As a native Michigander, the Kirtland’s Warbler has been a target bird for many years. When the opportunity to visit Northern Michigan presented itself, we knew exactly what we had to do. My plan was to fly into Traverse City, where I would meet Mike, who was driving over from Wisconsin.
Cherries, Wineries, and Mergansers
I had an hour to kill at the airport, so I spent some time reading tourist brochures and talking to the friendly staff in the gift shop. I learned that Traverse City is the “Cherry Capital of the world,” producing 75% of the U.S.’s tart cherries. I was lucky enough to catch the tail end of the cherry blossom season. Another surprising fact? Michigan has more lighthouses than any other state.
Once Mike arrived, we made the drive to Mission Point Lighthouse on Lake Michigan’s Grand Traverse Bay. The drive was a beautiful one, dotted with wineries. We were surprised to learn there are 52 in the area! We stopped at both Chateau Chantal and Brys Estate Winery and enjoyed some excellent wine. The best birds of the day were three male Common Mergansers in full breeding plumage, their striking white and black feathers a beautiful contrast to the deep blue of the bay. I guess the females were busy on their nests while these three enjoyed a swim.
We spent the night in Grayling at the very clean and affordable Motel 72. It was a surprise to have to scrape ice off the windshield in late May, but luckily, Goodale’s Bakery was open early with great coffee and donuts. Our only mistake was not buying a dozen of the famous cherry donuts.
A Birding Tour and a Conservation Success Story
The next morning, we had about a 45-minute drive to the Mio Ranger Station. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service offers daily tours from May 15-31 to see the warbler, and we had a 7:15 a.m. meeting time. Once our group was assembled, we watched a video about the warbler’s remarkable conservation story. We learned that the estimated population of singing males hit a record low of just 167 in both 1974 and 1987. But thanks to dedicated efforts, the numbers have rebounded to a record high of 1,828 in 2011. The species only breeds in Jack Pine trees between 5 and 20 feet tall, and many people are working hard to restore and maintain their specific nesting habitat.
After the video, we followed the ranger approximately three miles into the Huron-Manistee National Forest. We pulled to the side of a dirt road, and after just a few short minutes, we heard and then saw our target bird! The Kirtland’s Warbler was a beautiful sight and a truly meaningful one to finally see. We saw a total of 15 species on the tour, including a Nashville Warbler and a Vesper Sparrow, both rarities for us.
Our final stop was at a Brown-headed Cowbird trap. These birds are the second greatest threat to the warbler’s survival due to a practice called nest parasitism, where they lay their eggs in other birds’ nests. The young cowbird is bigger and stronger, and may push the warbler chicks out of the nest. Thankfully, Michigan’s aggressive program to remove cowbirds has contributed to the Kirtland’s Warbler’s breeding success.
Two days was not nearly enough time. We look forward to spending more time in Michigan to go birding and visit with family.
Trip Summary:
Trip Birds: 23
Life Birds: 1 Kirtland’s Warbler
Next up: South Dakota Birding
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