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Harbor Island Ecological Inventory
The following report was written in 1978, prior to the establishment of the Huron Island National Wildlife Refuge:
ECOLOGICAL INVENTORY OF HARBOR ISLAND
CHIPPEWA COUNTY, MICHIGAN
For The Nature Conservancy
Midwest Regional OfficeWilliam C. Scharf
Northwestern Michigan College
Traverse City, MichiganMichael L. Chamberlin
Interlochen Arts Academy
Interlochen, MichiganSeptember 1978
Statement of Ecological Significance
of Harbor Island
Harbor Island is located at latitude 46 degrees 03' and longitude 083 degrees 46' in Potagannissing Bay north of Drummond Island, Chippewa County, Michigan. With approximately 300 ha (750 A) of land mass it is the largest of some 50+ islands in the bay, and as such is a significant reservoir for wildlife in the area (it is the only island known to support a deer population throughout the winter) and is most representative of the habitats indigenous to the islands in this region of the U.S. Great Lakes. Harbor Island supports the major regional habitat types mixed upland forest (oak-maple), mid-seral stage forest (aspen-ash-birch), boreal forest (cedar-balsam fir), old field (grass-herb) and marsh (rush-pondweed). Excluded on Harbor Island are the sand beaches and low dunes found on the north shores of Lake Huron along Michigan's upper peninsula. Having the highest elevation (680' above sea level) of all the islands in the bay, Harbor Island supports the greatest growths of deciduous species such as oak and maple, thus providing another niche, exploitable by both breeding and migrating avian species, not available on many of the smaller adjacent islands.
Harbor Island almost completely landlocked the 60 ha (l50 A) harbor which so appropriately is the island's namesake. The unique harbor is relatively immune from winds, except when out of a couple of degrees SSW. The marshy shoreline of the harbor provides nesting habitat for the Piedbilled Grebe, American Bittern, Black Tern, Long-billed Marsh Wren and Redwinged Blackbird and rearing habitat for broods of Mallards, Black Ducks, Wood Ducks, Common Goldeneyes, and Red-breasted Mergansers. The sheltered harbor and calm waters are important as a refuge and feeding ground for the waders (e.g. herons) and the Ospreys, which need shallow water and clear visibility for fishing. Four Great Blue Heron colonies are located within 18 km of the island. Thus the harbor is within foraging distances for some 242 herons, from U.S. waters alone (1977 data -see W.C. Scharf, M.L. Chaiviberlin & G.W. Shugart. 1978. Colonial Birds Nesting On Man-made And Natural Sites In The U.S. Great Lakes. U.S. Army Engineers Waterways Experiment Station. Vicksburg, Miss.). The significance of this uniquely protected marsh is greater due to the fact that all of the adjacent islands within a two-mile radius have rocky and deep shorelines essentially devoid of marsh vegetation. The east shore of the bay along Drummondlsland is also marshy however here the presence of resort complexes and fishermen is a continual source of disturbance and recreational and residential development is increasing. Currently all of the adjacent islands are privately owned. Many have a summer residence on them or, given the current trend, in all probability soon will. The significance of Harbor Island as a reserve of the flora (123 species) and fauna (146 species) indigenous to this region will of course take on an ever increasing significance as the other islands are developed.
Bald Eagles, Osprey and Great Blue Herons have traditionally nested in the bay. Harbor Island offers suitable habitat for these breeding species. Mrs. Ken Payment of Drummond located a large raptor nest "two years ago" which she believed to be an eagle's nest (although it was more likely an Osprey nest). We were unable to relocate the nest during either our ground searches or an aerial search by helicopter. The continuous presence of Black-crowned Night Herons on the island for the past several summers suggests a possible northern extension of this species' breeding range. Colonization by this species may well occur in the region within the near future and the Harbor Island habitat would be a very likely location. If this occurs it will become the northernmost Black-crowned Night Heron colony in the U.S. Great Lakes. Goose Island, Mackinaw County, Michigan (latitude 45 degrees 45') is currently the northernmost colony (Scharf, Chamberlin & Shugart 1978).
