Management activities at St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve have been discontinued as of July 1, 2011. This page describes one of the former ecosystem science programs which will be restarted should revenue streams improve.

The St. Joseph Peninsula is critical habitat for the threatened piping plover (Charadrius melodus), and home to many other shorebird species. The preserve conducted weekly surveys on the adjacent St. Joseph Peninsula between the state park boundaries and the Stumphole area. Shorebird survey data was reported to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

These surveys have improved the preserve's understanding of shorebird migration in the area. The land surrounding the preserve is an important stopover during the Gulf Coast fall and spring bird migrations. St. Joseph Bay receives birds from both the Midwest and Atlantic seaboard. These surveys are important because many shorebird species that nest near the preserve are of special interest due to their scarcity or declining populations.

More information on the Shorebird Monitoring Program at St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve is available in the St. Joseph Bay Aquatic Preserve Management Plan.

Piping plover (Charadrius melodus)