Endangered bird species spotted in Simcoe County

A Kirtland's Warbler spotted in Simcoe County Forest in Midhurst, Ont. (County of Simcoe/Facbeook)

A bird species that was once nearly extinct has been recently seen in Simcoe County.

The County of Simcoe says people have recently spotted two Kirtland’s Warblers, globally endangered migratory songbirds, at the Simcoe County Forest.

The birds were found within a pine—oak forest, a site the County has recently restored and a habitat preferred by the endangered birds. This habitat has increasingly become uncommon for them to find.

In 2018, the Simcoe County Forestry Department set a portion of the forest on fire, intentionally, to wipe out the overgrowing of non-native tree species to make room for native species instead.

• 30 hectares of forest burned near Barrie

The project, which was created by a number of organizations, was the first of its kind in Canada and is part of a broader international plan to recover the Kirtland’s Warbler.

There are currently only 5,000 of them left in the world.

For residents visiting the area, they may be lucky enough to catch a glimpse of the endangered bird on the Museum Tract, located beside the Simcoe County Museum, spanning 130 acres.

The birds are expected to be around until early July.

With nests on the ground at the base of a tree or near lower branches, Kirtland’s Warblers are highly vulnerable and sensitive to disturbance so the County of Simcoe has some guidelines for people to follow.

Those include staying on designated trails, keeping noise to a minimum, keeping a safe distance from all wildlife including the birds and keeping dogs on a leash and under control.