Guided Kirtland’s Warbler Tours Available Through Hartwick Pines State Park

Kirtland’s Warbler Tours are a great way to see this once federally endangered bird species and celebrate the conservation success story that brought it back from the edge of extinction.

Michigan Audubon is happy to announce that guided Kirtland’s Warbler tours will again be offered at Hartwick Pines State Park from May 28 through June 27.

Registration: Pre-registration is required, and tours are expected to fill up quickly. Tour sizes are limited to 20 people.

Dates and Times of Tours: Tours will occur from May 28 through June 27 on Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays. On Fridays, tours are at 7 a.m., and two tour times are offered on Saturdays and Sundays at 7 a.m. and 11 a.m.

Tour Location: Tour attendees meet in the parking lot of the Hartwick Pines Visitor Center. Hartwick Pines is located in Grayling, Mich., and is one of the largest state parks in the Lower Peninsula. The park features 49 acres of old-growth pine forest and 21 miles of trails.

Cost: There is no cost for the KIWA guided tours this year. A Recreation Passport is required to enter Hartwick Pines State Park, which can be obtained at michigan.gov/recreationpassport.

Health Precautions: Tour participants are required to wear a mask and practice social distancing while on the tour, whether indoors or outdoors. If you have a fever, respiratory symptoms, or are not feeling well, please stay home.

Questions: Email Craig Kasmer (Hartwick Pines State Park) at kasmerc@michigan.gov or Michigan Audubon at events@michiganaudubon.org for more information.

Guidelines for Looking for the Kirtland’s Warbler on Your Own

Are there ways you can view a Kirtland’s Warbler on your own? Of course! In fact, many birders report sightings of this bird to the eBird app, which gives other birders direct locations to check out for viewing potential this summer.

Birding for KIWAs

This recently delisted, vulnerable songbird and its endangered, native habitat need to be treated with care and respect. Kirtland’s Warblers nest in jack pine forest stands on the sandy grounds of northern Michigan. They prefer trees that are 5–20 feet tall and at least six years old. The birds use lower branches for nest cover, creating very specific age and height requirements for the trees. Because of these requirements, large swaths of jack pine need to be maintained to fall within the Kirtland’s Warbler’s specifications.

Look Out Below!

Kirtland’s Warbler nests are extremely vulnerable to being trampled upon accidentally, so look where you step! Anyone visiting the Kirtland’s Warbler’s breeding grounds should remain on pre-existing trails or two-track roads while birding. Stepping into the jack pine stands should be avoided, as it disturbs nests and nesting sites.

Visitors hoping to see or photograph Kirtland’s Warblers should follow the American Birding Association’s Code of Birding Ethics in their birding etiquette, and stay on those trails! Give the bird ample space when viewing and be a conscientious observer.

Little Bird, Big History

The Kirtland’s Warbler is an extraordinary bird, representing an important and powerful conservation success story right in Michigan. Once listed as a federally endangered species, this bird has rebounded in large thanks to many people, groups, and successful conservation management strategies.

This article appeared in the 2021 Spring Jack Pine Warbler.

Click here to register for a Kirtland’s Warbler Tour

Other Tours

The U.S. Forest Service offers a Jack Pine Wildlife Viewing Tour at the Mio Ranger District in the Huron-Manistee National Forest. This self-guided auto-tour takes you through jack pine habitat that houses a variety of wildlife including Kirtland’s Warbler. Interpretive signage is viewable along the route, highlighting habitat management and area wildlife. Occupied Kirtland’s Warbler habitat is closed to public entry during nesting seasons to protect the birds.

The AuSable Valley Audubon will not be holding guided tours in 2021 but are hopeful they will resume in 2022.

Independent Viewing

There are opportunities for viewing Kirtland’s Warblers independently. Many birders report sightings to eBird or are willing to share locations with others. However, Kirtland’s Warbler populations are still vulnerable and need to be treated with a great deal of respect.

The Kirtland’s Warbler will only nest in jack pine stands on the sandy ground, leaving them vulnerable to being trampled upon. Anyone visiting Kirtland’s Warbler breeding grounds should stay on pre-existing trails or two-tracks and not step into the jack pine stands to avoid disturbing nests and nesting sites.

Visitors hoping to see and/or photograph Kirtland’s Warblers should take care to follow standard birding ethics and etiquette in giving them space and doing their part to not disturb or disrupt the nesting and breeding process. For more information about birding ethics, please refer to the ABA Code of Birding Ethics.

Kirtland’s Warbler. Photo by Nancy Gaudino | APA

What Makes the Kirtland’s Warbler Special

Once listed as federally endangered, the Kirtland’s Warbler has made a huge recovery due to conservation management practices. Kirtland’s Warblers nest in jack pine forests and prefer trees 5 to 20 feet tall and 6 to 22 years old. The birds use lower branches for cover for their nests, creating particular age and height requirements. These requirements were once maintained through natural forest fires, but due to modern-day fire suppression, their preferred habitat severely dwindled and the species’ population numbers fell drastically.

Through coordinated conservation efforts by multiple organizations, jack pine habitat is now monitored and managed to create the habitat the Kirtland’s Warbler relies on. The species has been exceeding its recovery goal for nearly two decades and has now reached a population size of greater than double that goal. In 2019, the population was estimated to surpass 2,300 breeding pairs across its range.

The Kirtland’s Warbler recovery story highlights the importance of how science informs management to successfully conserve threatened and endangered species. This species will continue to be adaptively managed to optimize its ecological status. “The collaborative, successful movement to save a beloved songbird from extinction is a celebratory milestone,” Executive Director Heather Good said. “Michigan Audubon is proud to be a part of supporting this bird and its habitat.”