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 KWGTT Passport can be downloaded here: https://f81c572e-1d95-4026-befc-8c60f69cbcd9.filesusr.com/ugd/31e003_41b2f3aa918442e8b08c880e746e6946.pdf
The cache is not at the posted coordinates. You must answer 10 questions to get the coordinates for the final.
The Kirtland's Warbler (Setophaga kirtlandii) is a rare, neotropical bird. Over 99% of all Kirtland's breed in northern Michigan. The males usually start to arrive from their wintering grounds in The Bahamas in early May, and the females show up about two weeks later. Kirtland's nest almost exclusively in young, Christmas tree sized Jack Pine. They nest on the ground, usually under an overhanging Jack Pine branch near the edge of an opening. While being fed by their mates, females incubate four to five eggs for about 14 days. After hatching, the chicks remain in the nest for another nine or ten days before fledging (leaving the nest).
Jack Pines are dependent on fire to reproduce. They have serotinous cones, which are sealed by resin, and won't open to distribute the seeds until a fire melts the resin. Fires also clear vegetation to provide sunlight to the seedlings. One of the reasons Kirtland's Warblers became endangered is fire suppression. Because of the threat of fire to human property, wildfires are not allowed to run a natural course. This resulted in less breeding habitat than was needed. Now, trees are planted for the Kirtland's, which benefits many species including deer, bear, hares, and many other game and bird species.
Another reason Kirtland's became endangered was the brood parasite Brown-headed Cowbird. Cowbirds evolved in the prairie region following bison herds. Because bison were constantly on the move, cowbirds developed the habit of laying their eggs in other species nests, allowing the other birds to raise the cowbird young. Cowbirds were not originally found in Michigan. They only moved in after the virgin timber was cut down, opening the area by the late 1800s. As a result, Kirtland's never had a chance to develop a defense against cowbirds like prairie birds did. Cowbird young usually hatch a couple of days before the host eggs do, and the young cowbirds are usually a little bigger, and out compete the host nestling. Before cowbird control started, over 70% of the nests were parasitized, and less than 1 young Kirtland's lived long enough to leave the nest.
Kirtland's Warblers start leaving for their wintering grounds in The Bahamas, when they spend the majority of their life, as early as the first week of August.
The first Kirtland's Warbler census of singing males was in 1951, where they found 432 males. The next census was in 1961, where 502 males were counted. In 1971, the census was repeated, and only 201 males were found, causing great concern by the drop off in numbers. A decision was made in 1971 to have an annual census, which continued through 2015. The total for 2015 was 2366, the highest total ever. A decision was made by the Michigan DNR to discontinue the annual census in 2016. The lowest total ever was in 1974 and 1987, where only 167 males were found. Females are not counted as they do not sing. it is assumed that there is one female for every male.
Several campaigns to make the Kirtland's Warbler the state bird, since it is unique to Michigan, have been attempted, but the American Robin remains the state bird of Michigan.
Cache
All the answers for the questions can be found in the Description. Since you must answer 10 questions to get the final coordinates, there will not be a question in the cache. Instead, look for a code word. The posted coordinates are for the center of the old Kirtland Community College, the once long-time home of the Kirtland’s Warbler Festival and where many Kirtland’s Warbler Recovery Team meetings were held. The final is near-by but off campus and not in any habitat ever used by Kirtland’s Warblers.
Answer the following questions to solve N 44 AB.CDE W 084 FG.HIJ for the final location.
A. The Kirtland's Warbler hit their lowest numbers in 1987. What was the census total for 1987?
215=9
327=7
167=2
549=3
B. What tree species make up the habitat that Kirtland's Warblers nest in almost exclusively?
Oak=8
Aspen=6
Jack Pine=9
Maple=0
C. 2015 was the last year there was a full Kirtland's Warbler census. It was also the highest total ever recorded. What was the census total for 2015?
1001=1
2569=9
1776=4
2366=6
D. Where do Kirtland's Warblers build their nests?
On the ground=0
In a tree crotch=1
In an old woodpecker hole=2
In an underground burrow=3
E. Over 99% of all Kirtland's Warblers nest in which state?
Wisconsin=8
Ohio=9
Michigan=2
Pennsylvania=3
F. Where do Kirtland's Warblers winter?
South America=3
The Bahamas=2
Southern United States=6
Mexico=9
G. What brood parasite threatens Kirtland's Warblers?
Black-billed Cuckoo=5
European Starling=1
South Floridian Black Jabiru=7
Brown-headed Cowbird=4
H. Jack Pines are dependent on what to reproduce?
Fire=6
Birds=9
Mice=4
Wind=0
I. How many eggs do Kirtland's Warblers lay?
1-2=9
2-3=1
3-4=2
4-5=3
J. What is the Michigan state bird?
Blue Jay=7
Kirtland's Warbler=1
Black-capped Chickadee=5
American Robin=3
Check Sum A+B+C+D+E=19 F+G+H+I+J=18