Harbor Island, and the entirety of Potagannissing Bay, is an important stop-over for migrating waterfowl, hawks, shorebirds and passerines traveling in a southeasterly or northwesterly direction. During migration White-winged Scoters, even Surf Scoters, Bald Eagles, Whimbrels, Greater Yellowlegs, Short-billed Dowitchers, Ruddy Turnstones, Dunlins, Sanderlings, White-rumped Sandpipers, Least Sandpipers, Semi-palmated Sandpipers, Bonaparte's Gulls and 17 species of the northern warblers have been observed to utilize the area.
The island is diverse and botanically and zoologically rich. Of special botanical value are the orchids, gentians and lobelias. The daily utilization of the island's habitats by Osprey, Harriers and Cooper's Hawks (all on Michigan's threatened species list) and the recurring presence of Michigan's largest carnivores (coyote, red fox, black bear, bobcat, lynx -the latter three observed by Benua) are of ecological importance to the maintenance of a healthy, complex food web in the region. The accompanying species lists speak for themselves.
Harbor Island, Chippewa County, Michigan:
1cm=200m
Stippled area= Mixed upland forest (oak, maple, pine)
Dashed line= Old field (grass~erb)
Symbols =Marsh ( rush-pondweed)
Open= Boreal forest (cedar-balsam)
intergrading with Mid Seral forest (birch, ash, aspen)Numbers= Small mammal trap lines
1 cm=200m contours = 20 ft.
Harbor Island, Chippewa County, Michigan
Bird List
The following species list was compiled from observations during intensive ground searches throughout the island's habitats and from banding operations conducted during 1-3 and 10-13 September 1978. Four standard 12-foot, 4-panel nylon mist nets were set on the island (locations are given on the map). A total of 51 individuals of 26 species were banded. Also included in the inventory are species observed on the island by Chamberlin during annual spring/summer visits from 1972-78. During 1976-77 the island was visited by Chamberlin as part of a colonial bird survey of the U.S. Great Lakes (Scharf, Chamberlin & Shugart 1978). Additional observations during 1965-78 made by Louis Benua, seasonal resident on adjacent Bald Island, have also been incorporated. This inventory sets Harbor Island ' s avifauna at a minimum of 123 species.
B- Known Breeder
b- Probable Breeder
P- Potential Breeder
M Migrant
X Status Uncertain
* On Michigan
Threatened Species List
** On U.S. Endangered Species List+ Being considered for Michigan & U.S. Endangered Species Lists
1- Observed 1-3 & 10-13 Sept. 1978
2- Observed by Chamberlin 1972-78
3- Observed by Benua 1965-78
Common Loon |
b |
2 |
Red-necked Grebe |
M | 1 |
Horned Grebe |
M | 3 |
Pied-billed Grebe |
B |
12 |
Great Blue Heron |
P |
123 |
Black-crowned Night Heron |
P | 3 |
American Bittern |
B | 2 |
Canada Goose |
b | 12 |
Mallard |
B | 12 |
Black Duck |
B | 2 |
Green-winged Teal |
x | 3 |
Blue-winged Teal |
x | 3 |
Wood Duck |
B | 12 |
Lesser Scaup |
M | 2 |
Greater Scaup |
M | 3 |
| Common Goldeneye | B | 12 |
Bufflehead
M
3
Oldsquaw
M
2
White-winged Scoter
M
2
