I have been going to The Biggest Week in American Birding with my local friends for four years now. Many things kept drawing us back to the festival – warblers foraging down low, rare bird locations getting tweeted to my phone, old friends that we’ve met through the years, new friends that we will meet, awesome vendors, socials and the chance to see one special bird who we missed year-after-year, the Kirtland’s Warbler. The Kirtland’s Warbler is one of the rarest members of the wood warbler family, listed as a threatened species. They have very selective nesting habitat in the jack pine forests of Michigan and winter in the Bahamas. It is a very rare treat to see them during migration.
During our first two years, a Kirtland’s Warbler showed up just after we left. Last year, the one seen during the festival was in an area that we could not get to. We were hoping that this would be our year. We were in the middle of doing a casual big day, trying to see as many species of birds as possible, starting at Magee Marsh and making our way to Oak Openings. We had two cars full of people and just finished looking at some newly-arrived Upland Sandpipers when one of us received a text message from a friend. Then the tweet came through to follow it up.
Kirtland’s Warbler! White Oak Area in Oak Openings. After parking lot, walk 300ft past bridge. Erik Bruhnke/Naturally Avian Birding Tours.
— Biggest Week (@BiggestWeek) May 13, 2015
It was a nice coincidence that we were making our way to Oak Openings anyway. Our car went on to chase the bird as the other one continued the big day – it was a life bird for all four of us – the life bird that we all wanted badly. We anxiously made the forty-minute drive in hopes of beating the big crowd since we had a head start from those on the boardwalk. Meanwhile, the group who found the bird gave directions on where to find her in the large park.
Go to the intersection of Oak Openings Parkway and Evergreen Lake Trail, and head south along the paved trail. Good luck everyone! -Erik B
— Biggest Week (@BiggestWeek) May 13, 2015
When we arrived, we saw all binoculars in the trees. We heard some “oohs” and “aahs” which reassured us that the bird was still present.
Who is looking at who here?
There she was. Mine and my friends’ lifer Kirtland’s Warbler. We watched her as she foraged down low in the same spot for over an hour, flitting from branch-to-branch with no mind of the crowd ogling her.
The star of our trip, a female Kirtland’s Warbler
A very cooperative Kirtland’s Warbler
A very respectable Kirtland’s Warbler crowd
She gave us a great show and even stopped to stretch and preen for a little while.
Kirtland’s Warbler stretching
The other car from our big day met back up with us and we continued on with our birding. Before leaving the park, however, our car decided to say one last good bye to this awesome visitor.
Another look at the Kirtland’s Warbler
It felt really good to finally see this beautiful bird. Of course, we hope to see one again next year too!