Early Signs of Success at Kirtland’s Warbler Restoration Site on the Oak Ridges Moraine

April 20, 2026

Northumberland County, ON - The Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust is celebrating encouraging early signs of success following the start of habitat restoration on more than 33 hectares of marginal farmland at the MapleCross Featherstone Nature Reserve. While it will take several years before the site matures into the young forest habitat required by the endangered Kirtland’s Warbler, nature is already responding in powerful and hopeful ways.

The work is part of an Ontario Kirtland’s Warbler restoration project, in an effort designed to rebuild rare pine-oak ecosystems that have been lost across the Oak Ridges Moraine and critical to multiple at-risk species. The work comes at a time when the global population of Kirtland’s Warblers has shown recent declines. According to the 2025 census, the number of breeding pairs dropped by roughly 30% from approximately 2,245 pairs to about 1,489 pairs. One of the key factors contributing to the decline is the shortage of suitable breeding habitat, since the warbler relies almost exclusively on young jack pine forests that are currently limited in their breeding range.

Photo of a Kirtland's Warbler. Photo credit Diane Doran

“The recent decline in Kirtland’s Warbler populations is a clear warning that we are running out of suitable habitat for this species,” said Dr. Ben Walters, Professor in Fleming College’s Forestry program. “What’s exciting about this project is that even in its earliest stages, the land is already being used by other species at risk. That tells us we’re rebuilding an ecosystem that is deeply needed. If we want to reverse these population declines, we have to start creating habitat now, well before the birds are ready to return.”

Although it will be some time before Kirtland’s Warblers themselves are expected to arrive at MapleCross Featherstone, the site has already begun attracting several other at-risk species. Early observations include Eastern Whip-poor-will, Common Nighthawk, Yellow-banded Bumble Bee, Monarch butterfly, Eastern Red Bat, and Hoary Bat – all species-at-risk that are also struggling across southern Ontario, largely due to habitat loss and fragmentation.

The rapid appearance of these at-risk species, especially so early in the restoration process, is an exciting signal that this landscape is being transformed into valuable habitat. It underscores that restoring natural ecosystems like young, open forests is urgently needed not just for Kirtland’s Warblers, but for a broader suite of species whose populations are in decline.

“I have been working in conservation for over 25 years, and I have never seen such a concentration of bumble bees and native plants in bloom in one place.” said Aileen Barclay, Director of Conservation and Operations with the Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust. “Seeing species at risk return so quickly tells us we are rebuilding something that has been missing from the landscape for a long time. This is an exciting milestone not just for the Kirtland’s Warbler, but for the many species that depend on healthy, biodiverse habitats across the Oak Ridges Moraine and beyond. Thanks to our partners and funders, we’re helping nature heal and creating hope for at-risk species across southern Ontario.”

North field before restoration, November 2023

North field after start of restoration, July 2025

As the habitat continues to develop, it is expected to support additional species at risk, including Eastern Hog-nosed Snake, Common Nighthawk, Little Brown Bat, Northern Myotis, a diverse community of pollinators and other insects, and native flora, many of which are severely restricted to small areas on the Oak Ridges Moraine.

This ambitious restoration effort was completed in partnership with The Ontario Kirtland’s Warbler Working Group including Fleming College, GEI Consultants, American Bird Conservancy, Forests Canada, Simcoe County, Birks Natural Heritage Inc. and the Nature Conservancy of Canada, along with restoration specialist Mary Gartshore. Since the fall of 2023, more than 100 native species of trees, shrubs, and groundcover plants were introduced to the site, including over 540 kilograms of oak acorns. Together, these plantings are designed to recreate a young pine-oak forest, an essential but increasingly rare habitat type for Kirtland’s Warblers and other species. The work represents a major step forward in transforming retired, marginal agricultural land into high-quality, climate-resilient habitat.

The restoration work has been generously supported by the MapleCross Fund, the ECHO Foundation, the Province of Ontario, Ontario Power Generation, Ontario Wildlife Federation, the Ganawenim Meshkiki Initiative and the Sitka Foundation. The Land Trust also thanks the Government of Canada’s Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund and the Ontario Land Trust Alliance for their essential contributions.