Surf Scoter
M
3
Hooded Merganser
x
3
Common Merganser
x
3
Red-breasted Merganser
B
12
Goshawk
b
1
*Cooper's Hawk
b
12
Sharp-shinned Hawk
b
12
Broad-winged Hawk
b
12
**Bald Eagle
P
3
Northern Harrier
x
12
*0sprey
P
123
Ruffed Grouse
B
12
Sandhill Crane
M
1
Sora
B
2
American Coot
b
2
Whimbrel
M
2
Spotted Sandpiper
b
12
Greater Yellowlegs
M
2
Short-billed Dowitcher
M
2
Ruddy Turnstone
M
2
Dunlin
M
2
Sanderling
M
3
White-rumped Sandpiper
M
2
Least Sandpiper
M
2
Semi-palmated Sandpiper
M
12
Herring Gull
x
12
Ring-billed Gull
x
12
Bonaparte's Gull
M
2
Common Tern
x
12
+Caspian Tern
x
12
Black Tern
B
2
Woodcock
B
1
Black -billed Cuckoo
B
2
Great Horned Owl
b
1
Barred Owl
b
2
Hawk Owl
M
3
Whip-poor-will
b
2
Common Night Hawk
x
1
Ruby-throated Humming-bird
b
12
Belted Kingfisher
x
12
Common Flicker
b
12
Pileated Woodpecker
B
12
Red-bellied Woodpecker
b
3
Yellow -bellied Sapsucker
b
12
Hairy Woodpecker
b
12
Downy Woodpecker
b
12
Northern Three-toed Woodpecker
X
3
Great Crested Flycatcher
b
2
Eastern Wood Pewee
b
2
Tree Swallow
b
2
Barn Swallow
X
2
Cliff Swallow
X
3
Purple Martin
X
3
Blue Jay
b
12
Raven
b
12
Common Crow
b
12
Black-capped Chickadee
b
12
Red-breasted Nuthatch
b
12
Brown Creeper
b
12
House Wren
b
1
Winter Wren
B
2
Long-billed Marsh Wren
B
2
Robin
B
12
Hermit Thrush
b
1
Swainson's Thrush
B
2
Gray-cheeked Thrush
b
1
Veery
B
2
Cedar Waxwing
b
12
Starling
b
2
Solitary Vireo
b
1
Red-eyed Vireo
B
12
Black k-and-white Warbler
b
12
Tennessee Warbler
b
1
Nashville Warbler
b
12
Parula Warbler
b
2
Yellow Warbler
b
12
Magnolia Warbler
b
12
Black-throated Blue Warbler
b
12
Yellow-rumped Warbler
b
12
Black-throated Green Warbler
b
12
Blackburnian Warbler
b
12
Chestnut-sided Warbler
b
12
Bay-breasted Warbler
b
12
Blackpoll Warbler
b
1
Ovenbird
B
12
Common Yellowthroat
B
12
Wilson's Warbler
X
1
American Redstart
B
12
Scarlet Tanager
X
1
Red-winged Blackbird
B
2
Brown-headed Cowbird
b
2
Rose-breasted Grosbeak
X
1
Evening Grosbeak
X
3
Purple Finch
X
3
Pine Grosbeak
X
2
Vesper Sparrow
X
1
Dark-eyed Junco
b
2
Tree Sparrow
X
2
Chipping Sparrow
X
3
White -c crowned Sparrow
b
2
White -throated Sparrow
b
12
Fox Sparrow
X
3
Swamp Sparrow
b
1
Song Sparrow
b
12
Plant List
Searches of the various vegetational habitats of Harbor Island were conducted on 1-3 September and 10-13 September, 1978 during which the following list of plant species was identified. It is likely that spring-flowering species were missed because they are inconspicuous at that time of year. In most cases the taxonomy of the plant species refers to Helen V. Smith, Michigan Wildflowers, 1961, Cranbrook Inst. Sci., Bloomfield Hills, Mich. 465 p. for herbaceous terrestrial species; N. C. Fassett, A Manual of Aquatic Plants, 1957, University of Wisconsin Press, Madison, 405 p. for aquatic species; C. Billington, Ferns of Michigan, C~anbrook Inst-. Sci., Bloomfield Hills, Mich. 240p. for ferns; C. Billington, Shrubs of Michigan,1949 Cranbrook Inst. Sci.,Bloornfield Hills, Mich., 339p.for shrubs;.and C. H. Otis, Michigan Trees, 1913, Univ. Mich.~Press, Ann Arbor, 362p. for trees.
