IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS

NEVADA'S IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM
The NV IBA Program is a cooperative venture between the Lahontan Audubon Society and the National Audubon Society. To date, the IBA Program has developed a strong network of support from both government agencies and non-governmental organizations. A Technical Advisory Committee has been assembled from birders, biologists, and conservationists across the state, and the committee held its first meeting in the early fall of 2001 to approve the state criteria and candidate IBA form. The candidate IBA form and criteria have been finalized and are being distributed to solicit nominations, and the first nominations of potential IBAs are beginning to come in to the program.

CANDIDATE* IMPORTANT BIRD AREA
Name: Goshute Mountains
State: Nevada
County: Elko County
Nearest Community: Wendover

Site Description: The Goshute Mountains form a 100-km ridge that runs north-south along the Utah-Nevada border. This Important Bird Area includes the Goshute Wilderness Study Area, approximately 40 km southwest of Wendover, on land administered by the U.S. Department of Interior's Bureau of Land Management. The Goshute Mountains are typical of the Great Basin region, in that they are dry, sparsely forested, and rocky. Pinyon pine (Pinus monophylla) and Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma) dominate lower slopes. White fir (Abies concolor), limber pine (Pinus flexilis), and bristlecone pine (Pinus aristata) dominate the overstory along the crest and on north-facing slopes. Mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus montanus) is a prominent shrub, especially on exposed portions of the ridge.

Ornithological Summary: The Goshute Mountains IBA is particularly important to migrating raptors. These birds, moving south from breeding grounds north of the Great Basin Desert, tend to funnel to the west (and east) and concentrate along the Goshute range. It is here where steep slopes and forest habitat provide favorable migration conditions. Moreover, the Goshute Mountains lie at the southern tip of a large funnel that is fed by the Black Pine, Raft River, Grouse Creek, Pilot, and Toana Mountains. These ranges act as "leading lines" that guide raptors toward the Goshute range from the north and northeast. These conditions are responsible for the Goshute flyway attracting one of the largest known concentrations of migrant raptors in western North America.

To date, HawkWatch International observers have recorded 18 species of migratory raptors at the site, with counts ranging between 15,000 and 25,000 migrants per season. The year 2000 marked the 21st consecutive season of banding and 18th consecutive standardized count of migrating raptors at this site.

Since 1993 the Goshute field crew has included one or more trained educators dedicated to conducting environmental education programs at the site and facilitating interactions between visitors and the field biologists.

Conservation Issues: The Goshute Mountains IBA has been a raptor migration monitoring site for HawkWatch International for more than 20 years. As such, an extensive database of raptor use of the area has been developed. HWI also bands migrating raptors at this IBA. The area is managed as a wilderness study area and is therefore largely protected from major threats. However, management of the area is not without challenges. The BLM is interested in implementing a prescribed burn in the area to manage fuel loads, although the implications of this management strategy are complicated by HWI's use of the area, as well as use of the area by Northern Goshawks. Domestic sheep have been seen in the wilderness study area regularly over the past few years; presumably these animals have wandered outside of acceptable grazing areas.

NEW MEXICO'S IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM

FEATURED IMPORTANT BIRD AREA
Name: Otero and Cedro Canyons
State: New Mexico
County(ies): Bernalillo County
Nearest Community: Tijeras

Site Description: The Otero and Cedro Canyons Important Bird Area consists of two canyons and associated ridges in the Manzanita Mountains. The slopes here contain excellent examples of mature pinyon-juniper woodland and, secondarily, ponderosa pine forest. A cottonwood and willow-lined perennial stream flows through the bottom of Cedro canyon, often collecting in pools and spilling over rocky areas.

Ornithological Summary: During good cone-crop winters the slopes of this IBA provide excellent resources for some winter finches and Clark's Nutcracker. The perennial stream provides a consistent water source for migrants during both spring and fall. The primary importance of this site, however, is during the breeding season. Black-throated Gray Warbler relative abundance here far exceeds the highest abundance on any New Mexico Breeding Bird Survey route per point (1.9 birds vs. 0.16 birds). The area also contains high densities of Gray Flycatcher, Western Bluebird, Pygmy Nuthatch, Grace's Warbler and Virginia's Warbler - all New Mexico Partners in Flight priority species.

