Birds, Wildlife & Dogs

Birds, Wildlife and Dogs in the Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area Why protecting this extraordinary natural area matters The Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area (SHNA) encompasses approximately 173 acres of remarkably diverse Lake Michigan coastal habitat. Within a relatively small area are Lake Michigan beach and shoreline, open dunes, globally imperiled interdunal wetlands, Great Lakes marsh, the Oxbow Lagoon, Kalamazoo River shoreline, jack-pine habitat, and hardwood-pine dune forest. This diversity provides habitat for an exceptional variety of birds and other wildlife— including species that are rare, threatened, endangered, or particularly vulnerable during the breeding season. Nesting birds of SHNA Approximately 25 migratory bird species have strong breeding potential within SHNA or are important breeding-season birds in the immediate Saugatuck area. Bird

Primary SHNA Habitat

Approx. Arrival

Nesting Season*

SHNA Status

Prairie Warbler

Open dunes, scrub, jack pine

May

May–July

Documented population

Yellow Warbler

Wetland edges, shrubs

Apr–May

May–July

Probable

Common Yellowthroat

Marsh, wet thickets

Apr–May

May–July

Probable

American Redstart

Wooded dunes, edges

May

May–July

Probable

Red-eyed Vireo

Mature dune forest

May

May–July

Probable

Warbling Vireo

Trees near water

May

May–July

Probable

Eastern WoodPewee

Dune woodland

May

May–Aug

Probable

Great Crested Flycatcher

Mature woodland/cavities

May

May–July

Probable

Eastern Kingbird

Open areas near water

May

May–July

Probable

Willow Flycatcher Wet shrubs

May

May–July

Possible/Probable

Tree Swallow

Wetlands/cavities

Mar–Apr

Apr–July

Probable

Barn Swallow

Open water/near structures

Apr

May–Aug

Area breeder

Ruby-throated Hummingbird

Woodland and edges May

May–Aug

Probable

House Wren

Woodland edges/cavities

Apr–May

May–Aug

Probable

Gray Catbird

Dense shrubs

Apr–May

May–Aug

Probable

Brown Thrasher

Dune scrub/thickets Apr

Apr–July

Probable

Wood Thrush

Mature woodland

Apr–May

May–Aug

Possible/Probable

Baltimore Oriole

Tall deciduous trees

Apr–May

May–July

Probable

Rose-breasted Grosbeak

Wooded dunes

Apr–May

May–July

Probable

Indigo Bunting

Open scrub/edges

May

May–Aug

Probable

Field Sparrow

Open scrub

Mar–Apr

Apr–Aug

Probable

Chipping Sparrow Pine/open woodland Mar–Apr

Apr–Aug

Probable

Green Heron

Lagoon, marsh, river Apr–May edge

May–Aug

Documented

Spotted Sandpiper

Shoreline/river edge

Apr–May

May–July

Possible/Probable

Great Blue Heron Marsh, lagoon, river

Mar–Apr

Mar–July

Regular user; nest site unverified

Bald Eagle

Shoreline, river, wetlands

Yearround

Primarily winter– summer

Documented in area

*Nesting periods are approximate for southwest Michigan and should not be interpreted as confirmed SHNA nest dates for every species. Ground-nesting and low-nesting birds deserve special attention One of the most important considerations in managing dogs within a natural area is that many bird nests are extremely di icult to see. A nest can be only a few inches above the ground—or simply a shallow depression concealed among grasses, shrubs, leaves or sand. Birds occurring at SHNA that nest on or very close to the ground include: Bird

Typical Nest Location

SHNA Assessment

Killdeer

Bare sand, gravel or sparsely vegetated ground Strong candidate

Spotted Sandpiper

Ground near water, concealed by vegetation

Strong candidate

Field Sparrow

On/near ground in grasses or low shrubs

Strong candidate

Vesper Sparrow

Ground in grasses/herbaceous vegetation

Possible

Song Sparrow

Ground or very low in dense vegetation

Likely

Swamp Sparrow

Very low/ground-level wetland vegetation

Possible

Eastern Towhee

Usually on ground beneath dense vegetation

Likely

Common Yellowthroat On/very near ground in dense vegetation

Likely

Wild Turkey

Possible

Ground nest concealed in vegetation

Other important breeding birds—including Prairie Warbler and Red-winged Blackbird— typically nest low in shrubs or marsh vegetation rather than directly on the ground. The Spotted Sandpiper is a good example Spotted Sandpipers place their nests in shallow depressions on the ground, generally near water and often concealed beneath shrubs, weeds or other vegetation.

