Michigan Might Get a New State Bird

According to the Cadillac News, Michigan is thinking about dismissing the robin as the official Michigan state bird, in favor of the Kirtland's warbler.

The Kirtland's warbler is a small yellow-chested bird that, for the most part, lives in Oscoda, Crawford, and Ogemaw counties. In the fall, they're smart enough to fly down and winter in the Bahamas. In May, they turn around and make the trip back up north.

David Ewert, who is director of the Kirtland's Warbler Program for the American Bird Conservancy says, "We don't really know" why they go to the Bahamas. (Has he ever been in Grayling in February?)

According to the article, the Kirtland's warbler was put in jeopardy by over-hunting of bison and forest fires. The numbers in the wild were down to around 300 birds in the 80s. With conservation efforts, the population is now up to around 2,400 and they could be coming off the Endangered Species list. Now, the push is on to replace the robin with the Kirtland's warbler as the new state bird.

Here's the story.