The Great Detroit Bird Off!
In May 2026 Detroit Bird Alliance will launch the first ever Great Detroit Bird Off! The focus of this friendly competition among the four largest parks in Detroit is to learn which park has the most bird species for the month of May, a peak migratory month. The four largest parks in Detroit are: Belle Isle, Rouge Park, Palmer Park, and Eliza Howell Park.
The Great Detroit Bird Off is a Community Science Project - a local initiative that invites everyone to collect data. For this project, participants will record their observations of the bird species at each of the parks on eBird, a free app used worldwide, created by Cornell Lab Ornithology at Cornell University.
We want to spread the word that our parks, located along two migratory flyways - a unique feature of Detroit - are amazing natural spaces for birds. May is peak migration month, so the birds will be out and about! We want this event to encourage people from across the city and metro Detroit to spend time in these parks and to pay close attention to the natural wonders they offer, especially the birds. The Great Detroit Bird Off is a terrific educational opportunity to learn about birding, bird migration, the importance of urban habitat and contribute to science.
Anyone can participate! Experienced birders, first-time birders, young birders, and not so young birders are all invited to participate. Participants can visit as many of the parks as they like, as many times as they like as long as it is in May of 2026 - (Bird species only count if they are recorded on eBird in the month of May).
If you have not yet used eBird, here are a couple of brief tutorials to get you started:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-t-0xAjxakw
Learn more about bird migration.
We will publicize the park “standings” as the weeks progress through May, and announce the winner once May is over. The winning park or the park with the most species recorded in May of 2026 will have bragging rights and special recognition as the winner of the Great Detroit Bird Off, 2026. Be sure to register in Eventbrite so that you can receive updated communication about this friendly competition.
Detroit Bird Alliance will have representatives at each park offering guidance on how to use eBird, info on our organization, encouragement, and thanks for your participation. Here’s the schedule of when we’ll be where:
Sat., May 2 Belle Isle from 8 - 10 am
Sat., May 9: Palmer Park from 8 - 10 am
Sat., May 16: Eliza Howell Park from 8 - 10 am
Sat., May 23: Palmer Park from 8 - 10 am
Sat. May 30: Rouge Park from 6 - 8 pm
Here are maps of each of the parks with an X marking where Detroit Bird Alliance will be at each park:
The location to stop by the Detroit Bird Alliance table at Belle Isle
The location to stop by the Detroit Bird Alliance table at Rouge Park
The location to stop by the Detroit Bird Alliance table at Palmer Park
The location to stop by the Detroit Bird Alliance table at Eliza Howell Park
We have several partners at each of these parks that are helping to spread the word about the Great Detroit Bird Off, but we could use your help with this too. Please help us get the word out by sharing on your social media (you can use the flyer below), organize a birding party to visit a park or two, or plan a family trip to the parks and get your little ones into birding! If you or anyone you know has questions, let us know at hello@detroitbirdalliance.org.
One of the best ways to engage people in our mission to protect birds and the environment we share is to have fun together, and this event will do just that. The best part is that our parks and our natural world will be the benefactors.
Happy Birding, and may the birdiest park win!