Shoreline Treasures

Michigan’s Great Lakes shoreline contains some of the most significant and unique natural features in the state and region. The largest freshwater dune complexes in the world are found in this coastal zone. A rich assortment of natural communities including boreal forests, cedar swamps, Great Lakes marshes, limestone cliffs, and a globally rare bedrock grassland community known as alvar, comprise much of the remainder of these lakeshores.

Michigan’s coastal zone also is home to numerous rare plants and animals, some of which only occur along the Great Lakes shoreline. These include state and federal threatened or endangered plants such as Pitcher’s thistle, Houghton’s goldenrod, dwarf lake iris (Michigan’s state wildflower), and Michigan monkey-flower. The federal and state endangered piping plover is known to nest only in the Great Lakes Region along the northern Michigan shoreline. The state threatened Lake Huron locust is known only from high quality, coastal sand dunes of Michigan, Wisconsin, and Ontario. One of the most endangered dragonflies in the country, the Hine’s emerald dragonfly, was recently discovered along Lake Michigan in the eastern Upper Peninsula, and a number of globally rare land snails also were recently found along the Upper Peninsula shoreline. Great Lakes shores also serve as important migration corridors for large concentrations of landbirds and provide critical stopover habitat for neotropical migratory birds.

Michigan Natural Features Inventory (MNFI) conducted a project in 2000 to survey and document shoreline occurrences of rare plants and animals and high quality natural communities in the northern Lake Michigan coastal zone in Schoolcraft County in the Upper Peninsula. Thirty-nine occurrences of rare plants and nine populations of the state threatened Lake Huron locust were documented during the study. A total of 116 bird species were observed during migratory and breeding bird surveys. Five species of state-listed and globally rare land snails and four high quality natural communities were documented in the area. Additionally, the near-shore aquatic communities sampled contained a diversity of predominantly native species, which is increasingly rare in the Great Lakes.

The coastal zone in Schoolcraft County is in large part privately owned and has experienced significant residential, recreational, and commercial development in recent years. The results from this study indicate that many of the rare shoreline species can withstand some level of human disturbance. However, the long-term sustainability of shoreline communities and species will require appropriate stewardship by landowners and land use planning that balances the needs of economic growth with those of natural features.

Recommendations for efforts that could help achieve long-term sustainability include:

1. landowner education on appropriate stewardship of coastal zone features,
    
2. continued surveys and monitoring to obtain current and accurate information on the distribution and status of natural features and long-term impacts of management,
    
3. development of an effective framework for planners and others involved with critical land-use decisions at local, state, and federal levels to adequately address natural features concerns, and
    
4. development of a landscape-level approach to land-use and conservation planning.

Michigan Natural Features Inventory is a program with Michigan State University Extension. The MNFI is responsible for inventorying and tracking Michigan’s endangered, threatened, or special concern plants and animals, natural communities, and other significant natural features. The MNFI will be continuing surveys along the northern Lake Michigan shoreline in Mackinac County in 2001. This project is funded through a grant provided by the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality through the Coastal Zone Management Program. For more information, contact Phyllis Higman at Michigan Natural Features Inventory, P.O. Box 30444, Lansing, MI 48909-7944 or at http://www.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/.
 

Rocking Chair Lakes Recognition: Proposed for Legal Dedication, State Forest Management Plan Size: 240 acres Location: Approx. 25 miles northwest of Marquette in the Upper Peninsula. Management: Escanaba River State Forest Activities: Hiking, wildlife viewing, photography, hunting, scenic vistas Importance: With very little use over the years, the area provides the opportunity for solitary recreation. The rugged terrain surrounds two small lakes that sit 100 feet above the Mulligan River, with a 100-200 foot tall outcrop to the west. After heavy rains and during spring runoff, the lakes overflow and cascade over the outcrop to the river below. The site occurs within an area of primary moose range.

 
A New Site for Peregrines

Wildlife biologists will go to any height to complete their task. On June 5, Department of Natural Resources (DNR) biologists Ernie Kafcas and Nic Kalejs went 240 feet up on a smokestack at Grand Haven Board of Light and Power (GHBLP) to band three peregrine chicks that had hatched at the site. The biologists were accompanied by a local birder, responsible for the construction of the nest box, and a GHBLP employee.
Last year, Wildlife was contacted by GHBLP about a pair of peregrines using the site around the nest box. Although the pair did not nest, they remained at the site over winter. Leg bands were read by local birders, and the adult birds were identified as birds reared in Wisconsin. Interestingly, the male was raised on a similar stack at Kenosha, while the female originated on a stack at Green Bay.

