Sister Islands

State Natural Area (No. 47)

Location: Door County. T32N-R28E, Section 30. 15 acres.

Access: By boat 2 miles northwest of the public launch in Sister Bay.

Description: Sister Islands is an historic gull and tern nesting area consisting of two low, gravel islands. It is one of the important gulleries in Green Bay. High water levels in the early 1980's have greatly reduced the size of the islands'; in fact, during the low water levels of the 1960's, the islands were connected. The most common breeding birds are herring gulls, but small numbers of red-winged blackbird, common tern, pintail, and mallard are also present. The flora is quite variable due to the disturbance caused by nesting birds and fluctuating water levels. During low water years, shrubs and weeds dominate with small numbers of boxelder, red-osier dogwood, elderberry, bitter nightshade, spotted jewelweed, and stinging nettle also grow here. Sister Islands is owned by the DNR and was designated a State Natural Area in 1966.