First identified in 1851, this small songbird is a rare and highly localized specimen, found only in a few areas of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ontario. With a bluish-gray face and back and bright yellow throat and chest, these warblers are known for constantly bobbing their tails. They nest on the ground under the low hanging branches of mature Jack Pine trees. The Jack Pines need fire to release and spread their seeds, and the prevention of forest fires kept new Jack Pines from growing. The bird’s population dwindled dramatically before it was understood that forest fires were good for the trees as well as the birds. The loss of suitable breeding habitat coupled with their inability to defend nests and young from the Brown-headed Cowbird lead to the significant decrease of the numbers and range of this bird. Kirtland’s Warblers migrate to the southeastern coast of the U.S. on their way to wintering grounds in the Bahamas. Forest management is critical to the survival of this species, and conservation efforts include creating new habitat every year.