I am not sure habitat has anything to do with it since migrants can 
show up anywhere.  More to the point is that if you draw a line from the 
Kirtland's wintering grounds in the Bahamas to the nesting grounds in 
Michigan (or to the new populations in Wisconsin) Maryland isn't along the 
presumed migration route.  More likely in the fall with young birds flying 
off course .

Paul Woodward
Fairfax City, VA


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Phil Davis" <>
To: <>
Sent: Sunday, March 14, 2010 8:15 PM
Subject: Re: [MDOSPREY] Kirtland's Warbler search in Maryland?


> Gail, et al:
>
> I had always assumed that along the C&O canal in migration was the best 
> bet for Maryland. I know we had an experienced observer report one once 
> from the Nolan's Ferry C&O pathway in May, but it was unconfirmed. Maybe 
> suitable habitat in far western Maryland would be another shot ...?
>
> Maybe some of our GIS experts could do an analysis like what they did for 
> the Five-Striped Sparrow in Arizona where they took the aerial 
> characteristics of the habitat in California Gulch, where the bird is 
> regularly found, and then used GIS tools to search for other similar 
> habitat. Sure enough, the tools led them to find the bird in another (but 
> very inaccessible) location.
>
> Phil
>
>
> At 08:13 PM 03/14/2010, Gail Mackiernan wrote:
>>Recall that a singing male Kirtland's Warbler was recorded in Maine in 
>>June
>>2008  -- this at the Nature Conservancy preserve of Kennebunk Plains, an
>>open heath/grass area with scattered scrub pine clumps -- very much like 
>>the
>>same birds' habitat in Michigan. I think the bird was around for only a
>>short time after its initial discovery but could have been present for 
>>much
>>longer period before a knowing birder saw it.
>>
>>Gail Mackiernan
>>Colesville, MD
>
> ==================================
> Phil Davis      Davidsonville, Maryland     USA
>                 mailto:[log in to unmask]
> ==================================