957A...> > <https://groups.google.com/a/great-lakes.net/d/msgid/birders/<SJ0PR22MB3478C96C303502FFC3690786F957A...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
> --
> Birders is a service of the Great Lakes Commission. Visit us at
> www.glc.org
> ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
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>
Date: 7/16/25 4:46 am From: Allen Chartier <amazilia3...> Subject: Re: [birders] Sparrow Talk
Fred,
You will hear a lot more of them than you will see. They sometimes sing
from the ground, or 1-2 feet up which is the tallest vegetation in their
habitat.
On Wed, Jul 16, 2025, 6:44 AM Fred Kaluza <fkaluza...> wrote:
> Maybe it’s the relative dearth of other species here that has me
> interested in them now Allen. In any case, I’ll make it a goal to get to
> know them better. Thanks for the insights along the way. On a brighter
> note…a pair of Bluebirds has appeared here in the last week, is using the
> same box as last year, has made a nest and put the first egg in it just
> yesterday. Seems like a very-late start and I feel they are on their
> second batch for the year. When they first arrived, there was at least one
> fledgling hanging around from the earlier brood which must have been
> somewhere near. In any case, I’m very happy to be hosting them again. I’m
> still hoping for flying squirrels someday. Take care.
> ------------------------------
> *From:* Allen Chartier <amazilia3...>
> *Sent:* Tuesday, July 15, 2025 7:54:15 PM
> *To:* Fred Kaluza <fkaluza...>
> *Cc:* BIRDERS@UMICH <birders...>
> *Subject:* Re: [birders] Sparrow Talk
>
> Savannah Sparrows are very common in open areas including agricultural
> fields, and airports, etc.
>
> You should have seen Swamp Sparrows when you and Linda helped me with
> banding at Lake St. Clair Metropark, because I caught a lot of them there
> in the marsh.
>
> Allen T. Chartier
> Inkster, Michigan
> Email: <amazilia3...>
> Photos: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mihummingbirdguy/collections/ > Website/Blog: http://mihummingbirdguy.blogspot.com/ >
>
> On Tue, Jul 15, 2025 at 7:49 PM Fred Kaluza <fkaluza...> wrote:
>
> As a kid, growing up in metro Detroit, the only “Sparrow” I knew about was
> the “English House Sparrow” which I learned much later isn’t a Sparrow at
> all but a Weaver Finch instead. Anyway…growing up and camping in Ontario,
> I got to know the White-Throated Sparrow. Gradually I learned there were
> Song Sparrows around my grandmother’s yard and eventually I grew up and
> moved to Warren along the Red Run and learned about bird migration. At
> least twice a year I was seeing and hearing White-Crowned Sparrows and
> Field Sparrows and Fox Sparrows and where I worked in Farmington Hills
> there were Chipping Sparrows. In the field guides there were references to
> others I’ve still not seen like Henslow’s Sparrows and Swamp Sparrows.
> Lately however, my Merlin app has been hearing some Savannah Sparrows. I’m
> trying to decide if I’ve been hearing these all along or are their numbers
> increasing around here in recent years. Just how common are Savannah’s
> Sparrows where you live?
>
> --
> Birders is a service of the Great Lakes Commission. Visit us at
> www.glc.org
> ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Birders" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to birders+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/a/great-lakes.net/d/msgid/birders/<SJ0PR22MB3478C96C303502FFC3690786F957A...> > <https://groups.google.com/a/great-lakes.net/d/msgid/birders/<SJ0PR22MB3478C96C303502FFC3690786F957A...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
> --
> Birders is a service of the Great Lakes Commission. Visit us at
> www.glc.org
> ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
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> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
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>
Date: 7/16/25 3:49 am From: Fred Kaluza <fkaluza...> Subject: [birders] Savannah Sparrows
If they mostly eat seeds and sometimes insects…shouldn’t we expect them around bird feeders at least sometimes? I don’t think I ever have.
________________________________
From: Allen Chartier <amazilia3...>
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2025 7:54:15 PM
To: Fred Kaluza <fkaluza...>
Cc: BIRDERS@UMICH <birders...>
Subject: Re: [birders] Sparrow Talk
Savannah Sparrows are very common in open areas including agricultural fields, and airports, etc.
You should have seen Swamp Sparrows when you and Linda helped me with banding at Lake St. Clair Metropark, because I caught a lot of them there in the marsh.
