Warren Technical Center

About the Program
General Motors operates the GM Warren Technical Center located in Warren, Michigan. The site encompasses 709 acres including a facility for the design, engineering and testing of GM vehicles. Habitats found on-site include a tree buffer, grassland/shrubland and manmade lakes and ponds. The team works with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources to encourage the survival of the peregrine falcon in Michigan and educate the public. The team also protects and increases populations of mammals, birds, butterflies and native bees as an indicator of habitat quality. The team maintains high water quality and minimizes chemical usage in the water bodies on-site.

Practices and Impacts

• In March 2016, the employees at the GM Warren Technical Center constructed an insect hotel to create habitat for native bees and maintain native plants, including milkweed, on-site for the benefit of pollinator species. Between 2018 and 2021, approximately two acres of native flowering perennials and grasses were planted and four new planters added as mobile pollinator gardens to benefit pollinator species. Monarch butterflies are tagged annually, and 241 specimens have been captured, tagged and released. Data is shared with monarchwatch.org (University of Kansas) and iNaturalist.org (California Academy of Sciences/National Geographic).
• Since 2014, the team at the GM Warren Technical Center has led a program to monitor and protect multiple nesting pairs of peregrine falcons found at one of the on-site buildings. A nesting box was installed through consultation with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and a partial roof was added in 2014. Employees record bird and nesting activity by utilizing a closed circuit video system and make updates available on the Warren Peregrine Falcon Facebook page, which has over 1,000 followers, and website. Every year, the team works with the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and the Detroit Zoo to complete banding of the peregrine falcons. So far, this project has proven successful with the fledglings being rehabilitated, if necessary, and released. The nesting data is also uploaded to the Cornell NestWatch database and eBird.
• The team monitors birds on-site and has identified 80 different species between 2018-2021, eight of which are state-listed. There have been 13 species confirmed to be nesting on-site. The team also installed a nesting platform for red-tailed hawks. Bird monitoring data is also uploaded to the Cornell NestWatch database and eBird.
• The team monitors mammal populations on-site through visual observations and trail camera data.
• Employees monitor the lakes and ponds before and after chemical treatment for signs of potential discharges to county drains and Bear Creek. Sludge build-up is reduced using aeration and biological treatment. They also monitor fish and other wildlife that utilize the water bodies to maintain healthy populations. At least three different fish species and at least 15 different types of birds have been identified since 2018.