Life at the Beach

Life at the Beach. Chicago Park District Natural Areas. The wetlands, dunes, forests, and prairies along the shores of Lake Michigan provide habitat for an amazing diversity of life. In addition to the many birds seen flying. butterflies, dragonflies, and other invertebrates abound. A variety of mammals are often present, though they may go unnoticed as most are wary of people. Among the wetlands and sheltered areas of the lake shore, you may encounter frogs and toads. Ongoing habitat restoration efforts will continue to increase the diversity of this area. , , Millions of birds migrate along the Lake Michigan shoreline each spring and fall. The green spaces along the coast provide areas to rest and refuel, making them excellent bird watching locations. Over 300 species of birds have been found along the lakefront. , , Nearly 30% of North America's birds have disappeared in the last 50 years. A few things you can do to help protect birds include: , . Support habitat protection and restoration projects. , . Check your home and office for risk of bird collisions. Up to 1 billion birds die each year in the U.S. from window collisions. , . Keep cats indoors. Up to 3.7 billion birds are killed by cats in the U.S. each year.