“It is encouraging to see these early signs of success at the MapleCross Featherstone Nature Reserve. The return of multiple at-risk species is a welcome development and offers genuine reason for optimism about the future of the endangered Kirtland’s Warbler. Congratulations to everyone involved in bringing this project to life, and best wishes as habitat restoration efforts continue. This progress is most definitely worth celebrating.” said MP Philip Lawrence, Member of Parliament for Northumberland-Clarke.

“Our government is making investments that are delivering real results for land conservation in Northumberland,” said David Piccini, Member of Provincial Parliament, Northumberland-Peterborough South. “The Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust and its partners are doing outstanding work at MapleCross Featherstone, restoring critical habitat, and demonstrating the strength of local conservation leadership. By supporting projects like this, we are protecting our natural heritage, strengthening our communities, and ensuring our region continues to thrive for years to come.”

“Projects like this highlight how strong environmental stewardship and a thriving economy go hand in hand when conservation partners work together at scale,” said Todd McCarthy, Minister of the Environment, Conservation and Parks. “By restoring more than 33 hectares (nearly 82 acres) into healthy young forest, Ontario’s Greenlands Conservation Partnership program is not only supporting biodiversity and strengthening long-term resilience in the Oak Ridges Moraine, but also investing in natural infrastructure that sustains communities, supports jobs, and benefits both today’s economy and future generations.”

Close up of native wildflowers growing at the MapleCross Featherstone Nature Reserve.

ABOUT THE OAK RIDGES MORAINE LAND TRUST

The Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trust is a registered charity formed in 2000 by citizens committed to protecting Ontario’s Moraine lands. The Trust works with landowners and communities to permanently protect ecologically significant properties and steward them for future generations. To date, the Trust has protected more than 2,209 hectares (5,460 acres) across 69 properties. 

ABOUT THE GOVERNMENT OF CANADA’S Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund Canada’s Nature Smart Climate Solutions Fund (NSCSF) is a $1.4 billion, ten-year fund (2021–2031) administered by Environment and Climate Change Canada to help conserve, restore, and enhance the management of ecosystems such as wetlands, peatlands, forests, and grasslands, in order to help tackle the dual crises of climate change and biodiversity loss. The NSCSF focuses on three main objectives: (1) conserving carbon-rich ecosystems at high risk of conversion to other uses that would release their stored carbon; (2) improving land management practices to reduce their greenhouse gas emission-causing impacts on Canada’s ecosystems; and (3) restoring degraded ecosystems. Overall, these projects will contribute to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and increased carbon sequestration, while also providing benefits for biodiversity and human well-being.

ABOUT THE GOVERMENT OF ONTARIO Greenlands Conservation Partnership (GCP) Program Fund

The Greenlands Conservation Partnership program is the single largest provincial fund to secure private land in Ontario. This unique program, administered by the Ontario Land Trust Alliance, leverages non-governmental dollars to acquire, restore and manage privately owned natural areas such as wetlands, grasslands and forests. For every dollar of provincial funding provided, grant recipients match it with a minimum of $2 from other conservation partners, including individual donors, foundations and other levels of government. Since 2020, the Ontario government has invested $58 million into the program, which has helped protect over 437,000 acres (over 177,000 hectares) of private land across the province – more than 2.75 times the size of Toronto.

The Ontario government is investing $20 million through the Species Conservation Program to help protect species at risk and their habitats across the province. This year’s funding will support high-impact, on-the-ground projects, including 25 community-led conservation projects, protecting a wide range of at-risk species such as Monarch butterflies, Blanding’s turtles and Butternut trees.

ABOUT THE ONTARIO LAND TRUST ALLIANCE (OLTA)

The Ontario Land Trust Alliance (OLTA) supports and connects land trusts across Ontario by providing training, resources, and leadership to strengthen conservation efforts. It helps organizations protect forests, wetlands, and water sources, advance natural climate solutions, and engage communities. Through its network of 56 member organizations, OLTA supports the stewardship of over 2,000 natural areas across the province, driven by thousands of volunteers and supporters. Learn more at www.OLTA.ca

 Contact: Aileen Barclay, Director, Conservation and Operations

Oak Ridges Moraine Land Trustlandtrust@oakridgesmoraine.org

905-939-3333 x1

5595 17th Sideroad

Schomberg, ON L0G 1T0  

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Ontario Kirtland's Warbler Recovery Project

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