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Permalink Reply by Robin on May 12, 2008 at 8:25am

The only one right now is Buttersville, south on PM Hwy to Iris turn right travel to Lakeshore drive, turn right, just past Buttersville Campground on the left. Also - the city has designated a segment of Loomis street boat launch in the near future as a "Dog Beach" not sure when that starts. There's lots of people with dogs and at Buttersville beach every summer, hope your Newfie enjoys it.
robin

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Permalink Reply by i think i love you michigan on May 13, 2008 at 5:31pm

Hi! As one of this year's piping plover stewards out at the State Park, I just want to remind everyone that there is a very good reason dogs are not allowed on any of the State Park's beaches: our beautiful and delicate local endangered species, the piping plover. Dogs are a HUGE threat to this bird's survival so it's really important that we follow the park's guidelines. Thanks everybody!

In addition to the places that everyone has mentioned, The beach at Sargeant Sands is also a good place to let your dogs splash around.

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Permalink Reply by Christina on May 13, 2008 at 7:46pm

Thanks for the info. Yes I understand that about the plovers and I totally accept that. I just wish there was a nice area that was in Ludington that would allow it. Not just a little tiny strip of beach. It is just really inconvenient when you have kids and a dog and you are trying to find a place that is good for both and is close to home. Yah I want it all, I know not very realistic. :) But it never hurts to ask.

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Permalink Reply by John J on May 14, 2008 at 6:19pm

It has been interesting for us living on the East Coast since The Charadrius melodus is not native to many places. In 2006 when we were up in Ludington spent lots of time in the areas where your group was doing a great job as stewards in the Manistee National Forest. Please keep us informed how it is all going for you this year.

http://animaldiversity.ummz.umich.edu/site/accounts/information/Cha...


Vol 2 Issue1_Spring 2008
Volunteer Birders Needed at Pivotal Moment in Piping Plover Recovery

Heroic conservation efforts have helped the birds stage a hard-fought comeback. Last year, after two decades ofcoastal surveys, nest monitoring, and active nesting beach protection, the Great Lakes population climbed to 63breeding pairs. Michigan is the species’ stronghold in the region, with 56 pairs nesting in 2007. The plovers returnfrom the Gulf of Mexico beginning in mid-April, and are regularly observed near Ludington, Tawas, Oscoda, Alpena, Empire, Cross Village, and Wilderness State Park in the Lower Peninsula, and Grand Marais, Escanaba, and the Straits area in the Upper Peninsula. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service urges anyone observing a piping plover in the Great Lakes to promptly report the date, location, and other details of the sighting to Jack Dingledine at (517) 351-6320, or jack_dingledine@fws.gov. Volunteer nest beach monitors are also needed at several locations in the Upper andLower Peninsulas during the May-August breeding season. Monitors observe plover pairs on their nesting territoriesand collect data on nesting and hatchling activity. They may also serve as on-site “plover conservation ambassadors”to the public. Information on volunteering to monitor nest sites is provided in the volunteer opportunities section onPage 4.
http://www.michigan.gov/documents/deq/deq-ess-clm-mcn-spring08_2293...

http://www.stripersonline.com/surftalk/showthread.php?t=459762


History in Wisconsin
Historically, piping plovers nested in Wisconsin, although exact numbers are unknown. From the late 1800s to early 1900s, wanton shooting of plovers for sport and the millinery trade contributed to serious population declines throughout North America. The Migratory Bird Treaty Act of 1918 made it illegal to hunt piping plovers and their populations began to recover.

But plovers' problems did not end there. With increasing human use of beaches where plovers nest, populations again began to decline. By 1948, only one pair of plovers was known to nest in Wisconsin (in Door County). Although three pairs of plovers nested in Ashland County in 1978, only one pair successfully reared young. Of two pairs seen there in 1979 and 1980, only one produced chicks each year. In 1986, only one adult returned to a traditional nesting territory in Ashland County.
http://www.dnr.state.wi.us/ORG/land/er/factsheets/birds/PLOVER.HTM


Approved Recovery Plan for the Great Lakes Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus)

http://www.epa.gov/fedrgstr/EPA-SPECIES/2003/September/Day-16/e2353...

https://wwwnotes.fs.fed.us/wo/wfrp/WFWPartnerships.nsf/project/nw25...

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