Kirkland's Warbler Group (KWA)

Kirtland's Warbler Group (L to R)
Bobby, Beverly, Cindy, Nick

     Kirtland’s Warbler Group, or KWG as we prefer -- at Magee Marsh:  Okay, that’s what we called ourselves after spotting the Kirtland’s Warbler (see the May 9^th post).  The four of us who first spotted the Kirtland’s got together on the boardwalk  Friday morning May 11 and took the above photo.  Our photographer was none other than Richard Crossley, of Crossley ID Guide fame.

Below is the first image I shot of the Kirtland’s.  Though the image is cropped,  the extension tubes did give me a close-up.  If you want to see a full frame of the bird click here for the May 9^th post.   Thankfully I was able to get the extension tubes off in time to get the shot.

Kirtland's Warbler (head shot)

Richard Crossley (L) with KWG

Pic of the Day

Kirtland's Warbler, Setophaga Kirtlandii:  Jack Pine forest near Grayling, Michigan

     The Kirtland’s Warbler is one of the most endangered birds in North America.   I photographed this Male Kirtland's on it breeding grounds near Grayling, Michigan.  Males vigorously defend their breeding territory throughout the breeding season with a bold, distinctive song that is sung from the highest perches in its territory.  Its vociferous song makes the male an easy bird to find.
(Hear the Kirtland’s song here: http://birds.audubon.org/birds/kirtlands-warbler)

     One of the best ways to get up close and personal with the Kirtland’s is to join one of the many tours out of Mio, and Grayling, Michigan.  I was on a tour out of Grayling when I took this shot.  The Michigan Audubon employs a seasonal guide to lead Kirtland's Warbler tours.  Michigan Audubon works in conjunction with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.  All the guides that I have met, or been on tours with are very experienced birders and very knowledgeable about the Kirtland’s and its conservation.
(Learn more about the tours here: http://www.michiganaudubon.org/kirtlandswarbler.html

or http://www.fws.gov/midwest/EastLansing/te/kiwa/tour.html)

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1000 second @ f5.6

Pic of the Day

     Kirtland’s Warbler – Grayling, Michigan:  This is another image of the same warbler in the last post.  Here are a few facts about the Kirtland’s Warbler:

•  First identified in 1851 from a specimen collected near Cleveland, Ohio and collected on Dr. Jared Kirtland’s farm. (obviously a migratory bird on)

•  Nesting ground was not discovered until 1903.

•  Kirtland’s nest on the ground under jack pines that are 5-20 feet tall which range from 6 to 22 years old.

•  A pair of Kirtland’s require at least eight acres of dense young jack pine forest.

•  Females lay 4 to 5 eggs, and the chicks remain in the nest for 9 to 10 days.
•  Kirtland's winter in the Bahamas.
•  Wintering grounds were not discovered until the early 1990's

•  Cowbirds are a threat to the Kirtland’s, as cowbirds parasitize Kirtland’s nest.

•  A cowbird removal program was instituted in 1972.  Prior to the removal program cowbird parasitized     70% of the Kirtland’s nest.  After the first year of the program cowbird parasitizing dropped to 7%.

•  The ongoing battle to save the Kirtland’s Warbler from extinction is waged by the U.S. Fish and   Wildlife Service, The U.S. Forest Service, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, and the U.S.     Geological Survey.

Most fact posted here are from the following website:

http://www.fws.gov/midwest/endangered/birds/Kirtland/kiwafctsht.html

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1,000sec @ f5.6, on tripod

Pic of the Day: Rare Bird At Magee Marsh, Ohio

     Kirtland’s Warbler – Magee Marsh, Ohio:  Norma and I left last Friday for Magee Marsh, Ohio.  Magee is a must destination to see Neotropical migrants winging north.  Magee is at its best the first three weeks of May, especially when the wind is blowing from the north.

     We stopped in Louisville, Friday evening and spent Saturday with our daughter and son-in-law.  Then it was off to Magee on Saturday night.  We arrived at Magee on Sunday morning at 2:45A.M. 

     Sunday and Monday were quite slow.  Warblers were high and not coming down for photos, but on Tuesday evening the birds began to come out of the tree tops and I got a few images.

     Today (Wednesday) however, is a RED LETTER DAY.  I spent about thirty minutes photographing a singing yellow warbler that was quite cooperative.  Then, from the same spot a downy woodpecker flew-in, clung to the side of a dead limb and began preening.  Again, a great photo op.

