40 Acres Added to Conservancy’s Largest Preserve - Round Island Point Addition

TThe Round Island Point Nature Preserve, the Conservancy’s largest preserve, recently became even larger when a 40-acre inholding was purchased late last year. The preserve now encompasses 710 acres with more than two miles of Lake Superior shoreline.

“These 40 acres lie right in the heart of our new Round Island Point Nature Preserve, making them a very high priority for protection,” explained land protection specialist, Kieran Fleming.

As explained in previous newsletters, the Round Island Point Nature Preserve was acquired last year through a land transfer from the Michigan chapter of The Nature Conservancy and a 210-acre adjacent land purchase. The purchase was made possible through a grant from the North American Wetlands Conservation Act and from private donors.

The Round Island Point Nature Preserve is situated within a major waterbird corridor of both continental and international significance. Species such as red-necked grebes, sea ducks, and thousands of migrating loons have been documented to pass to and from Canada via Whitefish Point, which lies approximately 24 miles northwest of Round Island Point.