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News from the Keweenaw Peninsula Posted February 28, 2003 Text © 2003 Copper Country Audubon Press Release. Photos © 2002 Dana Richter and © 2002 Michael Shupe, as indicated. Reprinted with permission. Other photos © 2002 Keweenaw Now.

Audubon seeks funds to expand Lake Bailey Wildlife Sanctuary

HANCOCK -- Negotiations have been successful to add 80 acres of dense, forested land adjacent to the Copper Country Audubon's Lake Bailey Wildlife Sanctuary near the shores of Lake Superior in Keweenaw County. The property is near the southeast corner of Lake Bailey, near Eagle Harbor, almost directly below Lookout Mountain (Mt. Baldy).

The Copper Country Audubon Club, with the help of the Michigan Audubon Society, is seeking funds to purchase the property.

Lake Superior can barely be seen here through the thick forest of Copper Country Audubon's present Lake Bailey Wildlife Sanctuary. (May 2002 file photo © 2002 Keweenaw Now.)

The new property fits into a corner and borders the sanctuary on two sides. It is one-half mile long east-west, and one-quarter mile wide, sloping north towards Lake Superior. It is entirely forested with aspen, birch, spruce, fir, pine and cedar. Similar to the mid-slope of the sanctuary property, this area has not been cut since the early part of the century when only the largest trees were taken.

"In some places the forest is so impenetrable that only a bird can get in!" said Dana Richter, Copper Country Audubon president. "The land is ideally suited for protection of bird habitat, wildlife and natural plant communities." 

The property is steep, steadily rising 300 feet in its one-quarter mile width. It has rocky soils underlain by the ancient, red-stoned Copper Harbor Conglomerate bedrock. Because of the shallow soil and harsh north exposure, none of the trees here get extremely large.

Copper Country Audubon members enjoy a field trip in July 2002 in the Lake Bailey Sanctuary. Pictured standing from left are Susan Robinson, Bill Deephouse, Beth Flynn, Barb Quenzi, Phil Quenzi (in back), Bonnie Hay and George Robinson. In the foreground is Patricia Van Pelt. (Photo © 2002 Dana Richter.)

This property likely contains stands of the beautiful, state- endangered, yellow-flowered heart-leaved Arnica that is in this same zone on the sanctuary. Over 250 species of plants have been catalogued on the Lake Bailey Sanctuary, including several species of orchids and four state-threatened or endangered plants. In the spring the forest floor is literally covered by beautiful and delicate twin-flowers and fringed polygalas. One can hear warblers, thrushes, vireos and sometimes the elusive winter-wren in the underbrush.

Copper Country Audubon President Dana Richter photographed this rare heart-leaved Arnica, a state-endangered flower, in July 2002 at the Lake Bailey Sanctuary. (Photo © 2002 Dana Richter. Reprinted with permission.)

The Lake Bailey Sanctuary is currently 325 acres. With the help of Michigan Audubon and Copper Country Audubon members, a successful fundraising effort in 1995 added an important six acres to the property, providing access to Highway M-26. Since then, a parking area, a sign and, with the help of the Boy Scouts and Audubon members, a hiking trail have been added to the sanctuary. 

Dana Richter poses with Michigan Audubon's sign on Brockway Mountain Drive. (Photo © 2002 Dana Richter. Reprinted with permission.)

Help needed to expand the sanctuary

The Lake Bailey Wildlife Sanctuary is entirely roadless. The additional property will bring the protected area to 405 acres, with no other access except the parking area on M-26. The additional property touches corners with the big 1,550-acre purchase that The Nature Conservancy just made in the area surrounding Lookout Mountain (Mt. Baldy).

View to the west over the Lake Bailey Sanctuary from Brockway Mountain. (Photo © 2002 Dana Richter. Reprinted with permission.)

"The seller of the property, the Keweenaw Land Association, has been very accommodating in negotiations to arrive at the purchase price of $50,000 for the property," Richter explained. "From the beginning they have agreed that the best use for the property is consistent with the goals of a nature sanctuary, and they have exclusively provided Copper Country Audubon the option to buy with reasonable terms and conditions consistent with the fundraising effort necessary for our club."