     After the downy, I when back to the yellow warblers when a friend motioned for me to come toward her.  As I got closer she told me a black-billed cuckoo was in the open and would make an easy target for my camera.  Now I found myself shooting black-billed cuckoo.  A bird I had never photographed before.  But my day was just beginning!

    There were four of us at the location I was photographing the cuckoo.  Nick and Cindy Crease, a couple of Brits, now living in Canada, Beverly VanDyke from Kansas City, and myself.  While shooting the cuckoo Nick says, “is this a female magnolia (magnolia warbler)?  Beverly turned, then I turned and Beverly says…”It’s a KIRTLAND’S! I followed with It is a KIRTLANDS! This was just unbelievable!  I had seen Kirtland’s warbler in Mio and Grayling, Michigan on their nesting grounds, but never during migration.  Kirtland’s are rarely seen on migration, but I was in the right place at the right time to see it here at Magee Marsh.

     I quickly turn my camera on the warbler and began to shoot.  However, I had added an extension tube to my lens when shooting the cuckoo.  The Kirtland’s was less than a dozen feet in front of me and it was too large in the frame, I was only getting a part of the bird.

Here was the best opportunity I have ever had to photograph this rare bird, and I was, of all things, TOO CLOSE.  Calmly, and I kept saying to myself, stay calm, stay calm, stay clam, I removed the extension tube, reattached the camera and followed the bird as it moved to a branch twelve feet in front of me.  I shot four images.  The first shot nailed the bird.  It was tack sharp, and had a perfect background. 

     The four of us,  Nick, Cindy, Beverly and myself had the kirtland’s to ourselves for less than thirty seconds.  No sooner had Beverly and I said the word Kirtland’s, another nearby birder was on the scene yelling in both directions, KIRTLAND’S, KIRTLAND’S.  In less than five-minutes hundreds of birder’s had laid their eyes on this rare jewel at Magee Marsh.  

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, with 1.4 extender.  1/200second @ f8 with fill flash.

Magee Marsh

 Kirtland's Warbler, Setophaga Kirtlandii:  Magee Marsh, Estuary Trail

Bay-breasted Warbler, Setophaga castanet:  Magee Marsh, Estuary Trail

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher, Polioptila cerulean:  Magee Marsh, Magee Marsh Bird Center

      I spent ten days at Magee Marsh earlier this Month photographing spring migrants.  This was not the best year for Magee migrants, but I was able to get a few good images.  Northeasterly winds hindered migration, and most days were cold and rainy. While birds were less numerous I did see 114 different species, about ten less than last year, but I did get a Kirtland’s Warbler!

Kirtland's Warbler - Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/320 second @ f/7.1

Bay-breasted Warbler - Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/800 second @ f/7.1

Blue-gray Gnatcatcher - Nikon D800, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/400 @ f/7.1

Pic of the Day

     Kirtland’s Warbler -- Grayling, Michigan:  When I was at Magee Marsh in May I saw and photographed a Kirtland’s Warbler.  This was not the first time I had seen the bird; back in 1979 my wife and I drove to Grayling to see the Kirkland’s on its nesting grounds.  We saw many birds, especially males singing on their territory.  The birds were easy to see, but a little too far away for good photographs. 
     Over the years I have made a number of trips to Grayling and Mio to photograph the Kirkland’s; spending many mornings on the warbler tours trying to get good images.  With each trip I saw many birds, but was never happy with the images.  Birds were always too far away for good images.

     On June 3, I was on another tour.  There were three of us, plus the guide the morning started out great.  No sooner had we hit the trail into the jack pines a male Kirtland’s pop-up on a limb and began sing.  The day was young and the sun was still behind the clouds on the horizon.  The light was dull, but I shot a few images, I wanted more….what photographer doesn’t!

     As we walked along the path Kirtland’s were singing all around us, but they are all to distance photograph.  We walked half a mile, and the sun had broken through the clouds, but no luck with any birds close enough for photography.

     As we headed back our guide stopped where we had heard a male singing earlier.  She said, “we should wait here a while, this birds territory is on both sides of the tail.”  As we stood listening to the bird, we glimpsed a female moving through the lower level of the jack pines.  A moment later the male followed in her path, then climbed to the top of a small jack pine and began singing.  Within minutes the male flew past, almost hitting me, then it landed in a leafless willow a dozen feet in front of me.  Alighting in the willow the Kirtland’s climbed upward and began singing its territorial song.  In full sunlight the bird put on quite a show as I shot frame after frame.  The turn of events was very pleasing!

