You can make a difference!

It's Giving Tuesday, and if your email inbox is like mine, it's full of solicitations right now. So I won't waste your time: Here are two very good reasons why the Kirtland's Warbler Alliance is worthy of your support.

1. We accomplish what we say we are going to do. Four years ago, the Michigan DNR asked us to help them conduct the census by identifying, training and organizing volunteers to count Kirtland’s Warblers. With the assistance of our volunteers, the census finished ahead of schedule and the final count showed that the population of the Kirtland’s Warbler remains healthy and stable. It's not 2025 yet, but we're already gearing up for next year's census, which will be conducted in June.

2. The Kirtland's Warbler still needs your help. Yes, it's no longer endangered but many people fail to understand that conservation/jack pine management efforts must continue for as far as we can see into the future. If we've taken fire out of the ecosystem, we humans will need to manage the habitat on behalf of the Kirtland's Warbler and the other species that use the young jack pine as their habitat. It's critical that we help people understand the benefits to the ecosystem and to themselves.

Our to-do list for 2025 is pretty long. Besides helping to organize the Census, we will be hosting our annual Jack Pine Planting Day and making regular trips to Lansing to discuss Kirtland's Warbler conservation with members of the legislature.

I think we are an organization worthy of your support. We're lean, we're focused and we get stuff done -- stuff that directly benefits the Kirtland's Warblers. But if we are going to achieve our goals for the coming year, we will need your help. Please make a donation to the Kirtland's Warbler Alliance today. You can donate at kirtlandswarbler.org/make-a-donation or by mailing a check to The Kirtland's Warbler Alliance, 2310 Science Parkway, Suite 302, Okemos, MI 48864-2525.

We continue to be inspired by the passion that people like you have for Kirtland’s Warbler. Please help us move our work forward by making generous contribution to the Kirtland’s Warbler Alliance today.

From all of us at the Kirtland’s Warbler Alliance, thank you for your support!