Michigan Wine Month may have come to a close, but this limited edition wine still thrives throughout the rest of summer. Dune Bird Winery in Northport launched a limited-edition Pink Plover Rosé in collaboration with Friends of Sleeping Bear Dunes in efforts to save the endangered Piping Plover. A launch party was held at the winery in early May, featuring live music, friends, the new wine release, education about the plovers, and lots of fun.
The Piping Plover is a bird near and dear to our hearts in Northern Michigan. If you aren’t familiar with the precious species, here’s a quick lesson. Great Lakes piping plovers are small, migratory shorebirds that are protected by federal law. Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore also happens to provide the largest, high-quality Plover habitat in the Great Lakes, with almost half of the population nesting within the Lakeshore. These adorable birds have unfortunately lived on the Endangered Species List since 1986.
The birds migrate north to the Great Lakes shorelines in mid-April. They lay eggs in May, and hatch chicks in June and July. Their speckled eggs and sandy-colored plumage provide excellent camouflage on wide, rocky beaches. During breeding season, adults can be identified by a distinctive black band above the eyes and a single black ring around the neck. Their signature "peep-lo" call is often heard during this time.
To support nesting success, Sleeping Bear Dunes collaborates with local, state, federal, and tribal partners on conservation efforts. These efforts include monitoring nesting areas, observing Plover behavior, identifying all nests within the Lakeshore, installing predator exclosures to safeguard adults and eggs, and roping off sections of the beach to create undisturbed nesting zones away from human activity.
Whether you’re a Northern Michigan local or have a trip planned to visit this summer, be sure to make a stop at Dune Bird Winery to experience this delicious rosé yourself. You won’t only be enjoying a bright, fruit-forward, crisp glass of wine, you’ll also be supporting the Piping Plovers, and what’s better than that? Saving the Piping Plovers while drinking incredible wine —It’s like saving two birds with one stone.
Dune Bird Winery is located at 5620 N Manitou Trail, Northport, with current hours:
Monday through Thursday: 12pm-7pm
Friday, Saturday, & Sunday: 12pm-8pm.
Friends of the Sleeping Bear is a 501 c(3) organization dedicated to the protection of the Piping Plovers and protecting our resources in partnership with the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore.
