The endangered Kirtland’s warbler breeds only in Michigan and winters only in the Bahamas. Research and management efforts have focused on the breeding grounds. The singing male census of 2003 counted over 1,200. However, winter requirements of Kirtland’s warblers in the Bahamas are poorly known.

The Kirtland’s Warbler Training and Research Project was started in 2002 with three principal objectives: 1) provide field experience and training for Bahamian students to build conservation capacity in the country, 2) identify habitat requirements for the Kirtland’s warbler and associated native Bahamian species and focal migrant species, and 3) provide research results to Bahamian and other organizations interested in protection of habitat for the Kirtland’s warbler and other bird species.

Four students from the College of the Bahamas have participated in the project: Ancilleno Davis (Nassau), Jazmine Turner (Nassau), Zeko McKenzie (Freeport, Grand Bahama), and Ingeria Miller (Nassau). The students, an integral part of the research team, collect data once they have received training in mist netting, banding birds, recording field observations, and data entry. Three of these students have come to Michigan for 3 months during the summer between their two Bahamian field seasons. They participate on Kirtland warbler surveys, rare plant and animal monitoring, receive training in forest management, wetland restoration, invasive weed management, and other techniques applicable to Bahamian conservation efforts. In addition, we provide support to students to complete their undergraduate education. Ancilleno Davis is now enrolled at the University of Maryland-Eastern Shore and we anticipate that he will return to the Bahamas with this additional training to help lead conservation efforts.

The project is largely funded by the International Program of the U.S. Forest Service with other funding and support provided by Kirtland Community College, The Nature Conservancy, and Huron-Manistee National Forest. Other cooperators have generously facilitated work of the project: the government of the Bahamas, Bahamas Department of Agriculture, Bahamas National Trust, Eleuthera (Bahamas) land owners, Birder’s Exchange, Kirtland’s Warbler Recovery Team, Michigan Audubon Society, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

We anticipate two more years of field work in The Bahamas, including training more students. We look forward to great progress. Stay tuned!

What does this word mean? ...EXTIRPATED: Any species which can no longer be found locally, but can be found elsewhere in the world.

The American Burying Beetle – This extirpated beetle is a master scavenger. It cleans the environment as it buries small dead mammals and various insects for future consumption. At a length a little over an inch, this beetle is nocturnal and finds its food by smell. Reasons for its decline might be the loss of food sources and loss of habitat. None of these beetles have been seen recently in Michigan.

Critter Quiz

How did the fox snake get its name? (scroll to the bottom of this page for the correct answer!)

A. It inhabits fox dens
B. It can secrete a strong-smelling fluid that smells like the odor of foxes
C. It's good looking
 

CREATURE PROFILE
Ottoe Skipper (Hesperia ottoe)

Making up less than 5% of Michigan’s wetlands, vernal, or seasonal, ponds play a critical role in offering unique natural communities for wildlife. Often small in size, these ponds hold static, non-flowing water for a part of the year and then dry up. This wet-dry cycle results in a firm bottom and more complete decomposition of leaves and other organic matter that finds its way into these ponds. This cycle encourages growth of a select group of wetland plants that also contributes to the uniqueness of this natural community.

These ponds are often formed with underlying soils of clay or silt loam to better hold water. They can result from glacial action, wind action, fire, chemical action like the slow dissolving of limestone, or even the tipping out of root masses as trees fall. Often sited higher in the watershed, where less water will flow into them and potentially erode them away, these ponds are commonly perched above the water table allowing them to dry out seasonally.

Vernal ponds are perfect habitat for a variety of amphibians, crustaceans, and insects - 90 consecutive days of water are enough to allow most insects to mature. These ponds are a safer environment for these animals because they do not support fish that would eat them. This pond life attracts other animals like bats, birds, and reptiles. The unique habitats that are a part of these ponds support a number of endangered and threatened plants and animals.

Because these ponds are typically small and shallow, they are easily drained, filled, or deepened to permanently hold water. Such has been the demise for many of these fragile places of natural beauty. Too often, people have changed the land while not recognizing the value of these wet places of changing character. We have lost too many ponds in the process.