The shorelines and wetland areas surrounding the Kalamazoo River, Oxbow Lagoon and SHNA wetlands provide the type of habitat in which these birds may breed. To a person walking through the area, a nest may be virtually invisible. Rare wildlife makes SHNA especially important The importance of SHNA extends well beyond common migratory birds. The Land Conservancy of West Michigan identifies exceptionally sensitive habitat within the natural area, including globally imperiled interdunal wetlands and rare plants and animals. Two particularly significant species documented in SHNA are: Prairie Warbler — Michigan endangered The Land Conservancy specifically identifies a Prairie Warbler population at SHNA. Its open-dune, shrub and young-forest habitat makes this natural area particularly valuable for the species. Blanchard’s Cricket Frog — Michigan threatened This small frog is also specifically documented at SHNA and is associated with the area's wetlands. Michigan DNR materials concerning this dune and wetland ecosystem also identify other species of conservation concern associated with these habitats, including spotted turtle, eastern hog-nosed snake, Fowler’s toad and piping plover. Piping Plover deserves special clarification. Lake Michigan beaches provide appropriate habitat for this federally endangered migratory shorebird, but a current SHNA nesting population should not be claimed without a confirmed recent nesting record. Why dogs matter The issue is not whether an individual dog is friendly, obedient or well behaved. The conservation concern is that wildlife does not make that distinction. Birds and other animals respond to the presence and movement of potential predators. During nesting season, wildlife may be especially vulnerable because adults are protecting territories, incubating eggs, feeding young or caring for recently fledged birds. The risk is particularly important for groundand low-nesting species, because their nests and young may be almost impossible for visitors to see.

SHNA combines several characteristics that make wildlife protection especially important: Rare species. Sensitive wetland and dune habitat. Groundand low-nesting birds. Migratory birds. Lake Michigan shoreline. Oxbow Lagoon. Kalamazoo River habitat. These resources occur together within a relatively small natural area. The purpose of the dog restriction The restriction on dogs within sensitive portions of SHNA should therefore be understood in its proper context: It is a wildlife and habitat protection measure. SHNA management material states that dogs are prohibited from the interior north of Oxbow Lagoon and along the lagoon shoreline because of the potential for damage to rare wildlife populations and habitats. The City of Saugatuck's public information likewise emphasizes that SHNA contains rare Michigan species and identifies protection of those species as a reason dogs are not permitted within the Natural Area. The Land Conservancy of West Michigan may permit leashed pets at some preserves, but it also recognizes that sensitive natural areas require exceptions and that some preserves prohibit pets entirely. That distinction is important. Not every park is the same, and not every natural area should be managed the same way. SHNA was preserved in significant part because of the extraordinary natural resources found there. Protecting those resources sometimes requires restrictions that would not be necessary in an ordinary municipal park. A simple principle Visitors can enjoy SHNA while also recognizing that wildlife has only one habitat. Keeping dogs out of areas where they are prohibited helps protect nesting birds, rare wildlife, wetlands and sensitive dune habitat—and helps preserve the qualities that make the Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area exceptional in the first place. Protect the habitat. Protect the nesting birds.

Protect the rare species. Preserve SHNA for the future.

Sources 

Land Conservancy of West Michigan — Saugatuck Harbor Natural Area

City of Saugatuck / local SHNA information

Michigan Department of Natural Resources

National Audubon Society

eBird / Cornell Lab of Ornithology

Martin Blagburn — Holland Audubon Board Member

Keith Charak — Birder, Holland Audubon Member

John Fleming — Birder, Holland Audubon Member

Prepared by Keith Charak