    As I continued my walk out of the jack pines two more males put on a show.  I posted those images soon after they were taken.  Click here to see the previous Kirtland’s post: http://bobbyharrison.blogspot.com/search?q=Kirtland%27s+Warbler

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/2,000sec. @ f5 

Pic of the Day

Kirtland's Warbler, Setophaga Kirtlandii:  Grayling, Michigan

     Taken on a beautiful spring morning a couple of years ago near Grayling, Michigan on the Kirtland's breeding grounds.  This little guy was singing his heart out defending his territory.  I photographed this bird and its mate on a Kirtland's Warbler tour out of Grayling.  I have made a number to trips to photograph this endangered species over the years, but the last trip I made a couple of years ago was the absolute best, as this bird came quite close.  I'm looking forward to making another trip this coming spring.  

(Notice, winter has not yet arrived and I'm already looking forward to spring.)

Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f/4, 1/1600 second @ f/5

Pic of the Day

     Kirtland’s Warbler on Jack Pine – Grayling, Michigan:  After flying from the Bahamas this fellow went right to work establishing a nesting territory among the Jack Pines in the upper part of lower Michigan. 

      Jack Pine Warbler, is another name for the Kirtland’s, as the Jack Pine ecosystem is the only habitat this bird uses to nest.  The bird is a ground nester and prefers trees that are about 4 to 20 feet in height to nest under.  This bird was in perfect Kirtland’s habitat with trees 8 to 12 years old and 4 to 10 feet tall. 

      The nesting grounds of the Kirtland’s is closed to the public so I had to take the tour to have any hope of getting shots of the bird on it’s nesting ground.  This is the fourth time I have driven to Graying to see the bird and this time was the first encounter that left me with some nice photos of the bird.   After shooting a male singing in a deciduous tree I came across this bird singing while perched in a Jack Pine.  This bird put on quite a show and gave me the opportunity to shoot a lot of images.  I went on the tour 3 more mornings, but none gave me better shots.  I’ll post a few more Kirtland’s over the next few days.  


Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/1,600 sec. @ f5

Pic of the Day

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus

Point Pelee, Canada; Shows rose colored breast.

Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus: Hartwick Pines State
Park; Grayling, Michigan

     Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Pheucticus ludovicianus – Hartwick Pines State Park; Grayling, Michigan:  The rose-breasted grosbeak is a common visitor to my bird feeder for about two weeks in April, and for two weeks that span late September and early October during the fall. 

     I am always excited when the grosbeaks arrive; they bring brilliant contrast and color to my feeders with their dapper plumage.  Back in my bird-banding days I would often catch the hefty birds in my mist nets.  Grosbeaks have strong beaks that are ideally suited for cracking hard seed shells, as well as drawing blood from a bird-bander’s finger. 

When I would find a rose-breasted grosbeak in my mist net, I would take a small stick, about two-inches long, and hold it in front of the grosbeaks, beak.  The grosbeak would immediately reach out and bit the stick, latch onto it and not let go.  I could then retrieve the bird from the mist net, and band it without the bird biting me;……..those were the days!

     Grosbeaks that I see at my feeders in April are stopping to refuel.  They are migrating, heading north to breeding grounds in our northern states and Canada.  This past June, I was in Michigan where rose-breasted grosbeak nest.  While on the Kirtland’s warbler tour I ask the guide about good birding locations in the Grayling area.  She had lots of locations to tell me about, but the one that sounded the most interesting was Hartwick Pines State Park.   Hartwick Pines is the largest state park in Michigan and has a large variety of birds.  She told me I could get good photographs of rose-breasted grosbeak there.  That was all it took.  I did not have a wide variety of rose-breasted grosbeak images in my files, so I was off to Hartwick Pines. 

     When I arrived, it was more that I could have imagined, both rose-breasted and evening grosbeaks were flying to and from the feeders, landing on branches within easy photographic range.  Other birds taking advantage of the easy pickings at the feeders were hairy woodpeckers, scarlet tanagers, blue jays, and ruby-throated hummingbirds.  Hartwick Pines is a great location to see these two grosbeak species and a priority stop if you plan on visiting the Grayling area.  I’ll post an evening grosbeak soon.     

Top Image:  Nikon D300, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/250 second @ f9, Tripod

Bottom Image:  Nikon D7000, Nikkor 500mm f4, 1/60 second @ f 4, Tripod