BirdAnalyst
BBS Route · Michigan · BCR 23

Big Blue Lk Bird Survey Route

A standard 50-stop Breeding Bird Survey route. 127 species recorded across 38 survey years, still active.

127Species RecordedSpecies recordedDistinct species detected on standard-protocol BBS runs here across all years on record — a measure of survey breadth, not a complete checklist.Full methodology →
38Years SurveyedYears surveyedNumber of years with at least one standard-protocol run in this geography. A longer record makes the trend more reliable.Full methodology →
1979–2025Span
4Observers

Bird Species Found on Michigan Big Blue Lk

Top 40 of 127 species by most recent count. Each links to its species trend.

Species recorded on the Big Blue Lk route.
Recent countThe raw number of individuals recorded on this route in its most recent survey year. A single-route tally, not a trend.Full methodology →TrendPercent change in the route-weighted abundance index between a smoothed baseline window and the most recent one. It tracks direction, not absolute population.Full methodology →Baseline yearThe first year of the smoothed window the trend is measured from. An earlier baseline means a longer record stands behind the number.Full methodology →History
American RobinTurdidae252025-57%1985
Northern CardinalCardinalidae232025+132%1985
Red-winged BlackbirdIcteridae212025-54%1985
American CrowCorvidae192025-15%1985
Mourning DoveColumbidae152025+73%1985
Black-capped ChickadeeParidae142025-12%1985
Tree SwallowHirundinidae132025-40%1985
Red-eyed VireoVireonidae132025+2%1985
Blue JayCorvidae102025-59%1985
Chipping SparrowPasserellidae102025-36%1985
Tufted TitmouseParidae102025+200%1985
Canada GooseAnatidae102025-62%1993
Eastern Wood-PeweeTyrannidae92025-15%1985
Common GrackleIcteridae82025-70%1985
Song SparrowPasserellidae72025+18%1985
House SparrowPasseridae62025-69%1985
White-breasted NuthatchSittidae62025-19%1985
Bank SwallowHirundinidae61993-44%1989
House FinchFringillidae62025-18%1993
Great Crested FlycatcherTyrannidae52024-15%1985
American GoldfinchFringillidae52025-11%1985
Rose-breasted GrosbeakCardinalidae52023-28%1985
Gray CatbirdMimidae52025+8%1985
Northern House WrenTroglodytidae52025+58%1986
MallardAnatidae52024+80%1987
Grasshopper SparrowPasserellidae51992+400%1989
Black TernLaridae51990n/an/a
Baltimore OrioleIcteridae42025-71%1985
Barn SwallowHirundinidae42025+23%1985
Blue-headed VireoVireonidae41992n/an/a
Belted KingfisherAlcedinidae32025+67%1989
Downy WoodpeckerPicidae32025+0%1986
Eastern TowheePasserellidae32025-11%1985
Scarlet TanagerCardinalidae32025-19%1985
Cedar WaxwingBombycillidae32025-60%1985
Warbling VireoVireonidae32025+0%1985
OvenbirdParulidae32025+157%1985
Great Blue HeronArdeidae32025-11%1988
Rock PigeonColumbidae31992n/an/a
Pine WarblerParulidae32025+125%2016

Source: USGS North American Breeding Bird Survey, retrieved 2026-08-14. A route is a sample, not a census.