Coastal Wetlands

Priority Region: Saginaw Bay

Improving wetlands conditions for vulnerable Michigan birds like the Black Tern.
Black Tern at Wigwam Bay State Wildlife Area Photo: David Fuller.
Black Tern at Wigwam Bay State Wildlife Area Photo: David Fuller.
Coastal Wetlands

Priority Region: Saginaw Bay

Improving wetlands conditions for vulnerable Michigan birds like the Black Tern.

Protecting Birds in the Saginaw Bay Region

The vast wetlands in the Saginaw Bay region provide critical habitat for a variety of waterbird species that use the area to rest and refuel during migration and for habitat and food during winter and breeding seasons.  

Saginaw Bay’s coastal wetlands, including Wigwam Bay State Wildlife Area, Nayanquing Point State Wildlife Area, Quanicassee Wildlife Area, and Wild Fowl Bay State Park, make up the vast majority of the Bay’s 100-mile shoreline. These important wetlands face significant threats including invasive species and water-quality issues due to legacy contaminants and agricultural runoff.  

Audubon Great Lakes is working with partners across the region to restore the region’s wetlands for the benefit of vulnerable marsh birds and local communities

Working in the Areas Where Birds Need Us Most 

The Saginaw Bay region has been identified by Audubon scientists as one of the 12 most important coastal wetlands regions across the Great Lakes that are most important to conserve or restore for vulnerable marsh birds. Audubon Great Lakes is working with partners in each of these priority regions to coordinate landscape-scale bird monitoring and habitat restoration.

Explore Audubon’s Vision: Restoring the Great Lakes for Birds and People to see Audubon's plans to address the biggest threats facing birds and people. 

Our Restoration Work

Since 2018, Audubon Great Lakes, in partnership with Michigan Department of Natural Resources (DNR) and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Coastal Program, has been working to conserve wetlands at Wigwam Bay State Wildlife Area, a major breeding area for the Black Tern, a Michigan Species of Special Concern and State Wildlife Action Plan focal species. The colony at Wigwam Bay is suffering from habitat degradation due to invasive plants, loss of floating nest mats, severe weather events, and mammalian predators. The habitat work led by Audubon Great Lakes aims to improve hemi-marsh conditions and combat invasive species. 

Audubon Great Lakes and Detroit Audubon staff and volunteers help lead marsh bird surveys and Black Tern surveys to measure the impact of restoration on breeding birds.   

The region’s extensive state-owned land used for game and wildlife management provides many unique opportunities for restoration, enhancement and community engagement to support the support the region’s threatened marsh birds while improving foraging for gamebirds and waterbirds 

History of the Region 

Historically, the Saginaw Bay region was once home to an abundance of swamps and other wetlands, which supported a variety of waterfowl and other wildlife. When Europeans settled in the region, they drained many of the swamps to make room for industry. Industrial wastewater, sewer overflows, contaminated sediments, urban and agricultural runoff, old waste disposal sites, and atmospheric deposition has led to the contamination of the region’s watershed.  

The Saginaw River and Bay was designated as an EPA Area of Concern (AOC) due to contaminated sediments, fish consumption advisories, degraded fisheries and loss of significant recreational opportunities. Priorities in the AOC include pollution control, wetland and habitat restoration, and the removal of contaminated sediment.  

Saginaw Bay is recognized as a globally significant Audubon Important Bird Area (IBA), for the habitat it provides to migratory waterbirdsLarge congregations of waterfowl, including Tundra Swans, American Black Ducks, Mallards, Redheads, Common Goldeneyes, mergansers and scaup species flock to the marshes and open water of Saginaw Bay in spring and fall. Additionally, several important waterbird breeding colonies exist within the IBA, including Black Tern, Common Tern, Caspian Tern, Ring-billed Gull, Great Egret, and Black-crowned Night Heron. 

The region’s wetlands are also important to the community. Wetlands serve as natural water purifiers that absorb pollutants to keep the water in inland lakes and streams clean. By storing water, wetlands also operate as natural flood control to protect local communities from flooding and drought and help buffer communities from a changing climate. 

Project Partners & Supporters 

Audubon Great Lakes is grateful to project partners and supporters who make our work possible. 

Project Partners:

Supporters: 

Audubon’s work in the Saginaw Bay region is supported by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Coastal Program, National Fish and Wildlife Foundation and the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative. 

Our Projects in the Saginaw Bay Region

Black Tern Conservation
Coastal Wetlands

Black Tern Conservation

Saving one of the Great Lakes' most iconic species

Read more

MI Birds
MI Birds

MI Birds

MI Birds aims to deepen Michiganders engagement in the understanding, care, and stewardship of public lands that are important for birds and local communities.

Read more

Stay Up-To-Date: The Latest on Our Work in the Saginaw Bay Region

Michigan Budget Includes Critical Funding to Restore Wetlands, A Victory for Wildlife and Communities
News

Michigan Budget Includes Critical Funding to Restore Wetlands, A Victory for Wildlife and Communities

Funding empowers local governments to restore wetlands before flooding events and protect bird habitat

Working to Keep the Great Lakes “Great” for the Birds that Need It the Most
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Working to Keep the Great Lakes “Great” for the Birds that Need It the Most

How the Great Lakes Restoration Initiative is supporting Audubon Great Lakes' and partners' work to protect vulnerable birds across the Great Lakes region

Audubon Great Lakes Equips Small Tracking Devices to Study Michigan’s Vulnerable Black Terns
Press Center

Audubon Great Lakes Equips Small Tracking Devices to Study Michigan’s Vulnerable Black Terns

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Volunteers Show Up in Record-Breaking Numbers to Monitor Vulnerable Michigan Birds
Blog

Volunteers Show Up in Record-Breaking Numbers to Monitor Vulnerable Michigan Birds

Audubon Great Lakes thanks volunteers for their participation in three community science programs to track how birds are responding to local conservation efforts