A Big Step for a Little Bird
Earlier this year, in the month of May, something wonderful happened for a special little bird. The Kirtland’s warbler, a small yellow and gray songbird, was officially taken off the “endangered” list. This is a list that tells us which animals are in the most danger of disappearing forever. For over 50 years, this bird was on that list, but now, thanks to a lot of hard work, it is safe and its population is growing.
The Kirtland’s warbler is a very picky bird. It only builds its nests on the ground in young jack pine forests in Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ontario, Canada. These forests need fire to grow properly. For many years, people worked hard to prevent all forest fires to keep communities safe. This was a good thing for people, but it meant the young forests the warblers needed stopped growing. Without the right home, there were fewer and fewer birds. At one point, scientists could only find about 200 singing male warblers in the whole world.
People knew they had to help. Scientists, forest rangers, and volunteers teamed up. They learned how to carefully use controlled burns and plant new trees to create the perfect young forests for the warblers. They also had to watch out for brown-headed cowbirds. These birds would lay their eggs in the warbler’s nest, and the bigger cowbird chicks would take all the food. People put up special traps to gently catch the cowbirds and move them away during nesting season.
Year after year, people kept working. They planted trees, managed the forests, and protected the nests. Slowly, the number of Kirtland’s warblers began to climb. From 200 birds, the population grew to over 2,000 pairs! This amazing recovery showed that when people understand a problem and work together, they can make a big difference.
Taking a bird off the endangered list is called “delisting.” It is a happy moment and a reason to celebrate. It means the bird is no longer in immediate danger of extinction. However, it does not mean the work is over. Conservation groups have made a plan to keep protecting the warbler’s forest home for the next 50 years. They promise to keep counting the birds and taking care of the trees so that these cheerful, singing warblers will be around for many more generations to enjoy.
Reading Comprehension Questions
1. Why was the Kirtland’s warbler in danger of disappearing?
A. It was hunted by other animals for food.
B. It could not find the right kind of forest for a home.
C. It got sick from a new disease.
D. It flew to places that were too cold.
2. What does it mean when a bird is “delisted” from the endangered list?
A. It is put in a zoo for protection.
B. It is no longer in immediate danger of extinction.
C. It has become the most common bird.
D. Scientists have stopped counting it.
3. How did people help the Kirtland’s warbler population grow?
A. They fed the birds every day in bird feeders.
B. They built houses for the birds in cities.
C. They created young forests and protected nests from cowbirds.
D. They brought all the birds to one safe forest.
4. What was one problem the cowbirds caused for the warblers?
A. They ate all the warbler’s food from the trees.
B. They laid eggs in the warbler’s nest and their chicks took all the food.
C. They chased the warblers away to a different country.
D. They brought a sickness to the warbler’s nest.
5. What is the main lesson of this passage?
A. All forest fires are bad and must be stopped.
B. Birds should always live in zoos.
C. When people work together using science, they can help save animals.
D. Only scientists can help endangered animals.
Vocabulary Words
Endangered – When a type of animal or plant is in danger of disappearing from the world forever.
Population – The total number of a certain type of living thing in one area.
Recovery – The process of getting better or becoming stronger again.
Conservation – The protection of animals, plants, and natural resources.
Volunteers – People who choose to do a job without being paid, usually to help others.
Answer Key
1. B
2. B
3. C
4. B
5. C
