Biological Inventory For Conservation of Great Lakes Islands: 1999 Progress Report Prepared by: Michael R. Penskar, Daria A. Hyde, Phyllis J. Higman, John J. Paskus, Reuben R. Goforth, David L. Cuthrell, Dennis A. Albert, Rebecca L. Boehm Michigan Natural Features Inventory P.O. Box 30444 Lansing, MI 48909-7944 For: Great Lakes National Program Office Environmental Protection Agency GLNPO Grant # 985161-01-0 & Michigan Coastal Management Program Land and Water Management Division, MDEQ Coastal Management Program Grant # 98-309-14 Report Number 2000-11 Submitted June 30, 2000 This document has been converted to an electronic format. There may be some minor formatting changes between the original printed version and the electronic version. There is no difference in content. Cover Photo Identification and Credits: Shoreline photo: North shore of Garden Island, Charlevoix County, August, 1998, by Michael R. Penskar Bird inset: Blackburnian warbler, courtesy Petersen CD Field Guide to North American birds Plant inset: State threatened yellow pitcher-plant (Sarracenia purpurea f. heterophylla), June, 1999, discovered on Marquette Island, Les Cheneaux chain, Mackinac County; by Phyllis J. Higman Executive Summary In 1998, Michigan Natural Features Blanc Island than on the other two islands. A Inventory (MNFI) initiated a multi-year project quantitative assessment of habitat use by to conduct biological inventories for the migratory birds was conducted via selected point conservation of Great Lakes islands. The count censusing stations. During spring fundamental goal of this project is to migration, a greater number of individuals and systematically examine selected Great Lakes bird species were recorded near cobble islands, compile comprehensive information on shorelines bordered by coniferous forest, or near natural features and significant biodiversity an inland lake or wetland. areas, and then convey this information in the With regard to rare bird species, no piping most useful form for landowner education and plovers were observed on Beaver Island at a conservation planning purposes. The first year previously known site near McCauley Point. of the project focused on biological inventories Common loon was recorded at several locations in the Beaver Island archipelago (Beaver and on Beaver Island and at one Bois Blanc Island Garden islands in Charlevoix County) and a site. Red-shouldered hawks responded to taped selective floristic survey of several islands within calls and were observed or otherwise heard at the Garden Peninsula group (Poverty, Summer, several sites on Bois Blanc Island. Additional and Little Summer islands in Delta County). In rare bird observations include bald eagle (Beaver year two, we continued inventories within the and Bois Blanc islands), American bittern (Bois Beaver Island archipelago and also conducted Blanc and Beaver islands), caspian tern (Bois inventory work in northern Lake Huron, focusing Blanc and Beaver islands), common tern (Bois on Bois Blanc Island Blanc Island), osprey (Beaver and Garden (Mackinac County), Marquette and La Salle islands), Northern harrier (Beaver Island), islands within the Les Cheneaux chain Forster’s tern (Beaver Island), common moorhen (Mackinac County), and Drummond Island (Beaver island), and merlin (Beaver and Garden (Chippewa County). In addition, a prototype islands). conservation planning workshop was held on In other animal surveys, no aweme borer Beaver Island for residents and other island moths were found on Beaver Island at McCauley stakeholders. Point, site of the only known observation for this In 1999, animal surveys were conducted on extremely rare taxon in Michigan. New Beaver, Garden, and Bois Blanc islands, populations of the endemic Lake Huron locust focusing on migratory and breeding birds, rare were found at all three sites surveyed on Beaver insects, and selected reptiles. Overall, 133 island; no sites were identified on Bois Blanc different bird species were observed; 108 species Island, where little suitable habitat was found. were observed during spring migration and 109 Suitable habitat for the federal endangered species were observed during summer breeding Hine’s emerald dragonfly was identified on Bois season. Fifty-one species were classified as long- Blanc Island, where it was subsequently learned distance migrants, 55 species were classified as that a researcher had documented new locations short-distance migrants, and 27 species were for this species just prior to the MNFI inventory. classified as resident taxa. Mean bird abundance No Eastern massasauga rattlesnakes were during spring migration was greater on Bois observed during limited meander surveys on Blanc Island when compared to Beaver and Bois Blanc Island, although a