Ferns
N. Oak Fern Dryopteris rob ertiana
Long Beech Fern Dryopteris phegopteris
Oak Fern, Dryopteris disjuncta
Cut-leaved Rattlesnake Fern Botrichium virginianum
Dry Spinulosa, Dryopteris spinulosa
Wood Fern, Dryopteris marginalis
Oak Bracken, Pteridium aquilinium
Pol~dy, Polypodium virginianum
Lycopodium, Lycopodium companulatum
Dwarf Scouring Rush, Equisetum scirpoides
Trees
Black Spruce, Picea mariana
White Spruce, P. canadensis
Balsam Fir, Abies balsamea
White Cedar, Thuja occidentalis
White Pine, Pinus strobus
Red Pine, P. resinosa
Tamarack, Larix larcina
Hemlock, Tsuga canadensis
Red Oak, Quercus rubra
Balsam Poplar, Populus balsamifera
Trembling Aspen, P. tremuliodes
Sugar Maple, Acer saccharum
Red Maple, A. rubrum
Moosewood, A. pennsylvanicum
White Ash, Fraxinus americana
Black Ash, Fraxinus nigra
Ironwood, Ostrya virginiana
Elm, Ulmus americana
Rock Elm, Ulmus thomasi
Apple, Pyrus malvus
White Birch, Betula papyrifera
Choke Chrrry, Prunus virginiana
Shrubs
Bittersweet, Celastrus scandens
Horizontal Juniper, Juniperus horizontalis
Buffalo Berry, Shepherdia canadensis
Sweet Gale, Myrica gale
Staghorn Sumac, Rhus typhina
Poison Ivy, Rhus radicans
Alder, probably Alnus rugosa
Red Elder, Sambucus pubens
Wild Grape, Vitis riparia
Herbs
Cattails
Wide Cattail, Typha latifolia
Pond Weeds
Potamogeton natans
P. zosteriformis
P. pectinatus
Rushes
3-square Rush, Scirpus fluviatilis
Bull Rush, S. acutus
Several Scirpus speGrasses
Canada Bluegrass, Poa canadensis
Marsh Grass, Glyceria grandis
Quack Grass, Agropyron repens
Timothy, Phleum praetense
Giant Reed, Phragmites corninunis
Arums
Sweetfiag, Acorus calamus
Pickerelweeds
Pickereiweed, Pontedaria cordata
Lilies
Canada lily, Mianthemum canadense
Rosy Twisted-Stalk, Streptopus roseus
Orchids
*Giant Rattlesnake plantain, Goodyera oblongifolia
*Checkered Rattlesnake plantain, G. tesselata
*Striped Coral Root, Corallorhiza striata
*Ramshead Orchid, Cypridedium arietinum found on Bald Island by Louis Benua; on
Buttercups
Long headed Thimbleweed, Anenome cylindrica
Gold Thread, Coptis groenlandica
Early Meadow Rue, Thallictrum dioicum
Kidney Leaf Buttercup, Ranunculus abortivus
Lobelias
Great Blue Lobelia, Lobelia siphilitica
Brook Lobelia, L. Kalmii
Pale Spike Lobelia, L. spicata
Scrophs
Figwort, Scrophularia lanceolata
Mullein, Verbascum thapsus
Purple Gerardia, Gerardia paupercula
Madders
Sweet Scented Bedstraw, Galium triflorum
Northern Bedstraw, G. Boreale
Rough Bedstraw, G. asperelle
Rosac eae
Raspberry, Rubus idaeus
Silverweed, Potentilla anserina
Rough Cinquefoil, Pe recta
Strawberry, Fragaria virginiana
Wood Strawberry, F. vesca
Swamp rose, Rosa palustris
* protected species
Umbels
Sweet Cicely, Osmorhiza claytoni
no common Cicuta bulbifera
Milkweeds
Swamp Milkweed, Asciepias incarnata
Common Milkweed, A. syriaca
Nettles
Common Nettle, Urtica dioica
no common Ptlea fontana
Mints
Wild Basil, Satureja vulgaris
Heal-afl, Prunella vulgaris
Catnip, Nepeta catgria
Waterhorehound, Lycopis virginicus
Gooseberries
Gooseberry, Ribes sp.
