Important Bird Areas
Big Sable point beaches (Piping Plover)
Several miles of Lake Michigan beach including sand dunes, marsh, and ponds.
Ornithological Summary
Between 2002 and 2006 Ludington State Park and Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness has supported between 1 and 7 nesting pairs of the endangered Great Lakes population of Piping Plovers.
Ownership
35% owned by Ludington State Park (Michigan Department of Natural Resources) with the remaining 65% owned by US Forest Service (Nordhouse Dunes Wilderness).
Land Use
Predominate use is wilderness/conservation, with a large amount of human recreational use such as swimming and ATV use.