ROSCOMMON — Kirtland’s Warbler Weekend is back in Roscommon the weekend of May 31-June 1.
The Kirtland’s Warbler Festival Committee is again partnering with the Higgins Lake-Roscommon Chamber of Commerce’s Annual SummerFest event.
Festival Chair Mike Petrucha said SummerFest includes a classic car show and cornhole tournament, which is expected to create a larger than normal crowd at all three events.
“Our main goal is environmental education,” he said. “One of the highlights for us is all the educational youth activities available at the Kids’ Tent.”
Friday night home opener
The Friday Night Home Opener is scheduled to be held May 31 at the Marguerite Gahagan Nature Center, located at 209 W. Maplehurst Drive in Roscommon from 5-8 p.m. Kaitlyn Kelly will be presenting, “Fighting for Survival: Michigan’s Endangered Butterflies.”
Kaitlyn is an endangered species biologist at the Michigan Ecological Services Field Office. Her background is extensively in migratory birds, including 16 censuses for the Kirtland’s Warbler.
In addition, she works on a variety of Species Status Assessments, butterfly Safe Harbor Agreements and Habitat Conservation Plans. She is also the lead for Mitchell’s Satyr Butterfly, Poweshiek Skipperling, Michigan Monkey-Flower, and Whooping Crane.
Kirtland’s Warbler Festival
The June 1 festival is scheduled to be held at the CRAF Center, located at 606 Lake Street in Roscommon from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Aside from the traditional morning Kirtland’s Warbler tours on on-site vendors, three presentations will be offered to conservation-minded visitors.
Dr. Steve Roles is presenting, “Seeing the Jack Pine Forest for the Species.” Steve is a conservation biologist with American Bird Conservancy and the Kirtland’s Warbler Conservation Team Coordinator.
Roles earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University in 2018, studying bird community recovery and ecosystem services in tropical forest restorations. He has conducted field research in Michigan, Kansas, Texas, Colorado, Vietnam, and Panama. His scientific work has been published in peer-reviewed journals including Avian Conservation and Ecology; Restoration Ecology; and Agriculture, Ecosystems, and Environment.
Roscommon native Dr. David Evers is presenting “Loons as Indicators of Mercury in the Environment: Local Beginnings to Global Interests.” He received his PhD in 2001 from the University of Minnesota, assessing mercury in the environment through a key indicator, the Common Loon.
In 1998, he founded the non-profit Biodiversity Research Institute. Its mission is to further progressive wildlife research and conservation in the science-policy fields. His current work focuses on science-policy projects related to the United Nations and some multilateral environmental agreements.
Dave’s research specialties revolve around ecotoxicology with an emphasis on understanding the patterns of mercury exposure and effects on wildlife, especially birds such as the Common Loon.
Evers is also the festival’s featured author. His research has resulted in more than 160 peer-reviewed publications and 7 books about birds and the Northwoods.
Jim McGrath is presenting, “Michigan Turtles in Trouble.” The founder of Nature Discovery, Jim has a degree in Wildlife Biology from Michigan State University and has over 34 years’ experience as an interpretive naturalist.
He is a weekly specialist Michigan natural science teacher at Montessori Children’s House in Lansing, Stepping Stones Montessori in East Lansing, and Okemos Nursery School in Okemos. He also presents an impressively wide range of Michigan-specific wildlife topics in venues across the state which are geared toward any age and demographic group.
A strong lifelong interest in the natural world, coupled with an enthusiasm to share knowledge with others, is key to Jim’s popularity with students of all ages.
This year’s featured artist is Sherry Nelsen. Sherry is a commercial artist from Detroit and is a three-time Artist of the Year winner at the Roscommon Art Festival.
For many years she has painted scenery in the Flint area. Sherry currently spends her days painting nature in watercolor and acrylics. In addition to painting woods and animal habitat, some of her favorite places to paint include Roscommon’s trout streams and the Mason Chapel while visiting her “off the grid” cabin north of Roscommon.
For more details and the event schedule visit the Kirtland’s Warbler Festival Facebook page or email at kirtlandsfestival@gmail.com.