The site is the latest spot in the state to attract nesting peregrine falcons. It also represents the first successful peregrine falcon nest on Michigan’s side of southern Lake Michigan. One record exists for a peregrine nest on the high sand bluffs in the northern Lake Michigan island area.

The nest box was placed on the stack in 1995 as part of a conservation project. Consumers Energy staff raised and released five peregrine falcon chicks on their J.H. Campbell Power plant in southern Ottawa county in 1995 and encouraged other Lake Michigan power plants to install nest boxes. The Consumers Energy site has not attracted chicks but is considered a success with one of the fledged young settling in Wisconsin.

The peregrine falcon restoration project began in the mid-1980s with birds being released in Grand Rapids and the Upper Peninsula. Since then, at least ten nesting pairs have established themselves at different sites in the state. Southeast Michigan continues to be the most successful with four nesting pairs of falcons.

The latest information from Grand Haven reports that all three chicks fledged and are flying around the plant and Grand Haven community.

Creature Profile

Red crossbill (Loxia curvirostra)

A well-named bird, the “crossbill” is suited for its lifestyle. They have the stout seed-cracking bill of the Finch family. Their unique characteristic is the crossed tips that are used to pry open the cones for pine nuts. Commonly found from Alaska, to Canada south, to the deciduous forest, their primary habitat is conifer forests. Coloration on the males is an orange-red body with black wings and tails. Females are a mottled yellow color with gray tinges on the head and back.

Information on crossbill abundance and breeding has been difficult to attain. Their nesting period is extended throughout summer, and nests are built high in conifers. In Michigan, nests have been usually associated with red and white pine growing in a scattered pattern across open areas.

Observations indicate that families may join together into midsummer flocks. Typically, these flocks will move together to locate areas where pinecones are abundant. At this time, the flocks will use dense stands of conifers. Occasionally, abundant cone crops will entice these summer flocks into southern Michigan.

Additional research indicates that crossbill diets change as various species of pinecones mature. White spruce seeds develop during late summer, white pine during autumn, and red pine in the winter.

Management of crossbills will depend on acquiring additional knowledge about their breeding and nesting habits. From a land management standpoint, it will be important that conifer stands of various species and age classes are available. This increases the likelihood an abundant source of pine seeds are available for the nomadic crossbill flocks.
 

 
Little Known Fish

Living among Michigan’s well-known game fishes are several lesser recognized species. They typically do not put up tackle-busting fights or make long migrations. In fact, most of the species probably spend the majority of their life in a relatively small area. Yet these species are vital to the structure and ecology of Michigan’s rivers, streams, and lakes. Three of the groups are rather unique in both their habits and adaptations and deserve a closer look. They are the sticklebacks, sculpins, and darters.

Sticklebacks
Six species of sticklebacks can be found in North America. Three of the species live in Michigan’s waters. The brook (five-spined stickleback) prefer cold and semi-clean water habitat. They are most often found in rivers and streams and spring-fed ponds but can be found in near-shore areas of lakes.

Most fish possess an air bladder that can be inflated or deflated to aid in buoyancy. The stickleback is a bottom-dweller and has no need for an air bladder. Another interesting adaptation is the stickleback courtship behavior.

Male sticklebacks build a tubular nest using algae and dead grasses. An opening is left on one end. The male displays in front of the nest to attract a mate. Females enter the nest, lay their eggs, and break out the back of the nest. After fertilizing the eggs, the male guards the nest and young until they leave.

Sculpins
Another bottom-dwelling species is the sculpin. Four species are found in the Great Lakes. Sculpins have no scales. Their main adaptation to living in streams is their shape. Broad and flat at the head, they taper into a narrow tail. The teardrop shape allows them to sit motionless, particularly in flowing streams. Pectoral fins are broad and stiff and aid in movement along the bottom. In streams inhabited by trout, sculpins are often a prey species. Fly fishermen often use sculpin imitations tied from hair and feathers.

Nests are normally made under rock edges. Some species lay eggs upside down with females depositing eggs on the rock overhanging a nesting site.

Darters
The most diverse of the three groups is the darter. Except for the log perch, darters average 2-4 inches in length. Most of the species live in riffle or graveled stream habitats. The log perch, one of the larger darters, can be found in many types of aquatic systems.

Darters feed by using their snouts to turn over pebbles to feed on invertebrates. During the breeding season, males of several species develop bright breeding colors. One of the more colorful species in Michigan is the rainbow darter. The male breeding colors are bands of blue and red-orange running vertically on the sides. Many who encounter rainbow darters in breeding color consider them the most beautiful of all Great Lakes fish. Three species of darters are currently listed as state threatened. The river darter is listed as state endangered.