resident population Garden islands; species richness was greater on likely remains extant, based on recent Beaver and Bois Blanc islands than on Garden observations of island residents. Island. Mean bird abundance during the summer Aquatic surveys focused on four inland lakes breeding season was greater on Bois Blanc and two streams on Beaver Island, and included Island when compared with Beaver and Garden dedicated surveys to determine the status of the islands; species richness during the summer deepwater pondsnail. No extant locations of the breeding season was slightly higher on Bois pondsnail were observed. SCUBA survey of Fox Great Lakes Islands 1999 – page i Lake concluded that reports of this species there cliff-brake, one of dry non-acid cliff), and one are likely in error, based on the apparent absence previously known occurrence was relocated and of suitable habitat. No rare or sensitive taxa updated (wall-rue). were identified during these brief aquatic As part of this project, all natural features surveys. It was concluded that the aquatic occurrences within the Beaver Island archipelago systems of Beaver Island are notably unique; were digitized for spatial representation within a there is striking ecological diversity among the Geographic Information System (GIS) following lakes for the relatively small geographic area transcription, updating, and data processing for represented. the statewide Biological and Conservation Plant and natural community surveys were Database (BCD). Sites included known conducted on all of the 1999 island study sites. locations on all significant islands within the Numerous new plant and community archipelago, including Beaver, Garden, High, occurrences were documented, and many Hog, Squaw, Whiskey, and Trout islands as previously known occurrences were located and necessary. updated with current status information. For A prototype conservation planning workshop Beaver Island, four new natural community was designed and conducted for Beaver Island. occurrences (one of open bog, two of mesic A community-based approach was selected, in northern forest, one of dry-mesic northern forest) order to allow residents and other important were documented. Fourteen previously known stakeholders to determine what types and levels occurrences of plant species were located and of MNFI data they would like, what form or updated (two of dwarf lake iris, one of forms it might take, and how to use the available Pumpelly’s brome grass, three of Pitcher’s information most effectively. Ultimately, instead thistle, three of Lake Huron tansy, one of ram’s of one conservation planning workshop, MNFI head ladyslipper orchid, two of butterwort, one developed and organized one presentation as part of beauty sedge, and one of Michigan monkey- of an annual meeting and then conducted an flower). On Garden Island, eight new interactive workshop, the latter open to all occurrences were documented (one of northern Beaver Island residents and interested parties. A wet meadow, two of Great Lakes marsh, one of presentation was given during the 1999 annual Houghton’s goldenrod, two of northern fen, and meeting of the Beaver Island Property Owners two of beauty sedge). Five previously Association (BIPOA), the most active group documented occurrences were relocated and within the community. Approximately 100 updated (one of boreal forest, one of butterwort, people attended the annual meeting. The two of Pitcher’s thistle, one of mesic northern interactive workshop, open to all residents and forest). On Hog Island, five new occurrences stakeholders and held in August, was entitled were documented (one of northern fen, one of “Preserving the Natural Resources and forest-dune swale complex, one of Great Lakes Community Character of Beaver Island”. The marsh, one of dwarf lake iris, and one of latter workshop was prepared and conducted hardwood swamp). Two previously known with the assistance of the Land Information and occurrences were relocated and updated (one of Access Association (LIAA). Fundamental Pitcher’s thistle, one of dry-mesic northern findings and recommendations of the workshop forest). On Marquette and La Salle islands in the included developing an arrival guide to inform Les Cheneaux chain, nine new occurrences were new residents and visitors about the unique documented (three of beauty sedge, one of natural and cultural features on Beaver Island northern fen, two of boreal forest, one of dwarf and surrounding area, and how to be good land lake iris, one of yellow pitcher-plant, and one of stewards. It was also suggested that a user- open dunes). Two previously known friendly electronic kiosk be installed, along with occurrences were relocated and updated (one of instructive brochures for dissemination.