Things to do / Travel Guide
Whether you are a birdwatcher, botanist, or neither, northern Michigan is full of interesting and endangered wildlife that even the novice nature-enthusiast will appreciate. Thanks to the lack of urban development in the Upper Peninsula, the natural ecosystems have remained relatively preserved. With or without binoculars, it will not be difficult to spot a wide range of indigenous flora and fauna, common or endangered: Northern Michigan's parks, forests, rivers and lakes are teeming with pristine wildlife.
Flora
Most of the state's woodlands can be found in the Northern region, both the Upper Peninsula and the northern portion of the Lower Peninsula. White and red pines are prevalent in the north, and mixed pine and maple forests are more common in the upper part of the Lower Peninsula. Three-quarters of the state's trees are hardwoods. Wild-flower aficionados will enjoy the region's numerous flowering plants including the arbutus, daisy, goldenrod, iris, lady's-slipper, and tiger lily. In Mackinac Island State Park alone there are more than 250 wildflower species, including rare orchids, the endangered pitcher's thistle, and the dwarf lake iris.
The Chippewa Nature Center in Midland has been labeled one of the finest private nature centers in the world. The center, dedicated to fostering the enjoyment, understanding, and protection of the area's natural resources, has a 60-foot-long, glass-walled room that is cantilevered over the Pine River.
Fauna
Squirrels, foxes, woodchucks, chipmunks, and rabbits, are all found throughout Michigan. The northern Lower Peninsula and the Upper Peninsula provide insulated habitats for snowshoe hare, porcupine, black bear, and bobcat. Isle Royale in the Upper Peninsula is well-known for its moose and its predator, the timber wolf.
The heaviest concentration of Michigan elk are north of Gaylord in the Pigeon River Country Forest Area. The best time to see the elk is during the fall rutting season when the majestic animals toss back their heads and emit a clear mating whistle. A herd of more than 200 moose can often be spotted in Craig Lake State Park in the Upper Peninsula. Drivers should take extra care when visiting in the vicinity of this park, as moose and deer often cross the roads unexpectedly.
Birds
If birds are your main interest, northern Michigan is irrefutably a birdwatcher's heaven, one of the very best in the United States. The state's birds include the robin, thrush, meadowlark, wren, bluebird, oriole, bobolink, and chickadee. Geese, ducks, grouse, pheasants, and quail are also prevalent. Endangered piping plovers nest in late spring and early summer at the Wilderness State Park, and it is possible to watch them lay their eggs. The Bullock Creek Nature Sanctuary is an ideal place to see grosbeaks, flycatchers, orioles, and warblers.
The Au Sable Riber between Grayling and Mio are the only places in the world where the seriously endangered Kirtland warbler continue breeding today. To find the bird, look in the low-lying branches of jack pines. Warblers prefer to nest in younger trees. The Kirtland warbler is so rare, an estimated 800 pairs in the world, that birders the world over travel to northern Michigan to spot it. In general, the bird's breeding grounds are off-limits to the public. Guided tours led by the U.S. Forest Service and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service may be scheduled from May through early July for a fee.
Nature Spots in Great Lakes, Traverse City, Upper Peninsula, Mackinac Island, Northern Michigan
Nature-Wildlife
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