The endangered Kirtland’s warbler, or Dendroica kirtlandii, makes its home in the northern lower peninsula of Michigan. Experts often call it the “bird of fire” because its survival depends on the burning of its native jack pine forest for nesting, but when people began suppressing natural fires, the bird’s existence was placed in jeopardy. In 1971, only 201 pairs of the bird remained. Habitat preservation, mainly by planting jack pines, has since resulted in the population returning. Today, more than 1,800 males exist in the wild, prompting officials to consider future removal of the animals from the endangered species list.