The Kirtland’s Warbler was on the verge of extinction 50 years ago. It breeds almost exclusively in Michigan. Image: Dan Kennedy, Michigan DNR.
The area around Houghton Lake and Higgins Lake in Michigan’s northern Lower Peninsula is renowned for its natural beauty and recreational venues. The woods and waterways of the Pere Marquette and Au Sable state forests are a destination for many who enjoy the great outdoors.
It’s also a region acclaimed for an endangered yet beloved bird. Fifty years ago, the Kirtland’s Warbler was in danger of extinction, but a series of conservation efforts are bringing this environmental icon back to healthier numbers.
Current State’s Kevin Lavery set off to find this striking bird in its unique forest habitat.
This story first appeared on WKAR’s Current Stateand is republished here with permission.