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 state-threatened Black Tern—which has faced up to 99 percent population decline in Michigan—nests and raises its young, sharing the marsh 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 the Sault Saint Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Michigan Department of Natural Resources, Compass Resource Management, and many others, Audubon Great Lakes is identifying the most important conservation questions—including how to prioritize culturally significant resources, including Manoomin (also known as wild rice)--to better focus management efforts across the region for birds, people, and other wetland life. 

Additionally, as part of a larger statewide effort to protect Black Terns, Audubon Great Lakes—alongside partners—is contributing to monitoring and research efforts in the region led by the Sault Saint Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians. This work includes counting how many Black Terns live at particular sites, noting how many are born during the breeding season, studying factors (such as predation and nest destruction) that may be threatening their survival, and testing artificial nesting platforms to offer more and safer opportunities to raise young.

Moving forward, Audubon will continue to build and strengthen community partnerships on the local and national level to tackle conservation priorities across the region. 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 Great Lakes birds.  

Partners in this region include Michigan Department of Natural Resources, The Sault Tribe of Chippewa Indians, Loyola University, Compass Resource Management, Bay Mills Indian Community, and Lake Superior State University.