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The Flickr site is brought to you courtesy of Seney Natural History Association.
Labrador tea. Credit: Sara Hollerich, USFWS.
Underside of a Labrador tea leaf. Credit: Sara Hollerich, USFWS.
False heather. Credit: Sara Hollerich, USFWS.
Mushroom. Credit: Sara Hollerich, USFWS.
Rocks on the beach at the Whitefish Point Unit. Credit: Sara Hollerich, USFWS.
Snow Geese on the beach at Whitefish Point. The land on the other side of the lake is Canada. Credit: Sara Hollerich, USFWS.
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The Whitefish Point Unit (33 acres) of Seney National Wildlife Refuge was established in 1996. The unit is nearly 80 miles away from Seney NWR and is a stop-over for birds migrating to and from Canada. The Whitefish Point region is renowned for its concentrations of birds during migration. Each year thousands of raptors, passerines (perching birds) and water birds funnel through the point to cross Lake Superior. The unit's primary natural features are gravel beaches, sandy beach dunes and stunted jack pine-dominated forest.
The Whitefish Point Bird Observatory was established by the Michigan Audubon Society in 1997 to document and study migratory birds and their habitats in the Great Lakes. The data collected by the Audubon Society has led to the area being recognized as a Globally Important Bird Area.
Over the years numerous small foot paths have been carved on the landscape. While this may allow you to get a closer look at birds, the dune habitat is very fragile and soon plants stop growing on these paths. Please stay on current trails and off the dunes.
In addition, a large portion of the beach area is designated as critical habitat for the Piping Plover, an endangered species. For the last few years, a pair of Piping Plovers have successfully nested on the Whitefish Point Unit. Please obey all signs and respect any beach closures to protect nesting Piping Plovers.
Some of the species of plants that particularly attract attention are lady-slippers, star-flower, and bunchberry, which can be found on dry, sandy areas and purple bog-laurel and white Labrador-tea, which grow in interdunal swales. An interdunal swale is the low spot between two dunes.
Parking and restroom facilities are provided by the Great Lakes Shipwreck Historical Society which administers the former Coast Guard buildings, including the lighthouse, and interprets the maritime significance of Whitefish Point. The Whitefish Point Bird Observatory maintains a small visitor contact station which has a beautiful bird feeding station, a small exhibit area, and gift shop.
Allowable Activities:
- The Whitefish Point Unit is open during daylight hours only.
- Fishing is permitted in Lake Superior and is regulated by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources and Environment.
- Hiking, swimming, picnicking, cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, wildlife observation, photography, mushroom hunting, and fruit picking are welcomed.
- Fires, camping, rock collecting, and off road vehicles are not permitted.
Remember to leave those things you admire for others to see.
Whitefish Point Unit of Seney National Wildlife Refuge - Bird Checklist
*Please note that the US FWS does not control the content or policies of eBird or Google, which you may visit when accessing parts of the table below. You should always check site policies before providing any personal information or reusing content.
eBird is created and maintained by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology in partnership with National Audubon to gather information on bird sightings. Anyone can contribute bird sightings to eBird and sightings from the refuge will appear here within 15 minutes. It also enables you to find out which birds are being reported and where. These observation records become part of an online checklist program that scientists and birders with Internet access can use to review bird observation information from specific locations across North America, including many National Wildlife Refuges. |
Indian pipe. Credit: Sara Hollerich, USFWS.
Garter Snake after a meal. Credit: Dale Maxson, CIP Intern.
White-tailed Deer. Credit: Sara Hollerich, USFWS.
Horned Lark . Credit: Dale Maxson, CIP Intern.
Earth star. Credit: Sara Hollerich, USFWS.
Owl pellet. Credit: Sara Hollerich, USFWS.
Whitefish Point Bird Observatory mist nets for banding birds. Credit: Sara Hollerich, USFWS.
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