Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuge, Bird sanctuary in Liberty Grove, Wisconsin.
Gravel Island National Wildlife Refuge consists of two Lake Michigan islands that serve as protected breeding grounds for water birds and gulls. The islands remain undeveloped, with rocky shores and sparse vegetation that create ideal nesting habitats.
The refuge was established in 1913 through Executive Order 1678 to protect bird breeding habitats in the Great Lakes region. This action reflected early conservation efforts to safeguard native wildlife nesting sites.
The area serves as a research site for ornithologists studying migration patterns and breeding behaviors of various water birds and shore birds.
The islands are closed to public access, and boats must maintain a minimum distance of about a quarter mile from the shores. This buffer zone protects the nesting birds from disturbance.
The refuge hosts one of the westernmost breeding colonies of great black-backed gulls in North America. This species is typically found nesting much further east.
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