Naked miterwort, Mitella nuda
Docks
Sheep Sorrel, Rumex acetosylla
Water Dock, R. orbiculatus
Violets
Northern white violet, Viola palens
Dog Violet, V. conspersa
Downy Yellow Violet, V. pubescens
Large Leaf Violet, V. incognita
Composites
Pearly Everlasting, Anaphalis margaritacea
Ox Eye Daisy, Heliopsis helianthoides
Yarrow Goats Beard, Tragopogon ma~or
King Devil, Hieracium florentinum
Orange Hawkweed, H. aurentiacum
Flea Bane, ~rigeron philadelphicus
Huron Tansy, Tanacetum huronense
Boneset, Eupatorium perfoliatum
Bidens, Bidens cernua
Burdock, Arctium ~inus
Canada Thistle, Cirsium arvense
Bull Thistle, C. vulgare
Spotted Starthistle, Centaurea maculosa
Red Seeded Dandelion, Taraxacum etrythrospermum
Common Dandelion, T. officinale
Cats Ear, Hypochoeris radicata
New England Aster, Aster novae-Angliae
Willow Aster, A. prealtus
Goldenrod, Solidago ulmifolia
Goldenrod, S. erecta
Others
*Fringe~ Gentian, G entian crinita
Herb Robert, Geranium robertianum
Hounds Tongue, Cynoglossum officinale
Twin Flower, Linnea borealis
Ground Cherry, Physalis heterophylla
Bunchberry, Cornus canadensis
Ste John'S Wort, Hypericum punctatum
Vervain, Verbena hastata
Evening Primrose, Oenothera biennis
Squaw Root, Conophilis americana
Mammal Species List
Eleven snap trapping lines (see map) were made of varying lengths for 5 nights (1,2 and 10,11,12 September, 1978) in varying habitats for a total of 362 trap nights. Traps were spaced at 14 yard intervals according to the method described by R. L. Smith, Ecology and Field ~iology,l966, Harper and Row, New York, p.653, and 66 traps sampled 1 acre. There were 34 Peromyscus maniculatus gracilis trapped and one Clethrionomys gapperi. Estimates of 6.5 Peromyscus per acre reveal a very high population of this species. This is especially surprising, because trapping conditions were sub-optimum due to heavy rain and wind each night we trapped.
Other inclusions on the mammal list come from the observations of tracks, scats, and capture of bats in mist nets. Some of the mammals are noted to be from the list of Mr. Louis Benua, Colombus Ohio from adjacent Bald Island.
Mammals
Little ~rown Bat, Myotis lucifugus caught in mist net
Red Bat, Lasiurus borealis seen flying 18:30 h, 12 September, 1978
Woodland Deer Mouse, Peromyscus maniculatus gracilis
Red-backed Vole, Clethrionomys gapperi
Beaver, Castor canadensis a large population present many trees downed.
Red Squirrel, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus several seen~
Varying Hare, Lepus americanus many droppings seen.
White-tailed Deer, Odecoileus virginianus heavy browsing, many droppings.
Coyote, Canis latrans tracks seen on beaches.
Red Fox, Vulpes vulpes reported by ~lr. Louis Benua, and seen by Chamberlin.
Bobcat, Lynx rufus seen on Bald Island by Louis Benua.
Lynx, Lynx canadensis reported from Bald Island 18 July 1975, Louis Benua.
Bear, Ursus americanus reported from Bald Island, Seen svimming, Louis Benua.
Raccoon; Procyon lotor one reported from Bald Island, Louis Benua.
Otter, Lutra canadensis reportedly seen on Bald 1s1and~ Louis Benua.
Mink, Mustela vison tracks seen on Harbor Island.
Reptile and Amphibian List
All appropriate hiding places and marshes were searched, and the following species were found on Harbor Island.
Snakes
Water Snake, ~atrix sipedon
Ring -necked Snake Diadophis punctatus
Garter Snake, Thamnophis sirtalis
Amphibians
Spring Peeper, Hyla. crucifer
Wood Frog, Rana sylvatica
American Toad, Bufo terrestris americanus
Spotted Salamander, Ambystoma maculatum
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