https://ebird.org/hotspot/L1027925
Habitat: Northern Hardwood Forest, Hemlock-Hardwood Forest, Boreal Forest, Hardwood Swamp, Cedar Swamp, Open Water, Marsh, Sedge Meadow.
Best Birds: The Schoenbrunn trail on the east side of the estuary features several high quality habitats in one of the County’s most ecologically significant natural areas. The first quarter mile of the trail passes through a northern hardwood forest highlighted by large American Beech and Sugar Maple. At the ancient beach ridge, the trail descends and meanders through coniferous forest, swamps and hemlock-hardwoods and continues to the Mink River (more correctly an extension of Lake Michigan.) Warblers to listen and watch for include Black and White, Black-throated Green, Canada and Black-throated Blue, and Northern Waterthrush in some of the Black Ash swales. At the ‘river’ scan the tall white pines to the southeast for a Bald Eagle nest, watch for White Pelican, Belted Kingfisher and possibly Caspian Tern, Red-shouldered Hawk, and Merlin.
Directions: 84 miles NE of Green Bay/40 miles northeast of Sturgeon Bay. Take Hwy 42 to County Highway NP, turn south and drive for 1 mile. Turn west at the bend into a grass parking lot. (45.24492, -87.02988). The Schoenbrunn trail is south of the parking lot and follows an old roadbed for 0.75 miles to the Mink River. Access to the west side of the estuary is 1.6 miles south of Hwy 42 on Mink River Road with parking near a trailhead at 45.23337, -87.05630. There is a boat landing on Rowley’s Bay on County Hwy ZZ, (45.21944, -87.03453). Paddle north along the shoreline about 0.8 miles to the estuary entrance.
Site Address & Additional Information:
County Hwy NP, Ellison Bay, WI
The Schoenbrunn Trail is part of over 2000 acres of the Mink River Estuary State Natural Area. This natural area is owned and managed by The Nature Conservancy and the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.
https://www.nature.org/en-us/get-involved/how-to-help/places-we-protect/mink-river-estuary/
https://dnr.wi.gov/topic/Lands/naturalareas/index.asp?SNA=218
Paul Regnier
