The population of the endangered Kirtland’s Warblers reached a new high this year, according to the Michigan Department of Natural Resources. Michigan is where almost all of this species can be found in breeding season. The count this year was 1,791 singing males, exceeding the goal set for delisting the species.

In 1974, only 167 singing males were found. For the second consecutive year, singing males were found outside of Michigan — nine in Wisconsin and one in Ontario. The birds nest in jack pine barrens, typically in stands between four and 20 years old. Historically, fire frequently swept through jack pine stands, allowing new trees to grow, thus producing the necessary Kirtland’s habitat. Our suppression of fire caused such habitat to outgrow the bird’s needs, leading to its decline. (Drawing of Kirtland’s Warbler from U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service wet site.)

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