Comprehensive Conservation Plan | Detroit River W. Lk Erie Indicator Project | Fact Sheet | Articles | What's New | News Releases
Humbug Marsh | Grassy Island | Reports | Partners | Contacts | Refuge Map | Home
Special Species
Environmental Setting Special Species
Waterfowl Links to other reports on Humbug Humbug Home
Endangered, threatened, and special concern species that have been observed, frequent and/or potentially occur in this area include: smallmouth salamander, eastern fox snake, pugnose minnow, fire pink, arrowhead, silver shiner, northern riffle-shelled clam, massasauga, shellbark hickory, swamp rose-mallow, bald eagle, Caspian tern, black-crowned night heron, lake sturgeon, with potential for others (MDNR 1998; USGS 1998).
The Detroit River and marsh area are known to be a major waterfowl and bird habitat. The marsh area provides habitat for approximately 17 species of raptors and 48 species of non-raptors (Manny et al. 1988; MDNR/OMOE 1991; Tulen et al. 1998)
The marsh area is a major flyway used for duck staging, resting, and feeding whereby alteration of habitat and associated factors will impede usage and migratory routes; approximately 20 species of ducks can be observed in the area. Common species include wood duck, blue-winged teal, American widgeon, common mallard, black duck, and common and red-breasted mergansers; as well as diving ducks such as canvasback, redhead, lesser scaup, greater scaup, bufflehead, and common goldeneye (Manny et al. 1988; MDNR/OMOE 1991; Tulen et al. 1998).
Other waterfowl and waterbirds also frequent the area such as loons, geese, great egret, great blue heron, American coot, cranes, swans, common tern, ring-billed gull, herring gull, osprey, caspian tern, and cormorant (Manny et al. 1988; MDNR/OMOE 1991; Tulen et al. 1998).
Additional bird species observed are bald eagle, hawks, falcons, owls, vultures, kestrels, warblers, hummingbirds, songbirds, and passerines (MDNR/OMOE 1991; Tulen et al. 1998).
References:
Manny, B.A., T.A. Edsall, and E. Jaworski. 1988. The Detroit River, Michigan: An Ecological Profile. U.S. Fish and Wildl. Serv. Biol. Rep. 85(7.17). 86 pp.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Ontario Ministry of the Environment (MDMR/OMOE). 1991. Detroit River Remedial Action Plan Stage I. MDNR, Lansing, MI, and OMOE Sarnia, Ont. 504 pp.
Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MDNR). 1997. Water Survey, Detroit River, 1996. Michigan Department of Natural Resources.
Tulen, L.A., J.H. Hartig, D.M. Dolan, and J.J.H. Ciborowski (eds). 1998. Rehabilitating and Conserving Detroit River Habitats. Great Lakes Institute for Environmental Research Occasional Publication No. 1. Windsor, Ontario. 65 pp.
U.S. Geological Survey (USGS). 1998. Results of electrofishing at six sites in Humbug Marsh on September 2, 998. U.S. Geological Survey, Great Lakes Science Center, Ann Arbor, MI. Open File Report. 12 pp.
Region 3, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
1 Federal Drive
BHW Federal Building
Fort Snelling, MN 55111
E-Mail Us!
R3 External AffairsDr. John H. Hartig, Refuge Manager
Detroit River International Wildlife Refuge
Large Lakes Research Station
9311 Groh Road
Grosse Ile, MI 48138
Phone: 734-692-7608 Fax: 734-692-7603
E-mail: john_hartig@fws.gov
Last updated:
July 9, 2008
|