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  SITE PROFILE  
 
 
 
Name: Whitefish Point  

State: US-MI Status: Recognized
Counties: Chippewa Priority:
   Criteria:
Site Description:
A narrow peninsula reaching into Lake Superior, it acts as a natural funnel for migrating waterbirds, passerines, and raptors.
Ornithological Summary:
One of the midwest's premier natural migrant traps for waterbirds, passerines, and raptors. Between 50,000 and 70,000 or more waterbirds will pass by the point each fall. Between 12,000 and 21,000 Red-necked Grebes pass by the point each fall, representing approximately 25-45% of the estimated North American population. Other significant counts include Red-breasted Merganser: max of 1,708/day, 10,913/season during fall migration 1992-1999, Common Loon: >1,000/day and 10,000/season during spring migration 1999. =Other notable waterbird counts include 330 Common Terns during fall 2004 and high count of 3,643 Bonaparte's Gulls during fall migration 1992-1999.

Hundreds of Long-eared, Northern Saw-whet, Boreal, and other owls pass through the point each spring and fall as they journey across Lake Superior to Canada and back, using its jack pine stands as vital roosting points.

Diurnal raptors also funnel through the point in spring, often in large numbers. Notable counts include 6,000 Sharp-shinned Hawks in spring 2004, 76 Peregrine Falcons during 2005, 1,224 Rough-legged Hawks in 1999, and 63 Golden Eagles in 1999.

 

 

Citation: National Audubon Society 2009. Important Bird Areas in the U.S.
Available at http://www.audubon.org/bird/iba 11/2009

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