St. Mary’s River and Straits of Mackinac Restoration

In northern Michigan, where the Upper and Lower Peninsulas converge, lie coastal wetlands and small islands that represent essential habitat for many bird species. Here, the critically threatened Black Tern—which has faced up to 99% population decline in Michigan—nests and raises its young, sharing the tall marsh grasses with other vulnerable species such as the American Bittern. Birds also heavily depend on this region’s unique geography during migration; diving ducks like Redheads gather here to rest and feed in flocks numbering in the thousands, and hundreds of Golden Eagles cross the Straits of Mackinac during their annual migration to avoid flying over wide-open water. 

To protect birds in this region, which includes the Straits of Mackinac, St. Mary’s River, and the nearby shorelines of Lake Superior, Audubon is working to coordinate landscape-scale bird monitoring and habitat restoration. In partnership with Loyola University Chicago, we’re recruiting and training volunteer community scientists to study secretive marsh birds and better understand how these vulnerable species respond to coastline restoration efforts. Loyola University is also leading on-the-ground hybrid cattail control to create space for native plants to flourish and improve marsh health.  

Additionally, as part of a larger statewide effort to protect Black Terns, Audubon is monitoring more than 15 historic Black Tern breeding sites across this region in partnership with the Sault Saint Marie Tribe of the Chippewa Indians, Lake Superior State University, Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Three Shores Cooperative Invasive Species Management Area. Monitoring efforts include counting how many Black Terns live at each site, noting how many are born during breeding season, and studying what factors (such as predation and nest destruction) represent the most pressing threats to their survival.  

Moving forward, Audubon is focusing on building and strengthening community partnerships on the local and national level as we co-develop a conservation design plan for this area. Future plans include working to minimize flooding, protecting and enhancing marsh bird nesting, planting native species and controlling invasive plants to ensure healthy ecosystems—all of which will be critical to building a bright and thriving future for this region’s birds.