Scarecrow Island facts for kids
 Scarecrow Island
Location in Michigan
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| Geography | |
|---|---|
| Location | Lake Huron |
| Coordinates | 44°54′42″N 83°19′44″W / 44.91167°N 83.32889°W |
| Area | 28,000 m2 (300,000 sq ft) |
| Administration | |
| State | Michigan |
| County | Alpena County |
| Township | Sanborn Township |
| Demographics | |
| Population | Uninhabited |
Scarecrow Island is a small, special island in Lake Huron, one of the Great Lakes. It's only about 7 acres big, which is like 5 football fields! This island is super important because it's a safe home for many different kinds of birds. It's located near Alpena, Michigan, and helps form the edge of Thunder Bay. The island is part of Sanborn Township in Alpena County, Michigan.
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A Special Home for Wildlife
Scarecrow Island is famous for being a nesting spot for many water birds. These birds come to the island to build their nests and raise their young.
Important Bird Species
Some of the birds that call Scarecrow Island home include:
- Cormorants: These birds are great at diving for fish.
- Herons: Tall wading birds that hunt in shallow water.
- Gulls: Common birds often seen near water.
- Terns: Smaller, graceful birds known for their sharp dives.
Protecting the Island
Because Scarecrow Island is so important for these birds, it has been given special protection.
- In 1943, it became one of eight islands in the Michigan Islands National Wildlife Refuge. This means it's a protected area for wildlife.
- In 1970, it was also named part of the Michigan Islands Wilderness. This gives it an even higher level of protection, keeping it wild and untouched.
- The island is managed by the Shiawassee National Wildlife Refuge, which helps keep it safe for the birds.
- The waters around Scarecrow Island in Thunder Bay also became part of the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary in 2000. This sanctuary protects the underwater environment, including shipwrecks and marine life.
Fish Around the Island
Scarecrow Island is located in an area of Lake Huron that is rich in fish. A study in 2002 found several types of fish living near the island.
Common Fish Species
The most common fish found near Scarecrow Island include:
- Round whitefish: A type of fish found in cold, deep waters.
- Trout-perch: Small fish that look a bit like both trout and perch.
- Lake chub: A small, slender fish often found in lakes and streams.
How the Island Was Formed
Like many other islands in the Great Lakes, Scarecrow Island was formed a very long time ago by glaciers.
The Ice Age's Role
During the last Ice Age, huge sheets of ice called glaciers covered much of North America. As these glaciers slowly moved, they carved out the land. When the Ice Age ended and the glaciers melted, they left behind large amounts of rocks and gravel. This material was dumped onto the land that later became the bottom of Lake Huron. Scarecrow Island is basically a pile of these rocks and gravel that rose above the water.
