Les Cheneaux Area: John Arthur Woollam Preserve

Directions
​From the intersection of M-134 and M-129, travel east on M-134 6.3 miles to the preserve sign on the right (south side of the highway). A small parking lot is available at the trailhead.
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Birding Opportunities
The Woollam Preserve is a beautiful patch of boreal forest and rocky Great Lakes shoreline recently acquired by the Nature Conservancy. Ruffed Grouse are commonly seen and heard drumming here in the early spring and if you are lucky you may stumble upon a hen with her brood in the summer months. The woodlands can also be thick with migrant songbirds in the spring and fall. Special UP rarities, such as Connecticut Warbler and Canada Warbler, have been seen here and even a rare (for this far north) Yellow-Throated Vireo has been found here. Nashville, Black-and-White, Blackburnian and Black-Throated Green Warbler are all very common in the summer months.  In addition, this is one of the best places to view breeding American Redstarts. Research at nearby Ponchatrain Shores (near Search Bay) documented that the North Huron Shoreline has some of the highest recorded American Redstart breeding populations emphasizing that is an important habitat not just for migrants but also for summer birds. ​
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John Arthur Woollam Preserve

Other Exciting Features
There are many interesting and rare plant species found throughout this preserve including a number of orchid species such as Yellow Lady Slipper. On the beach at the end of the trail one can find coreopsis, fringed gentian, and even a few pitcher plants. Looking out over the waters one can often spot large freighters pulling into nearby Port Dolomite to load up on dolomite to ship across the world.

Map: Available at trail head.

Additional Information about this nature preserve is available at: http://www.nature.org/ourinitiatives/regions/northamerica/unitedstates/michigan/placesweprotect/john-arthur-woollam-preserve.xml

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