“The Kirtland’s Warbler: Michigan’s Special Bird”

At a time when the world is seeing its species rapidly go extinct, the Kirtland's warbler is not just a survivor, it's a rock star.  People from all over the world come to northern Michigan every year to view this endangered species in its jack pine habitat.  They come to see because it is rare, yes, but the Kirtland’s warbler has a continuing storyline unlike any other animal.  When its total population fell below 400 birds only 25 years ago, a small group of dedicated biologists, researchers and volunteers vowed to save the Kirtland's warbler from extinction, despite long odds.  William Rapai is president of Grosse Pointe Audubon Society and has traveled across North America and to Cuba, Iceland, and Thailand to view and research birds.  He is also an award winning reporter and editor for the Grand Forks Herald, the Detroit Free Press, and the Boston Globe.  Join William who begins with an account of the warbler's discovery in the mid-nineteenth century and tells us about ornithologists' desperate hunt for information about this elusive new species.  His presentation goes on to examine the dramatic events that led to its precarious status, its emergence as a lightning rod for controversy, and how strong leadership, vision, commitment, sustained effort, and cooperation came together to conserve a beautiful and unusual bird.