On Tue, Jul 15, 2025 at 7:49 PM Fred Kaluza <fkaluza...><mailto:<fkaluza...>> wrote:
As a kid, growing up in metro Detroit, the only “Sparrow” I knew about was the “English House Sparrow” which I learned much later isn’t a Sparrow at all but a Weaver Finch instead. Anyway…growing up and camping in Ontario, I got to know the White-Throated Sparrow. Gradually I learned there were Song Sparrows around my grandmother’s yard and eventually I grew up and moved to Warren along the Red Run and learned about bird migration. At least twice a year I was seeing and hearing White-Crowned Sparrows and Field Sparrows and Fox Sparrows and where I worked in Farmington Hills there were Chipping Sparrows. In the field guides there were references to others I’ve still not seen like Henslow’s Sparrows and Swamp Sparrows. Lately however, my Merlin app has been hearing some Savannah Sparrows. I’m trying to decide if I’ve been hearing these all along or are their numbers increasing around here in recent years. Just how common are Savannah’s Sparrows where you live?
--
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Date: 7/16/25 3:44 am From: Fred Kaluza <fkaluza...> Subject: Re: [birders] Sparrow Talk
Maybe it’s the relative dearth of other species here that has me interested in them now Allen. In any case, I’ll make it a goal to get to know them better. Thanks for the insights along the way. On a brighter note…a pair of Bluebirds has appeared here in the last week, is using the same box as last year, has made a nest and put the first egg in it just yesterday. Seems like a very-late start and I feel they are on their second batch for the year. When they first arrived, there was at least one fledgling hanging around from the earlier brood which must have been somewhere near. In any case, I’m very happy to be hosting them again. I’m still hoping for flying squirrels someday. Take care.
________________________________
From: Allen Chartier <amazilia3...>
Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2025 7:54:15 PM
To: Fred Kaluza <fkaluza...>
Cc: BIRDERS@UMICH <birders...>
Subject: Re: [birders] Sparrow Talk
Savannah Sparrows are very common in open areas including agricultural fields, and airports, etc.
You should have seen Swamp Sparrows when you and Linda helped me with banding at Lake St. Clair Metropark, because I caught a lot of them there in the marsh.
On Tue, Jul 15, 2025 at 7:49 PM Fred Kaluza <fkaluza...><mailto:<fkaluza...>> wrote:
As a kid, growing up in metro Detroit, the only “Sparrow” I knew about was the “English House Sparrow” which I learned much later isn’t a Sparrow at all but a Weaver Finch instead. Anyway…growing up and camping in Ontario, I got to know the White-Throated Sparrow. Gradually I learned there were Song Sparrows around my grandmother’s yard and eventually I grew up and moved to Warren along the Red Run and learned about bird migration. At least twice a year I was seeing and hearing White-Crowned Sparrows and Field Sparrows and Fox Sparrows and where I worked in Farmington Hills there were Chipping Sparrows. In the field guides there were references to others I’ve still not seen like Henslow’s Sparrows and Swamp Sparrows. Lately however, my Merlin app has been hearing some Savannah Sparrows. I’m trying to decide if I’ve been hearing these all along or are their numbers increasing around here in recent years. Just how common are Savannah’s Sparrows where you live?
--
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Savannah Sparrows are very common in open areas including agricultural
fields, and airports, etc.
You should have seen Swamp Sparrows when you and Linda helped me with
banding at Lake St. Clair Metropark, because I caught a lot of them there
in the marsh.
On Tue, Jul 15, 2025 at 7:49 PM Fred Kaluza <fkaluza...> wrote:
> As a kid, growing up in metro Detroit, the only “Sparrow” I knew about was
> the “English House Sparrow” which I learned much later isn’t a Sparrow at
> all but a Weaver Finch instead. Anyway…growing up and camping in Ontario,
> I got to know the White-Throated Sparrow. Gradually I learned there were
> Song Sparrows around my grandmother’s yard and eventually I grew up and
> moved to Warren along the Red Run and learned about bird migration. At
> least twice a year I was seeing and hearing White-Crowned Sparrows and
> Field Sparrows and Fox Sparrows and where I worked in Farmington Hills
> there were Chipping Sparrows. In the field guides there were references to
> others I’ve still not seen like Henslow’s Sparrows and Swamp Sparrows.
> Lately however, my Merlin app has been hearing some Savannah Sparrows. I’m
> trying to decide if I’ve been hearing these all along or are their numbers
> increasing around here in recent years. Just how common are Savannah’s
> Sparrows where you live?
>
> --
> Birders is a service of the Great Lakes Commission. Visit us at
> www.glc.org
> ---
> You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups
> "Birders" group.
