[mou] Fwd: Kirtland's Warblers numbers at new record high

[Jim Williams]

Begin forwarded message:

From: "Cutright.Noel" <Noel.Cutright@we-energies.com>
Date: July 13, 2005 7:50:36 AM CDT
To: "Wisconsin Birding Network" <wisbirdn@lawrence.edu>
Subject: [wisb] Kirtland's Warblers numbers at new record high

FYI - Note that 3 singing males were observed in WI - first I've heard
about it - Noel Cutright, Ozaukee County

Michigan DNR officials released on July 11 annual survey information
indicating the state's population of the endangered Kirtland's Warbler
is increasing.

Biologists, researchers and volunteers counted 1,415 singing males
during the 2005 official census period. This count exceeds the 1,348
males observed in 2004, and represents the largest number recorded since
monitoring began. The census was started in 1951, and has been conducted
annually since 1971. The lowest numbers were recorded in 1974 and 1987,
when only 167 singing males were found.

The Kirtland's Warbler survey is conducted over a 10-day period during
the first two weeks of June each year. The birds are counted by
listening for their songs. The songs can be heard at distances up to
one-quarter mile, providing an excellent way to census the birds with
minimum disturbance.  Only the males sing, so estimates of population
size are obtained by doubling the number of singing males counted.  This
year, singing males (numbers in parentheses) were found in 11 northern
Lower Peninsula counties: Alcona (140), Clare (114), Crawford (227),
Grand Traverse (1), Iosco (131), Kalkaska (9), Montmorency (14), Ogemaw
(479), Oscoda (209), Otsego (47), and Roscommon (26).

Surveyors identified 18 singing males in five Upper Peninsula counties:
Baraga (2), Chippewa (2), Delta (6), Luce (4), and Schoolcraft (4).
Females were observed with the males, indicating continuing nesting
activity in the UP. The production of young has been confirmed in the UP
each year since 1996. In addition to the birds counted in MI, three
singing males were also observed in Wisconsin this year.

The Kirtland's Warbler population depends on northern Michigan's jack
pine barrens ecosystem for nesting habitat. The warbler nests on the
ground and selects nesting sites in stands of jack pine between four and
20 years old.  Historically, these stands of young jack pine were
created by natural wildfires that frequently swept through northern
Michigan. Modern fire suppression programs altered this natural process,
reducing Kirtland's warbler habitat.


To mimic the effects of wildfire and ensure the future of this
endangered species, state and federal wildlife biologists and foresters
annually manage the forests through a combination of clearcutting,
burning, seeding and replanting to promote warbler habitat.
Approximately 3,000 acres of jack pine trees are planted or seeded
annually on state and federal lands.  The resulting new plantations will
provide habitat for warblers in the near future.


"Additional new habitat will become available each year for the next
several years, so we believe the warbler populations will remain stable
or increase," said Elaine Carlson, MDNR wildlife biologist. "The success
of the Kirtland's Warbler management program shows that scientific
wildlife management works."  DNR Endangered Species Coordinator Todd
Hogrefe said the cooperation among the MDNR, U.S. Forest Service, U.S.
Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Michigan Department of Military
Affairs in restoring the warblers' nesting habitat has been outstanding.


"In addition to providing warbler habitat and forest products, the
program provides valuable habitat for a variety of plant species,
songbirds and game animals," Hogrefe said. For more information on the
Kirtland's Warbler, contact the MDNR, Wildlife Division, Natural
Heritage Program, Box 30180, Lansing, MI 48909-7680, or at
www.michigan.gov/dnr.




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