Noticing the continuing loss of these unique wetlands, the Governor, by Executive Directive, has acted to protect small wetlands on public lands that are isolated from lakes and streams. This action extends protection beyond the historical protection of wetlands that are contiguous to lakes and streams. Vernal ponds make up the vast majority of the isolated wetlands so they will now receive a new measure of protection thus preserving their function for the future. This action retains these ponds as examples of what is possible on a minimum amount of land and provides a template for voluntary protection on private land. Do you have a wet corner on your property that you don’t know what to do with?

The Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR) Wildlife Division initiated a new program this year aimed at helping rare wildlife species on private lands. The new Landowner Incentive Program (LIP), funded by MDNR and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is assisting private landowners with enhancing, restoring, and protecting the habitat for these wildlife species. These funds will be used to provide both technical and financial assistance to landowners interested in managing their habitat for a diversity of wildlife.

In Michigan, private lands play a big role in the conservation of wildlife resources. Nearly 75% of the state is privately owned, and this jumps to 97% in southern Lower Michigan where the majority of our threatened and endangered species occur. Some species such as the globally rare Mitchell’s satyr butterfly occur almost exclusively on private land. Private landowners play a major role in the survival of this and many other species. Many landowners take pride in the fact that their land supports rare wildlife and welcome the chance to be good stewards of our natural heritage.

LIP focuses on different ecosystems in various regions of the state. In southern Michigan, the focus is on restoring wetlands and grasslands. In the northern Lower Peninsula, the program is targeting jack pine and pine barren systems. In the Upper Peninsula, the program will help to increase the mesic conifer component in forest systems. Priority areas have been designated within each of these regions to focus efforts and resources (see map).

Rare species are of aesthetic, ecological, educational, historical, recreational, and scientific value. While some species are inherently rare due to small populations or naturally limited habitat, most declines in species populations can be linked to habitat destruction or alteration. Habitat can be lost to development or converted to another use such as agriculture. Habitat can also be severely degraded by the introduction of non-native invasive species (such as purple loosestrife), or it can become degraded by pollution. As part of our natural heritage, conservation of all wildlife species is important for us and future generations.

While most people think of summer as the green season, those of us who view wildlife know that summer comes in a variety of colors. We admit that green gets all the publicity, but look closely and you will see what we mean.

Hidden among the green leaves of the trees and shrubs, a rainbow of colors flits from branch to branch. Vivid colors such as the orange and black markings of the northern oriole to the bright red of the northern cardinal can easily be seen. Less noticeable is the metallic blue of the indigo bunting. Look from one side and you may see a dark gray bird. Take a few steps or get a different angle of light and the bright metallic blue of the feathers shines. The color of the bunting’s feathers is actually produced by the refraction of light rather than containing a blue pigment.

No other group of Michigan birds revels in color than the warbler family. Little splatters of color from yellow to blues, reds, greens and even white helps bird watchers identify species.

Insects are another group that uses color in a variety of ways. Some like katydids, leaf hoppers and others use green as camouflage for protection from predators. Other colors are also used to hide. Moths that sit on birch bark are often white, while others insects mimic the color of gray bark or the brown of twigs. Walking sticks not only use color but use their shape to mimic twigs. There can be no doubt that the champions of color in the insect world are the butterflies. Color in the butterflies is used to attract mates, warning predators or to mimic other butterflies.

A good example of a butterfly that uses color mimicry is the viceroy. The monarch butterfly uses its red and black marking to warn predators that they don’t taste very good. Viceroys have adapted to look very similar to monarchs. Predators have a tough time telling the difference. They avoid viceroys because of their unpleasant encounters with monarchs.

Even frogs, those animals most closely associated with green, can show their colors. Tree frogs are the true color wonders. They can change their color quickly between a gray patchy color to blend in with bark to a bright green to match the surrounding leaves. Northern leopard frogs are normally green with brown patches but can have a genetic variation that may be bluish-green. One of the key characteristics to identifying the pickerel frog is the splash of yellow color on the inside of the hind legs.

Even mammals show their colors in summer. White-tailed deer change from the brown-gray of the heavy winter coat to the reddish-brown of their summer coat. Who could forget the black and white warning signs of the skunk or full red coat of the red fox.

Green is the color of summer but so is red, orange, blue, yellow, indigo, pink and many other shades and hues. Next time you are out keep track of the colors you find.