Richter will offer a slide show, "The Lake Bailey Wildlife Sanctuary Addition," and an update and discussion on the fundraising campaign for the Sanctuary Addition at the club's meeting at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, March 11, in Room GOO2 of the Michigan Tech University Forestry Building. The event is free and open to the public.

Keweenaw County Commissioner Don Keith of Eagle Harbor recently sent a letter to local residents in support of Copper Country Audubon's fundraising effort to purchase the additional acreage.

"I deeply believe in and pro-actively support acquisition of select and special areas in our county for public access and recreation," Keith writes. "In my mind and heart, we are giving a priceless gift to generations yet to be born. These areas will enhance quality of life and increase property values for all. Long-term economic benefits from future tourism will be ensured only by having lands for public access in our county."

Keith adds that current development pressure is increasing and he is aware of the need for a sense of urgency to protect these lands.

"We must act boldly while these few 'special places' are available," he continues in the letter. "Yes, I have thought through the argument that we may be giving up some possible tax base assets; but I believe the benefits greatly outweigh the few property tax dollars that might be realized. I personally have made a donation to Copper Country Audubon."

The seller would like to complete the transaction by April 2003, so time is short. Both Copper Country Audubon and Michigan Audubon are making significant contributions from their funds because of the critical importance of this addition, but a large amount remains to be raised.

"Any and all donations are welcome!" said Richter.

Donations can be sent to: Copper Country Audubon, P.O. Box 124, Houghton, MI 49931.

Donors should include their address or email address since all donations will be gratefully acknowledged. Copper Country Audubon is a 501c3 nonprofit organization, and contributions are tax deductible. If for some reason the deal doesn't go through all donations will be returned upon request or placed in a special sanctuary fund to be used for land acquisition at a later date.

"With the way land is going everywhere, this might be a one-time chance to protect an even larger block of Audubon land in the Keweenaw for the protection of nature and for the enjoyment of future generations," noted Richter. "We hope everyone will have a chance to experience and enjoy the Keweenaw County Audubon Sanctuaries! They are open to the public for non-motorized recreation."

Botanist Janet Marr marks the hiking trail in the present Lake Bailey Sanctuary. Marr studied the area for rare plants and helped route the trail to minimize visitor impacts on the plants. (May 2002 file photo © 2002 Keweenaw Now.)

For more information or flyers to help with the fundraising, contact Dana Richter, C. C. Audubon President (906-487-2149, dlrichte@mtu.edu) or Bill Deephouse, CC Audubon Treasurer (906-482-6607, riverkpr@up.net).

Copper Country Audubon awarded Chapter of the Year

The Michigan Audubon Society (MAS) has awarded Copper County Audubon "Chapter of the Year," to be presented at the MAS Annual Meeting on March 1, 2003, in East Lansing. President Dana Richter will be present to receive the award for the Chapter.

"Copper Country Audubon," said Richter, "is being honored for the club's excellent stewardship and work with the two Keweenaw County Michigan Audubon Society Sanctuaries, close cooperation with Michigan Audubon, conducting botany surveys, sign and trail work, growing the club to nearly 150 current members, and our many bird-related activities."

In June 2002 in the Lake Bailey Sanctuary, Copper Country Audubon President Dana Richter photographed this rare wild Lilac, a state-threatened species. (Photo © 2002 Dana Richter. Reprinted with permission.)

He noted the activities include 27 continuous years of Christmas and Spring Migration Counts, as well as funding and promoting local bird awareness and research.

Michigan Audubon, established in 1904, is Michigan's oldest conservation organization--even older than the National Audubon Society. The mission of the Michigan Audubon Society is "to promote the awareness, enjoyment, and stewardship of the environment and natural resources through education, research, conservation/preservation with emphasis on birds and their habitats."

The Copper Country Audubon Lake Bailey Wildlife Sanctuary protects a wide variety of bird species, such as this grey jay photographed by Keweenaw photographer Michael Shupe of Ahmeek. (Photo © 2002 Michael Shupe. Reprinted with permission.)

"Copper Country Audubon is proud to be a part of Michigan Audubon and to work towards these same goals," Richter said. "As we say on the front of our sanctuary brochure that we created several years ago, 'for the conservation of wildlife and the enjoyment of nature.'"

Copper Country Audubon is one of approximately 50 MAS Chapters across the state of Michigan.

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