Conservation Issues: Currently managed by the Cibola National Forest on the Sandia Ranger district there are no current major conservation concerns. Minor threats include the presence of some cowbirds, and rock-climbing on one cliff face within the area. Potential threats include increased firebreak activity which may reduce the canopy in pinyon-juniper woodland creating unsuitable conditions for Black-throated Gray Warbler and an increase in outdoor enthusiast use, especially mountain bikers and hikers going off trail. The site is relatively secure from encroaching development and concurrent habitat fragmentation.

NEW YORK'S IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM
The Important Bird Area (IBA) Program of Audubon New York, in cooperation with a host of partners, has identified 127 critical bird breeding, migratory stop-over, feeding, and over-wintering areas in the state. Important Bird Areas have been identified throughout New York in all types of habitats, including forests, shrub/scrub, grasslands, freshwater and saltwater wetlands, and bodies of water. Since 1997 Audubon New York has been engaged in many efforts aimed at achieving conservation successes at IBAs. These efforts include several types of conservation actions, conservation planning, bird monitoring, and education and outreach.

FEATURED IMPORTANT BIRD AREA
Name: Northern Montezuma Wetlands
State: New York
Counties: Seneca, Wayne, and Cayuga Counties
Nearest Community: Seneca Falls, and Savannah

Site Description: The Northern Montezuma Wetlands lie within the heart of the drumlins region of New York's Great Lakes Plain. The area is characterized by broad, flat basins interspersed with classic drumlin glacial formations. They are generally oriented in a north-south direction with wetland basins in the valleys between them. The mix of extensive mashes and swamps, upland forests, productive agricultural soils, topography, and hydrology creates a patchwork of diverse habitats important to many migratory and resident wildlife species. Due to the area's location in the Atlantic Flyway, the it plays a key role in providing waterfowl essential feeding and resting habitat, and provides a link between the deep water habitats of Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes.

Ornithological Summary: These wetland habitats support an abundance and diversity of wetland-dependent species, as well as one of the largest migratory concentrations of waterfowl in the Northeast. Over 500,000 Canada Geese pass through the complex each migration period. During spring migration, 15,000 Snow Geese regularly use the area. In late fall, Mallard numbers peak at 100,000 and American Black Ducks at 25,000 or more. Montezuma is also one of the most significant stopover and foraging locations for shorebirds in upstate New York, regularly hosting 1000 or more individuals of 25 species. Many federally-listed and state-listed species breed within the complex as well, including Pied-billed Grebes, American Bitterns, Least Bitterns, Ospreys (4 pairs), Bald Eagles (3 pairs), Northern Harriers, Cooper's Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks, Black Terns (5-10 pairs), Sedge Wrens (2-5 pairs), and Cerulean Warblers (250 pairs). The site supports breeding colonies of Great Blue Herons and Black-crowned Night-Herons, and hosts one of the largest fall swallow concentrations in the state, sometimes estimated at 50-100,000 individuals.

Conservation Issues: Land acquisition within the complex by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) continues (750 acres acquired by NYS DEC in 1997), but there are insufficient funds to acquire land as quickly as willing sellers have been identified. Agricultural use of drained wetlands continues, though such lands are specifically targeted for acquisition whenever possible. There are some problems with run-off from croplands into wetlands. The invasion of purple loosestrife has been a major problem, but there have been active control programs by refuge and DEC staff, including an experimental release of insect control agents. The various measures have had some success in decreasing the spread of loosestrife and reestablishing cattails in certain areas, but the problem is ongoing. The drainage of a large landfill on the western boundary of the area flows directly into the Refuge. The landfill has requested a permit to expand operations, and the site may become the largest landfill in the state. There are concerns that in the long-term, contaminants could leach out and impact the wetlands and wetland-associated species.

NORTH CAROLINA’S IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM
Audubon North Carolina has completed the initial identification phase of the Important Bird Areas Program. Ninety sites have been identified to date. We are very pleased to now have full GIS capabilities, including hardware, software and printing, in our Wilmington office. To launch the GIS component of the IBA program, we had the assistance of a full-time summer intern who was extremely knowledgeable about GIS mapping and data analysis. Donald Auer, a graduate student at Duke University and expert GIS technician, completed the initial phase of mapping all North Carolina IBAs.

After mapping all IBAs, we analyzed existing land cover and habitat data to review areas with habitat types known to support significant populations of endangered, threatened, special concern or WatchList species. From this we identified several potential IBAs that had not been identified during the nomination and review process. Assemblages of birds within these potential IBAs will be verified through on-the-ground surveys. When completed, we will have a thorough assessment of all IBAs and potential IBAs.

