Overview
Project Name
Canadian Migration Monitoring Network
Access Level
Visualizations only
Year started
1989
Year Ended
1999
Dataset
Daily Migration Counts: Whitefish Point Bird Observatory (Historic)
About
Dataset summary
Counts from Whitefish Point Bird Observatory (WPBO) of birds banded and observed during daily operations at Point and Vermillion (WPBO-VE); plus a composite Daily Estimated Total (DET): the best estimate for each species of unduplicated number of individuals detected within the official count area during the daily monitoring period
Season(s) and frequency
At the Point: daily in fall, 1 Aug to mid-Nov in most years. Spring coverage in 1999 only (15 Mar-31 May). At Vermillion: daily in spring (mixed start dates but usually mid-May to end June (1993 and 1996-1998). Fall coverage (1996-1998 only) daily from 1 Aug to end Sep
Geographic area covered
Stations in Michigan at Whitefish Point (46.771, -84.957) and Vermillion Point (46.762, -85.152). Migrants at the sites originate primarily from breeding range in Manitoba and Ontario
Primary species covered
Captures are primarily small passerines, but all species observed are recorded
Goals
To conduct standardized daily migration season counts and collect ancillary data on migration ecology for use in long-term biological and population monitoring of Canada’s bird species
Methods
Sampling Design
of birds banded and observed during daily operations; plus a composite Daily Estimated Total (DET): the best estimate for each species of unduplicated number of individuals detected within the official count area during the daily monitoring period
Field methods
Details unavailable (see Advice)
Analysis methods
See Quick Links. Population trends for all species at this site were based on DETs
Advice
WPBO (founded 1979) still runs other monitoring programs. Participation in the CMMN was aimed at tracking passerines in spring, but ended once realized that early spring weather conditions precluding good coverage. Although no formal operations protocol survives, experienced CMMN personnel helped set up and participate in the station, so it is likely that procedures were similar to those documented in other CMMN station protocols (https://www.birdscanada.org/bird-science/cmmn-protocols).
Partners
Citation
Birds Canada and Whitefish Point Bird Observatory. 2026. "Daily Migration Counts: Whitefish Point Bird Observatory (Historic)". Data accessed from NatureCounts, Birds Canada. 10.71842/cdvf-ve16