A Wonderful Little Michigander

Just got back from a week in Michigan, with this guy as the primary prize:

Kirtland's Warbler (Setophaga kirtlandi), Crawford Co, MI 5/23/2014

This is a male Kirtland's Warbler (Setophaga kirtlandi) from Crawford Co, MI. Until a few years ago, Michigan was the only state they bred in, and the bulk of the population still nests there. They only breed in short Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana), from 5 to 20 feet tall, and only in large areas of them. Historically, that's the sort of habitat you'd find after a major fire, but these days fires are put out as quickly as we can, so there's not a lot of habitat left. By the early 1990's, they were down to a potential breeding range of 18 square kilometers, and a population of less than 1000. They have also had problems with a drastic increase of Brown-headed Cowbirds (Molothrus ater) in the area, with nest parasitism rates reaching 70%.

Fortunately, a combination of management techniques has made a big difference in their populations. First, while wildfires are still extinguished in the area, clearcutting is providing large blocks of habitat, on a rotational basis that should be indefinitely sustainable. Second, trapping of cowbirds has reduced parasitism rates from 70% to less than 10%, leading to a population increase, to the point that they are now showing up as breeders in new places. They are now breeding in scattered locations across Michigan's Upper Peninsula, a few locations in Ontario, and two in Wisconsin.

This story has a couple of interesting points, to my mind. First is the idea that clearcutting, often seen as a terrible management technique, actually mimics natural processes here. Second, both the clearcutting and the tourism associated with such a rare bird give residents of the area a stake in the continuing presence of the bird, which can only help with any future management decisions. Finally, while Brown-headed Cowbirds are not an invasive species, their explosive increase in population has been aided by humans, and poses a distinct threat to this species that needs to be addressed. Seeing that addressed so effectively is a hopeful sign, I think.