Michigan’s Hiawatha National Forest is home to diverse wildlife, including gray wolves, deer, monarch butterflies, bald eagles, and one of North America’s rarest songbirds, Kirtland’s warbler. Tree planting efforts on Hiawatha contribute to the recovery of this rare bird, a habitat specialist that requires young jack pine stands for breeding and nesting. Since 2011, over two million jack pine seedlings have been planted across nearly two thousand acres, with another 100,000 being planted in 2024.

Kirtland's warblers nest in young jack pine forests of Hiawatha National Forest after migrating from the Bahamas. They prefer sandy soil under trees 6 to 22 years old, 5 to 20 feet tall, with enough space for sunlight but dense foliage. Young trees' lower branches provide cover for nests, but as trees age, the lack of sunlight causes branches to die, making the area unsuitable for nesting.

The Kirtland’s warbler, once endangered due to habitat loss, relies on young jack pine forests maintained by fire. Fire suppression reduced their habitat, but management efforts helped. The population grew from 200 pairs in the 1970s to 2,245 pairs by 2021, leading to its removal from the endangered species list in 2019.