Occurrence of Ticks (Acari: Ixodidae) on Birds in Northwestern Lower Michigan, 2011-2019

occurrence data that may have human or animal health implications. We collected 312 ticks of four species from 5,122 birds 93 while monitoring bird migration during 15 fall and spring seasons between 2011 2019 in the northern Lower Peninsula Michigan. Twenty-seven hosted with an overall prevalence (=at least one tick) 3.6% (185/5,122). Median burden was tick/per infested a range 1-16 per bird. Tick were primarily Haemaphysalis leporispalustris (Packard) Ixodes scapularis Say, smaller numbers dentatus Marx single brunneus (Koch). The avian infestations by I. increased over eight-year study period (P = 0.046) to high 4.6% infestation 2019. Based on migratory status birds, our suggest transported site southern areas. Additionally, based recapture stopover periods at site, we detected new tick 27 437 had removed initial capture. These reinfestations potentially reflect bird’s local acquisition ticks, such as scapularis. This indicates is becoming established region, which appears be leading edge this tick’s expanding Birds contributing establishment possibly introducing maintaining ticks. transporting seeding them elsewhere.