> To unsubscribe from this group and stop receiving emails from it, send an
> email to birders+<unsubscribe...>
> To view this discussion visit
> https://groups.google.com/a/great-lakes.net/d/msgid/birders/<SJ0PR22MB3478C96C303502FFC3690786F957A...> > <https://groups.google.com/a/great-lakes.net/d/msgid/birders/<SJ0PR22MB3478C96C303502FFC3690786F957A...>?utm_medium=email&utm_source=footer> > .
>
As a kid, growing up in metro Detroit, the only “Sparrow” I knew about was the “English House Sparrow” which I learned much later isn’t a Sparrow at all but a Weaver Finch instead. Anyway…growing up and camping in Ontario, I got to know the White-Throated Sparrow. Gradually I learned there were Song Sparrows around my grandmother’s yard and eventually I grew up and moved to Warren along the Red Run and learned about bird migration. At least twice a year I was seeing and hearing White-Crowned Sparrows and Field Sparrows and Fox Sparrows and where I worked in Farmington Hills there were Chipping Sparrows. In the field guides there were references to others I’ve still not seen like Henslow’s Sparrows and Swamp Sparrows. Lately however, my Merlin app has been hearing some Savannah Sparrows. I’m trying to decide if I’ve been hearing these all along or are their numbers increasing around here in recent years. Just how common are Savannah’s Sparrows where you live?
--
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Date: 7/14/25 8:04 am From: '<plynkny...>' via Birders <birders...> Subject: [birders] hawk fledglings
Yesterday I watched a Cooper Hawk fledgling walk along the peak of a garage roof and attempt to perch on a telephone wire. He was quite good at walking, but his feet are too big to get a good grip on a thin wire, especially one that's swinging under his weight. Eventually he went back to the tree where it sounded like there was a second baby. I'm pretty sure he fledged yesterday; he still has quite a bit of fluffy white feathers around his face and forehead and very short tail feathers.
LynnDearborn
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Date: 7/8/25 7:12 pm From: Allen Chartier <amazilia3...> Subject: [birders] Spring Bird Banding Report - Belle Isle
Everyone,
I have finished a detailed bird banding report from this spring at Belle Isle Bird Observatory, Wayne County, Michigan, and it is posted on my website here:
Date: 7/5/25 4:18 am From: Mag Tait <magtait1...> Subject: [birders] NYTimes Gift Article: How a Parasitic Bird With No Parents Learns What Species It Is
Explore this gift article from The New York Times. You can read it for free without a subscription.
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Date: 6/20/25 12:37 pm From: Allen Chartier <amazilia3...> Subject: Re: [birders] Spring 2025 Bird Banding Results
Fred,
I have been birding both locations for decades. Data from eBird hotspots
shows that Lake St. Clair Metropark has an accumulated list of 293 species (
https://ebird.org/hotspot/L388494), while Belle Isle has an accumulated
list of 261 species (https://ebird.org/hotspot/L275577). If you're asking
specifically about banding, there are significant habitat differences
between the two sites, so comparing them is probably not appropriate. And
I've only just started banding as of last October on Belle Isle, where
there is 27 years of data from Lake St. Clair Metropark.
Date: 6/20/25 6:21 am From: Fred Kaluza <fkaluza...> Subject: Re: [birders] Spring 2025 Bird Banding Results
Allen, have you been at the Belle Isle location long-enough to make any general statement as to which location (Metro Beach vs Belle Isle) is “birdier” or whether there are significant differences between the overall number of birds or the number of species at the two locations?
________________________________
From: Allen Chartier <amazilia3...>
Sent: Thursday, June 19, 2025 10:37:42 AM
To: BIRDBAND <birdband...>; BIRDERS@UMICH <birders...>
Subject: [birders] Spring 2025 Bird Banding Results
Everyone,
I have just updated my blog with results from the spring 2025 bird banding season at the Belle Isle Bird Observatory, Wayne County, Michigan. Visit my blog here: https://mihummingbirdguy.blogspot.com/
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I just drove through the Parker/Scio Church corner and there were two adult trumpeters seemingly quite cozy with each other. Not sure if the missing one returned or a new one appeared or what, but it was nice to see them grazing the water plants together.
Dody
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Date: 6/19/25 7:38 am From: Allen Chartier <amazilia3...> Subject: [birders] Spring 2025 Bird Banding Results
Everyone,
I have just updated my blog with results from the spring 2025 bird banding season at the Belle Isle Bird Observatory, Wayne County, Michigan. Visit my blog here: https://mihummingbirdguy.blogspot.com/
