Elijah's write-up about our Kirtland's Warbler trip

On the 22^nd of June, I had the opportunity to go on a birding trip with my family to try to see a Kirtland’s Warbler.  We woke up at 4:00 am and drove up to Grayling, MI.  We had to be there for the Kirtland’s Warbler tour by 7:00 am.  We got to Grayling, we went to the Ramada Inn Conference Room and watched a movie about Kirtland’s Warblers.  It talked about the history and success of the conservation efforts.  After that, we caravanned along a road with many Jack Pine fields, with both short and tall trees.  We stopped at a small, unmarked parking lot and as soon as we exited our van, we could hear the call of the Kirtland’s Warbler across the road.

The Kirtland’s Warbler is a very picky nester.  They will only nest in areas of 80 acres or more and the Jack Pines within have to be between 5 and 20 feet tall.  In Michigan, they clear the forests that are too tall and plant new ones to replace the old trees.  The old trees go to companies and get sold which makes more jobs so that the Jack Pines are a benefit to the warblers and to people.

Cowbirds are a problem, but are being controlled and are less of a problem with the controls.  It used to be that 70% of the nests of Kirtland’s Warblers were parasitized and is down to only 6% of the nests being parasitized.  Cowbirds are considered parasitic because they lay their eggs in other birds’ nests.  When the young hatch, they are larger than the warbler nestlings and Cowbird chicks are often fed more to the detriment of warbler species.

Before we started walking through the Jack Pines on a two-track, Allison (who is employed by Michigan Audubon to give the tours) told us not to step off of the two-track because we didn’t want to cause early fledging of warbler nestlings.

While we were walking, we saw and heard many cool birds including: Vesper Sparrow, Lincoln’s Sparrow, Field Sparrow, Eastern Kingbird, Yellow-bellied Sapsucker, Brown Thrasher, Palm Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Common Nighthawk, Upland Sandpiper (they have the most amazing call!), and Clay-colored Sparrow.  While we were there, I noticed that the Clay-colored Sparrow sounded more like a grasshopper than the Grasshopper Sparrow that I heard on an outing a couple of weeks ago.

We heard Kirtland’s Warblers all along the way, but had trouble locating them in binoculars or scope.  It was the last of all of the birds we saw.  Walking back along the two-track, we were able to see some of the warblers we had missed on the way out (photo by Elijah).

Kirtland's warbler.  Yellow streaked belly with a grey back.  There are only about 4000 of these left in the world.

When we got back to the parking lot, Allison offered to show us a cowbird trap.  We said we would, so we followed her to another place and there was a cage made of chicken wire and wood.  On the top, there was a slot that the Cowbirds could get through, but couldn’t get out.  Inside there was millet to attract them and other captured Cowbirds (with yellow tape on their legs to identify them).  The other Cowbirds are in the cage because Cowbirds are social and are attracted by a group.

This time, the trap had attracted one wild Cowbird and Allison entered through a latched door and captured the wild one with her bare hands.  These Cowbirds are being used this year by a college that is doing research on the genetics of resident Texas Cowbirds versus migrating Cowbirds.

The cowbird trap.

Allison with a Brown-headed Cowbird.

Stretching out the wing helps researchers find the age of a bird.

We finished our day at Hartwick Pines State Park.  From the Visitor Center, we were able to see Evening Grosbeaks feeding at the window feeders.  On a hike, we heard a few species of breeding warblers and later on Scenic Road which is a drive, we saw another Evening Grosbeak (photo by Nathan),  an Ovenbird, and a Black-billed Cuckoo.



Evening Grosbeak on the road.


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After the Kirtland Warbler tour, we took a hike at Hartwick Pines State Park.





I found these on our hike.  Any guesses what they are?



Click on the picture to enlarge it.  This is a wooly aphid.  Amazing huh?



The kids in front of Hartwick Pines State Park sign.