Long Term Habitat Restoration and Community Engagement for a Michigan Audubon Bird Sanctuary

Abstract

Bernard Baker Sanctuary encompasses 980 acres of protected land in Convis Township, Calhoun County in Michigan. It is located south of Bellevue and north of Marshall. The sanctuary contains several habitats including old fields, restored tallgrass prairie, and various forested wetlands. It also contains most of Big Marsh Lake and has been known as a refuge for atrisk avian species. It is an important location for migrating and nesting sandhill cranes and was established as North America’s first refuge specifically for this species. Today, over 5,000 cranes stop at this location during fall migration. The Michigan’s Audubon’s goals for this property are to conserve, restore, and maintain ecological function for native grassland, wetland, and forest communities, and to support species diversity, specifically focusing on threatened and endangered species. There are currently multiple areas of restoration concern in the sanctuary, primarily due to anthropogenic pressures. Ecologically responsible treatments to repair the landscape, such as prescribed fire, have been emphasized at this property. The sanctuary is visited annually by a large population of sandhill cranes and maintaining habitat for this species is a priority. Additionally, Michigan Audubon has goals for visitor engagement related to maintaining or increasing quality of recreation, education, and research at this sanctuary.