Kirtland's Warbler. Michigan 2022.
Flickr handle Elrond418 (see people in photo link) posted a singing shot from the trip that is worth a look. Happy 4th to all my USA contacts/friends!! Be safe all.
Once again briefly ran into the Smithsonian team who is doing ongoing field work on this species. I was happy to learn that last season they only found ONE nest with Cowbird eggs. There has been annual surveillance the last few seasons for this since the Cowbird trapping was stopped. The species continues to do well with its population limited only by suitable stands of Jack Pine. Going each year for a number of years I've been privileged to see some of these stands mature from near seedings to 4 or more feet tall. Once the stands mature to the point that there are not many near ground level branches they are largely abandoned for younger stands. 4 to 6 feet stands are beloved. The species ongoing success depends on stand management. Historically fires did the job so most probably this range limited species with very particular habitat requirements never was as abundant as other Eastern warbler species. We certainly are fortunate to still have this species. This has been a management success that began in the nick of time. Each time you hear one sing or see an image it seems to me that thankfulness should be one's response. Certainly the lesson here is that collectively humans can make a difference for the survival of a species or not.
Kirtland's Warbler. Michigan 2022.
Flickr handle Elrond418 (see people in photo link) posted a singing shot from the trip that is worth a look. Happy 4th to all my USA contacts/friends!! Be safe all.
Once again briefly ran into the Smithsonian team who is doing ongoing field work on this species. I was happy to learn that last season they only found ONE nest with Cowbird eggs. There has been annual surveillance the last few seasons for this since the Cowbird trapping was stopped. The species continues to do well with its population limited only by suitable stands of Jack Pine. Going each year for a number of years I've been privileged to see some of these stands mature from near seedings to 4 or more feet tall. Once the stands mature to the point that there are not many near ground level branches they are largely abandoned for younger stands. 4 to 6 feet stands are beloved. The species ongoing success depends on stand management. Historically fires did the job so most probably this range limited species with very particular habitat requirements never was as abundant as other Eastern warbler species. We certainly are fortunate to still have this species. This has been a management success that began in the nick of time. Each time you hear one sing or see an image it seems to me that thankfulness should be one's response. Certainly the lesson here is that collectively humans can make a difference for the survival of a species or not.