The lilting, ethereal flute-notes of a wood thrush rise nearby. Its song eerie, but at the same time comforting. The wood thrush song along with the smells, tastes, sights and textures make up a patchwork of the forest's existence. Each animal, plant and patch of soil play an important part. Unfortunately, this patchwork is in danger.
Many songbird populations are in decline.
A great void would appear. The patchwork is torn. The Kirtland's warbler of Michigan's Lower Peninsula is nearing the brink of extinction with only 1000 birds left. Cerulean warblers have declined by 70 percent over the last 30 years - one of the fastest rates of decline in the country. Two more pieces of the patchwork endangered.