These three groups, along with daces, killifish, shiners, topminnows, and others make up a large portion of Michigan’s fish species. They can be found in most of the state’s aquatic systems and are an essential part of the state’s natural heritage. Next time you spend time near one of our streams or lakes, take a moment to explore a little closer, and you may find one of Michigan’s lesser-known fish.

Warbler Count Increases

Biologists conducting the 2001 Kirtland’s warbler census got some unexpected results. When the final tally was made, the singing male census count for the endangered bird had reached 1085. This is the largest number of warblers ever recorded and is an increase of about 200 over last year’s census.

The annual census takes place the first two weeks of June. This year’s count brought some surprises. Several sites not expected to hold any breeding territories had numerous singing males. This is a good indication that the population remains strong and that nesting habitat has a strong influence.

“The Kirtland’s warbler management program represents the best of scientific wildlife management at work. The cooperation among DNR biologists and foresters, U.S. Department of Agriculture Forest Service, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and the Department of Military Affairs in managing the jack pine barrens for warblers’ nesting habitat is outstanding,” said Pat Lederle, Endangered Species Program Coordinator for the DNR. “In addition to providing warbler habitat and forest products, the jack pine system provides valuable habitat for a variety of plant species, songbirds, and game animals.”

Maintaining the jack pine barrens is essential because Kirtland’s warbler numbers are directly related to the amount of available nesting habitat. The Kirtland’s warbler nests have been found only in jack pine stands located in northern Michigan. The warbler is a ground nester and selects stands of trees about 4 to 20 years old with live branches that extend to the ground. Historically, these stands of young jack pine were created by natural wildfires that frequently swept through northern Michigan. Modern fire suppression programs altered this natural process, reducing Kirtland’s warbler habitat.

To mimic the effects of wildfire, state and federal wildlife biologists and foresters now conduct a combination of clearcutting, burning, seeding, and replanting on about 150,000 acres. Only through continuation of these activities can the bird’s survival into the future be ensured. At least 1,500 acres of jack pine trees were seeded on state and federal lands this spring, and 1,000 additional acres will be planted this fall. These new plantations will provide habitat for warblers in 6 to 10 years.

“The number of Kirtland’s warblers counted in plantations specifically planted for warbler nesting habitat has continued to increase over the past several years; plantations had approximately 81 percent of the population this year,” said Department of Natural Resources wildlife biologist Jerry Weinrich, of the Roscommon Lower Peninsula Field Headquarters. “Additional new habitat will become available each year for the next several years, so we believe the warblers population will continue to increase.”
 

Tobico Marsh Recognition: National Natural Landmark, The Nature Conservancy Natural Areas Registry, Dedication by Natural Resources Commission Resolution (1966) Size: 1,652 acres Management: Bay City Recreation Area Location: Approx. 6 miles northwest of Bay City on Saginaw Bay Activities: Wildlife viewing, photography, non-motorized fishing, hiking, nature study Importance: The area occupies an elongate, shallow depression lying immediately west of the barrier sandbeach along Lake Huron’s Saginaw Bay shoreline. There are three distinct habitats: a wide expanse of open water, an extensive area of marshland, and a mixed hardwood forest located along the western boundary. The area provides a resting place for thousands of waterfowl and is one of the few resting and nesting areas for the yellow headed blackbird in Michigan. Its large size, balance between open water and marsh vegetation, variety of aquatic plant species, lack of disturbance, and use by waterfowl all combine to make Tobico Marsh one of the finest freshwater marshes in the Great Lakes region.

 
Bits & Pieces

• In June, Lansing’s male peregrine falcon was replaced by a new bird in town. “Alimak” is a one-year-old bird banded in Alma, WI. The pair has been seen at several sites downtown sharing meals.
   
• Reminder that the Natural Heritage small grants program will now be accepting grant applications. Applications must be postmarked by November 30, 2001.
   
• The Department of Natural Resources would like the thank all those volunteers who help patrol the piping plover nesting sites at Wilderness State Park. Their efforts led to a successful nesting season for plovers.
   
• Michigan Audubon Society's Sandhill Crane and Art Festival will be held October 13-14, 2001, at Baker Sanctuary, Bellevue, Michigan.
   
• Hour Magazine (June) listed the presence of peregrines in Detroit as #181 of the "300 Best of What Makes Detroit Special."
  
  "181. PEREGRINE FALCONS: The rare pigeon-hunting birds nest on the upper reaches of downtown's Book Building."