  |
|
 |
|
     |
|
         |
|
 
|
Presque Isle State Park
The Nature of Presque Isle
There are six distinct ecological zones on Presque Isle, each with a different plant and animal community. The record of geological succession can be traced through each of these zones. The zones include: Lake Erie, the bay and shoreline; sand plain and new ponds; dunes and ridges; old ponds and marshes; thicket and sub-climax forest; and climax forest.
Because of the diversity of ecological zones at Presque Isle State Park, many different species of plants and wildlife inhabit the park from the shoreline to the climax forest. Of all the plants and animals on Presque Isle, birds are the most studied and understood. The peninsula's location along the Atlantic Flyway and the diversity of natural habitats make Presque Isle State Park a haven for bird life. Migrating birds, including several species of special concern, rest, feed, and nest here. Over 320 species of birds have been recorded on Presque Isle; at least 39 of these are listed as species of special concern.
Birding
Presque Isle State Park has been rated by Birder's World magazine as one of the top birding spots in the country. Presque Isle's location on the Atlantic Flyway makes it a favorable spot for birds to stop to feed and rest on their migration across Lake Erie. Waterfowl migration occurs in March and in late November through December. Shorebird migration peaks in April and in September. Warbler migration is observed in mid-May and in September. Over 300 different species of birds have been identified on the peninsula. A bird checklist is available at the Stull Interpretive Center or the park office.
A Migrating Peninsula
Geologist believe that 11,000 years ago Erie was under a giant sheet of ice called a continental glacier. As the glacier melted and retreated north, rocks, pebbles and sand fell off creating a ridge called a “moraine.” So much ice melted that the valley to the north of Erie became a lake. The waves of newly created Lake Erie deposited sand on the moraine and created Presque Isle.
Presque Isle is a great location to see longshore drift in action. Wave by wave, eastward-moving wind pushes water and sediments. The accompanying forces of erosion and deposition continually shape Presque Isle's eastward migrating coast. This action greatly impacts the beaches and interior lands. When Presque Isle first formed, it probably was about three miles to the west.
Although the French name Presque Isle means "almost an island," the area has actually been a real island several times. Storm waves have broken through the neck to isolate the main section of the spit at least four times since 1819.
A number of shoreline management techniques dating to the 1800s have been used to compensate for the loss of beach sand and serve to protect the park. Since 1819, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers has attempted to control erosion at Presque Isle and has successfully closed a number of breaches in the neck of the peninsula caused by storms.
Efforts to control beach erosion now consists of a combined thrust of beach nourishment and 58 breakwaters. Breakwaters slow erosion by partially blocking the waves; as the waves lose energy, they drop sand. The result is less sand carried along the shoreline and a "building out" of the beaches. The breakwaters have reduced the huge volumes of sand required to nourish the beaches.
For more information on park geology contact the park office and ask for these publications: Presque Isle State Park - A Dynamic Interface of Water and Land, or Presque Isle: A Peninsula that Wants To Be an Island.
Gull Point: A Fragile Ecosystem
The most ecologically dynamic area on Presque Isle, Gull Point, harbors some of the best examples of ecological succession in the park. This dynamic area, however, is also the most fragile. Many of Gull Point's plant species are threatened or endangered in Pennsylvania.
Jutting out into Lake Erie, Gull Point offers a safe haven and resting spot for migrating and nesting birds. Shorebirds migrate yearly from beyond the Arctic Circle to the southern reaches of South America and back again.
To preserve the resources of this area, the easternmost portion of Gull Point has been set aside as a State Park Natural Area for rare and migratory shorebirds to rest, feed and possibly nest. The natural area is closed to all public use from April 1 through November 30. Visitors can view this area from an observation platform reached via the Gull Point Hiking Trail.
Seasonal Natural Attractions
January to February: Ice dunes form on Lake Erie; skiing and snowshoeing
April to May: Early spring migrants and shorebirds, osprey and bald eagle sighted during migration (May) Peak of warbler migration
June to July: Summer wildflowers, shorebird migration begins, aquatic wildflowers in bloom
August: Summer wildflowers in great abundance; young herons seen in lagoons
September: Fall warbler migration through month; bird banding; osprey and bald eagle often sighted
October: Waterfowl migration; monarch butterfly migration, foliage best in second week
December: Christmas Bird Count within 10 days of Christmas
Back to Presque Isle State Park
