Wetlands Educational Site of the North

Just south of Alpena, Michigan is the brand new outdoor facility currently called "The Wetlands Classroom." It is a ten acre piece of prime coastal wetland property that has been adapted into an educational experience. The present "classroom" is a small building that serves as the interpretive center for the complex.
The property has all the classical components of a Great Lakes Palustrine wetland, of the lagoon and barrier type. Several ancient beach ridges cross the property. A beautiful and extensive boardwalk system has been constructed across the wetland. Three educational gathering areas have been built into the design, which is all ADA approved.

Here we see the view from the lakeside platform in panorama. The wet meadow with the fringing cattail marsh beyond is clearly seen behind the bird feeder. A shingle, shrubby beach ridge rises in the center part of the photograph, falling off to a beach swale on the right. To the right of the shore line, Thunder Bay and Alpena can be seen in the background. Another ancient beach ridge is just out of sight on the left.


This platform is on the west side of the property and overlooks the shrub zone and wet meadow.	Here is the wet meadow from a little closer. It has some standing water and will soon be full of wildflowers.

From mid-May through October, the wet meadow of our coastal wetlands can be the most beautiful place along the shore. Here we see a field of indian paintbrushes enjoying the limestone soils of the Thunder Bay region. The banner at the top shows them in close-up.
The tiny yet striking blue-eyed grass stands alone amid the small sedges and strawberries of the wet meadow in late May. If water levels on the Great Lakes continue low in 2000, many annuals not normally seen in the wet meadow will sprout this year. The cattails will become dehydrated and move vegetatively toward open water.

	The sprawling silverweed (left) with its bright yellow flowers brightens up the wet backshore and wet meadow. With pretty white flowers the red osier dogwood (right) is one of the earliest to bloom in the spring. A wetland lover, its' berries are later consumed by all sorts of birds and wildlife.
	Purple loosestrife (left) is an exotic species that has been taking over many wetland areas. It may be pretty to see in late summer but provides little value to wildlife. The Shrubby St. Johns Wort (right) thrives on dry soils but can be found on many sunny beach ridges within a few feet from the shoreline.

To reach the owner/manager of this site, email......partridgepointwetlands@hotmail.com

Hear the song of the Pied-billed Greebe

A most haunting sound of the wetlands, the greebe seems intent on making himself heard above the others. Common to Michigan, this small, chicken-like nester can be found on all sorts of ponds and lagoons. Often swims with just its neck and head showing, appearing more like a turtle or snake than a bird.

Credits, Notes and Links

Wetland photos courtesy of Walter J. Hoagman.
Greebe photo courtesy of Kim LeBlanc
Greebe song courtesy of Marsh Monitoring Program

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Additional links to Maritime History, Birds, Plants, Islands, Wetlands, Museums and other Great Lakes Info.