Welcome to the Kirtland's Warbler GeoTrail (KWGT). This trail will take you in a loop in central Northern Michigan through the Jack Pine ecosystem, breeding home of the Kirtland's Warbler. This tour takes you to a total of 25 caches with an amazing trackable geocoin as a reward. The KWGT Passport can be downloaded here: https://f81c572e-1d95-4026-befc-8c60f69cbcd9.filesusr.com/ugd/31e003_41b2f3aa918442e8b08c880e746e6946.pdf
The Endangered Species Act (ESA) is a federal act passed by Congress in 1973 with bipartisan support and is our country’s most effective law to prevent species from extinction. The Act directs that the Secretary of the Interior and the Secretary of Commerce, in cooperation with the States and other Federal entities, to carry out a national program for the conservation of fish, wildlife, and plant species facing extinction. In 1974, the Michigan legislature passed its own Endangered Species Act, charging the Michigan Department of Natural Resources with the responsibility for protection and enhancement of those species in Michigan. In 1975, the Secretary of the Interior formed the Kirtland's Warbler Recovery Team, with one of their responsibilities being the writing of a recovery plan.
Kirtland’s Warblers were among the initial species listed under the ESA. Unlike species such as the Bald Eagle and Peregrine Falcon, something as simple as ending the use of DDT would not work in saving Kirtland’s. Kirtland’s Warblers are conservation-reliant, which means that continuing management needs to be done. In the Kirtland’s case that means habitat creation and Brown-headed Cowbird control. On October 9, 2019, The Kirtland’s Warbler was officially deemed recovered and removed from the Endangered Species List.
Without the passage of the ESA, it is estimated that 227 species would have gone extinct, and it has had over a 99 percent success rate in keeping the more than 1,600 listed species from going extinct.
Cache
The cache is located at the entrance to Guides Rest, a property owned by Trout Unlimited. Trout Unlimited worked with the Michigan DNR to plant this area for Kirtland’s Warbler habitat and to help protect the Au Sable River. Pet owners beware. While I was getting coordinates, my dog found something nasty to roll in near the cache. I found out dry sand helps in removing the worst of it.