Bineshiiyag (“birds" in Ojibwemowin) are a constant presence along the gichi onigamiing from Lake Superior to the Pigeon River. Indeed, they are the most commonly seen or heard wildlife by visitors to the area. Songbirds give voice to the northern forest. They contribute to nagamowin akiing, the singing land.
Annual songbird surveys at Grand Portage provide a glimpse into population changes over time. Many of the songbirds nesting here in the summer migrate south in the winter, some as far as South America. So birds face challenges across a broad swath of space and time. It is up to us to protect the northern forest so there continues to be good breeding habitat for our winged neighbors.
2014-2018
In a recent analysis of data collected from 2014 through 2018, we found the Ovenbird and Nashville Warbler had the densest populations at Grand Portage, with each averaging 71 birds/mi2. Blackburnian Warbler was the least dense species, averaging 24 birds/mi2.
Among seven species with increasing trends over the five-year period, Nashville Warbler and American Redstart were the only two whose increases were stastically significant, rising by 16 birds/mi2/year and 8 birds/mi2/year, respectively. Red-breasted Nuthatch was the only species to show a declining, but non-significant, trend.
Source: U.S. Department of the Interior, National Park Service
