Jack Pine Ecosystem US Forest Service 2013

Kirtland’s warbler Photos by Ron Austing and US Forest Service Male Kirtland’s Warbler

• Note coloring • Bluish-gray above • Yellow below • Black streaks on the side • White “broken” eye ring below and above the eye • Male has black mask • Males sing • Hit the song button to listen to the male’s Kirtland warbler sing • Males sing to attract a mate and to defend their territory. Female Kirtland’s Warbler

Note coloring • Female has similar colors • Not at bright or dark as the male Song • Females do not sing, but will make little “chip” noises Habitat Specialist of the Jack Pine Ecosystem

 These young jack pine forests provide habitat  Food – insects and some fruit  Water – dew, insects  Shelter – trees  Space – large areas

Jack Pine Forest The Bird’s Summer Home

 Kirtland’s warbler summer breeding habitat is mostly northern Michigan.  Because the KW is so picky about where it lives, it is called a habitat specialist. Ground Nesting of the Kirtland’s Warbler in the Jack Pine Forest

 Nests are built on the ground, very well hidden by plants  Females lay 4-5 eggs  Young fledge, or leave the nest, 9 days after hatching.  Male and female parents feed the young for a few weeks.  Nests offer a temporary safe place to raise young.

All Kirtland’s warblers migrate south to spend the winter months in the Bahamas. In the winter when Michigan’s water is frozen and there are few insects, the warm habitat in the Bahamas has plenty of insects and fruit for Kirtland’s warblers to eat. Why are Kirtland’s warblers endangered?

 In 1971, only 201 singing males were counted by biologists.  Kirtland’s warblers were one of the first species listed under the Endangered Species Act of 1973.  The two biggest threats to Kirtland’s warblers are habitat loss and brown-headed cowbird nest parasitism. Habitat Loss in a Fire Dependent Ecosystem

 Before Europeans settled in Michigan, young jack pine habitat was created by wildfire.  Forest fire suppression to protect homes results in less young jack pine habitat Brown-headed cowbird  Brown-headed cowbirds are a nest parasite, meaning they lay their eggs in other bird species’ nests. The cowbird chick is bigger than the other nestlings, and competes better for food from the parents.  The other nestlings, including Kirtland’s warblers, often starve to Male cowbird death. Female cowbird How have people made changes to help this species?

1. Management by  Biologists know these clear-cutting and two changes have replanting large areas of jack pine has made a difference to provided habitat for Kirtland’s warblers this species. because they monitor 2. Brown-headed the population cowbirds are trapped through an annual in Kirtland’s warbler census. nesting areas.

What is the census?  The census is a biological tool used to get an annual population estimate.  Biologists walk (carefully!) through each Kirtland’s warbler area one time every year between June 6 and June 20.  They count the number of Kirtland’s warbler males that are singing.  For every singing male, you can assume there is one female.  Double the number of singing males to get the population estimate for each year. Singing Males 1000 1500 2000 2500 500 0

1951 432 1961 502 1971 201 1972 200 1973 216 1974 167 1975 179 1976 200 1977 218 1978 196

1979 210 Kirtland's WarblerSingingMales 1980 242 1981 232 1982 207 1983 215 1984 215

1985 216 in Michigan 1986 210 1987 167 1988 207 1989 212 Year 1990 265

1991 347 1992 397 1993 485 1994 633 1995 765 1996 693 1997 728 1998 804 1999 903 2000 891 2001 1083 2002 1052 2003 1202 2004 1348 2005 1415 2006 1478 2007 1697 2008 1791 2009 1813 2010 1747 2011 1805 2012 2063 Will Kirtland’s warblers always be endangered?

 Biologists set a recovery goal of having at least 1,000 pairs for at least 5 years in a row.  More than 1,000 pairs have been counted for more than 10 years in a row!  The US Fish and Wildlife Service may decide to delist Kirtland’s warbler, or remove this species from the Endangered Species List.

Jack Pine Forests Kirtland’s warblers will always need young jack pine forests. But young jack pine forests also provide habitat for many other wildlife species… Wildlife of the Jack Pine Ecosystem

Nashville warbler Wild turkey Wildlife of the Jack Pine Ecosystem

Canada Tiger Swallowtail White-tailed deer Wildlife of the Jack Pine Ecosystem

Red fox Badger

White-tailed deer Participate in the 2013 Kirtland’s Warbler Young Artists Calendar Contest

Draw a picture of something you might find in northern Michigan’s unique jack pine ecosystem.

Last year’s winners: • Got their artwork published! • Won a free calendar!

Grade 5 T.R.U.T.H. Homeschool Group, West Branch, MI Grade 7 St. Joseph School, West Branch, MI Grade 4 City School, Grand Blanc, MI Kirtland’s Warbler Tours

 To see a Kirtland’s warbler, take a tour!  The US Forest Service and US Fish and Wildlife Service offer free tours to school groups (contact Kim Piccolo, 989-826- 3252)