News, Culture and NPR for Central & Northern Michigan

Wildlife officials say Kirtlands Warbler can be removed from endangered species list

Flickr User U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service

State and federal wildlife agencies say the Kirtland's Warbler can safely be removed from the endangered species list. 

That's a kirtland's warbler, a yellow breasted songbird that breeds only in young jack pines, trees found mainly in northern Michigan.  It was one of the first animals given protection under the Endangered Species Act.  There were only about 330 Kirtland's Warblers left in 1987.  Now, thanks to a multi-group effort to expand jack pine acreage there's about 46 hundred.  The coalition will remain active even after the bird is delisted. 

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