No Dice On the Warbler

 So I decided to head up to Mio today.  I was hoping to catch a Kirtland Warbler.

I thought that I might have one until I looked closer at this guy.  I think I saw a couple fly by but they never landed in a spot where I could get a picture of one.  I'm not sure what kind of bird this is but he looks pretty cool.

On a Quest

 After the ships and the wildflowers, I decided to head up north.  I was going to continue my quest from last year for a Kirtland warbler.

First I went to a road where I thought I heard some.  Also I saw some signs saying that they were breeding grounds for them.  I didn't see any there, so I went to another spot where I know that I heard one.

As I was looking at the trees, I saw a bird land on one of the branches.  Sadly, it was a ways away and I was shooting into the sun.  AFter some cleaning of the image, I think I got one.

Another angle.  It definitely looks like one.

I thought this was one but it turns out that it is just a sparrow.

A Mourning Dove

 I decided to head up to the Soo for the rest of the weekend.  On the way up, I decided to stop in Mio.  I was hoping to catch a Kirtland's warbler.  Especially since I think my chances of catching one this year becoming slimmer.

I didn't get a Kirtland warbler but I did get this guy.  He's a mourning dove.

The Search for the Kirtland Warbler Part II

 After catching the Munson, there weren't any other ships to catch, so I decided to head up to the Mio area again.  My search last time was cut short by a brake problem.

First I headed to the spot where I thought I saw a warbler last time.  I didn't see a warbler but I saw this scarlet tanager again.  Apparently, people consider seeing one of these lucky.  I will have to admit, it is a stunning bird.

I went to another spot where there were smaller jack pine trees.  I think I heard a couple.  I even think I saw a couple but I couldn't get a picture of them.  I did see the signs that said, "Kirtland warbler area", so I knew I was closer this time.  My mom said I might have better luck in the morning, so I might have to find a hotel in the area and do just that.

Anyway, I figured I could do the second best thing.  This statue was in Mio.  It is dedicated to the Kirtland warbler.

The kirtland warbler is also known as the jack pine warbler.  It is named after John Potter Kirtland who was an amateur birdwatcher and doctor.  It is a small songbird that prefers the jack pines.  Because the jack pine was nearly deforested, the warbler was almost extinct 50 years ago.  Through careful management of the forest, the bird has come off the extinct list.  It's not quite thriving yet, but it is getting there.

Because it almost exclusively lives in Michigan, some people think it should be the state bird instead of the robin.

A Day for the Turkeys

 One of the unfortunate parts though.  As I was driving around the area, my brakes started to make a funny noise.  It was starting to worry me, so I decided to head back.

As I was heading back, I saw a turkey.  Unfortunately, I couldn't get a great picture of him.

Anyway, it turns out that I needed new brakes.  Fortunately, there was a place that was open on Sunday and I was able to get them fixed.  They did a pretty decent job too.  

I think I'm going to try to find a warbler this weekend again.

Whereupon I Catch a Scarlet Tanager Instead

 So I went to one of the spots where I could see a Kirtland warbler and I did end up seeing one but I didn't have my camera ready.  By the time I got my camera ready, he flew off.  So I went to some other spots to see if I could find one.

When I came back to the spot where I saw the Kirtland warbler, I didn't see another one but I did see this guy.

This is a scarlet tanager and it turns out that they are fairly rare but I have seen one before.  I saw one at Ottawa Wildlife Preserve a couple weeks ago.

My mom says that many birders will go a lifetime before they see one.  So I guess I'm lucky.

Going on a Quest for the Kirtland Warbler

 When I came back from Sault Ste Marie on Memorial Day weekend, I decided to take M-33 back home.  It was kind of nice to get on the freeway and apparently, that is the way I would have taken home back in the day.  It was also fairly scenic.  As I got around Mio, I saw signs that mentioned the Kirtland warbler.

The Kirtland warbler is also known as the jack pine warbler and was almost extinct.  It was named after Jared Potter Kirtland, an Ohio native and amateur naturalist.  The Kirtland warbler prefers to breed around jack pines and when the jack pines were almost eliminated, so were the warblers.

Through successful forestry, the jack pine has made a comeback and so has the Kirtland warbler.  When I got home, I decided to look up spots where I might be able to see them.  It didn't take too much digging and I was able to find some spots.