Report Nr. 2890 1981 Kirtland's Warbler Census

The year 1981 marked the 30th anniversary of the first census of Kirtland's warblers (Dendroica kirtlandii). This is the eleventh consecutive annual census. From mid-May to mid-June, cooperators spot-check those areas which appear to contain suitable habitat for the presence of singing male warblers. Those found to have birds present are censused during a ten-day period in mid-June (June 5 to 14 in 1981). The 1981 census of Kirtland's warblers indicated about a 4.5 percent drop in the population with a total of 232 singing males tallied this year compared to 243 in 1980. In 1981, no males were located outside of the traditional breeding range in northeastern lower Michigan.