RCPP and Forest Habitat Projects application cut-off date of December 16th announced for the first round of applications for the 2023 fiscal year.
Interested in improving the wildlife habitat on your property? Looking to provide better habitat for ruffed grouse, woodcock, white-tailed deer, and/or declining song bird populations? American Bird Conservancy is working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. The focus of this program is to create and improve young forest habitat that is beneficial to the Golden-winged warbler, the Kirtland’s warbler, and so many other wildlife species.
The Golden-winged warbler is a small forest songbird that has experienced one of the steepest population declines of any forest songbird in the Great Lakes region. Since the 1970’s, we’ve lost about 70% of the global population and 95% of the remaining population resides in Northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The biggest reason for this population decline is loss of habitat through land use changes through agriculture or development and also the succession of forests as they grow old. In short, there’s not enough young forest on the landscape. The Golden-winged warbler primarily uses young aspen and tag alder forests with scattered large trees for singing and thick shrubby ground for nesting.
The Kirtland’s warbler also needs young forest, but it requires young jack pine forests instead. Youn can see this in jack pine forests that are between 5 and 21 years old and have a high tree density with scattered open pockets. The Kirtland’s warbler was recently removed from the Endangered Species List in 2019 after decades of intensive conservation management to save it from extinction. American Bird Conservancy is now an active part of working to continue the conservation efforts that this bird relies on.
While forest songbirds are the target for this program, the management used can be tailored to benefit game wildlife species, because young forest habitat is highly beneficial to so much more than forest birds. White-tailed deer, black bear, and even monarch butterflies will all use this young forest at some stage in their life. Private landowners with suitable forest types may be eligible for financial assistance through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. You’ll work closely with an American Bird Conservancy forester to plan out the on-the-ground management activities to improve your forestland.
Interested in improving the wildlife habitat on your property? Looking to provide better habitat for ruffed grouse, woodcock, white-tailed deer, and/or declining song bird populations? American Bird Conservancy is working with the Natural Resources Conservation Service through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. The focus of this program is to create and improve young forest habitat that is beneficial to the Golden-winged warbler, the Kirtland’s warbler, and so many other wildlife species.
The Golden-winged warbler is a small forest songbird that has experienced one of the steepest population declines of any forest songbird in the Great Lakes region. Since the 1970’s, we’ve lost about 70% of the global population and 95% of the remaining population resides in Northern Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Michigan. The biggest reason for this population decline is loss of habitat through land use changes through agriculture or development and also the succession of forests as they grow old. In short, there’s not enough young forest on the landscape. The Golden-winged warbler primarily uses young aspen and tag alder forests with scattered large trees for singing and thick shrubby ground for nesting.
The Kirtland’s warbler also needs young forest, but it requires young jack pine forests instead. Youn can see this in jack pine forests that are between 5 and 21 years old and have a high tree density with scattered open pockets. The Kirtland’s warbler was recently removed from the Endangered Species List in 2019 after decades of intensive conservation management to save it from extinction. American Bird Conservancy is now an active part of working to continue the conservation efforts that this bird relies on.
While forest songbirds are the target for this program, the management used can be tailored to benefit game wildlife species, because young forest habitat is highly beneficial to so much more than forest birds. White-tailed deer, black bear, and even monarch butterflies will all use this young forest at some stage in their life. Private landowners with suitable forest types may be eligible for financial assistance through the Regional Conservation Partnership Program. You’ll work closely with an American Bird Conservancy forester to plan out the on-the-ground management activities to improve your forestland.
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Interested in learning more? Contact American Bird Conservancy's forester, Michael Paling.
Phone: (906) 251-3065 email: mpaling@abcbirds.org |
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