The second phase of the NC IBA program has focused on monitoring and conservation. We are pleased to report that great progress has been made in the conservation of 2 key IBAs. Bullhead Mountain, the key component of the Bullhead-Mahogany Rock IBA, has been purchased and will be protected forever. On the coast, we have secured permanent protection of 30% of Lea Island and expect to acquire the remaining acreage within the next 12 months. At the same time we continue to protect and manage critical habitats for birds on the adjacent Hutaff Island.

We were pleased to launch the first season of a long-term biological monitoring program for both Lea and Hutaff Islands. To carry out these programs, we hired two biological technicians. Beginning in May, at the start of the seabird and shorebird nesting season, we initiated a program to locate all nests of terns, skimmers, oystercatchers, plovers and willets on the island. Nesting areas were posted, roped off, and monitored throughout the season. A peak of incubation nest census was conducted for each species. For selected species (Least Tern, Black Skimmer, Piping Plover) we marked and monitored nesting success. Weekly shorebird and waterbird surveys will continue through the winter.

Beginning in late August, migrating raptors passing Bullhead Mountain and Mahogany Rock IBA and Pilot Mountain IBA were recorded 3-7 days each week. Compiling raptor migration data from both Bullhead-Mahogany Rock and Pilot Mountain enables us to develop a more complete picture of raptor migration through the NC Mountains.

It is our goal to publish a summary of North Carolina's IBAs on our Audubon North Carolina web site. This will make the information widely available to all interested parties and will enable us to update the information on a regular basis. To date, 75% of the site summaries have been completed for NC IBAs. We will include a list of all IBAs, along with maps, site summaries, and other pertinent information on the web site. We expect to have the IBA web site available by year's end.

NORTH DAKOTA’S IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM
The prairie pothole ecosystem of the Dakotas is an astoundingly productive region for breeding waterfowl. It also provides exceptional breeding and migration habitat for over 300 other bird species. It is therefore very exciting to be in the process of launching an Important Bird Areas program in North Dakota. With Audubon North Dakota taking the lead, a Technical Committee is being formulated, with leadership from grassland bird specialists at the USGS Northern Prairie Wildlife Research Center. They will adapt general IBA criteria [that include: (1)State-listed endangered or threatened species; (2)Other high priority species such as WatchList species; (3)Representative, rare, and/or unique natural habitats; (4)Areas of high abundance or diversity; and (5)Long-term monitoring/research sites of importance] specifically to North Dakota. In addition, a statewide educational effort specifically on IBAs is currently underway. This is directed to Audubon chapters, regionalized birding clubs, agencies and other non-profit organizations and individuals that will be involved in the site nomination process, once the Technical Committee and criteria are finalized.

FEATURED IMPORTANT BIRD AREA
Name: Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge (NWR), Des Lacs NWR and Appam Lake Waterfowl Production Area (WPA) Important Bird Area Complex
State: North Dakota
Counties: Burke, Ward, and Williams Counties
Nearest Community: Stanley, Kenmare, and Appam, North Dakota

Site Description: The Lostwood National Wildlife Refuge is located in Burke County 18 miles north of Stanley, North Dakota on State Hwy 8. The refuge covers 26,900 acres of rolling topography on the Missouri Coteau of northwestern ND. Lostwood was established in 1935 as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory birds and other wildlife. The refuge is the largest contiguous block of prairie pothole habitat in federal ownership.

Des Lacs National Wildlife Refuge is located in Ward and Burke Counties, North Dakota. The headquarters are 1 mile west of Kenmare. The refuge stretches more than 19,544 acres from the Canada border to a few miles south of Kenmare, only two miles wide at its widest point.

Appam Lake Waterfowl Production Area is located in Williams County, North Dakota just north of the city of Appam on State Highway 50. Appam Lake WPA is approximately 600 acres in size.

Ornithological Summary: Lostwood NWR is recognized as one of the best places to find good numbers of both WatchListed Baird's Sparrow and Sprague's Pipit, plus Clay-colored (WatchList), Grasshopper, LeConte's and Nelson's sharp-tailed (WatchList) Sparrows. Piping Plovers, other various shorebirds, and 12 species of ducks also nest on the refuge.

The Des Lacs NWR was also established as a refuge and breeding ground for migratory waterfowl and other wildlife in 1935. Six species of grebes nest there along with many ducks and grassland passerines. It is also an important stop over for migrating geese and ducks as well as various shorebirds.

Appam Lake Waterfowl Production Area contains prime breeding habitat for endangered Piping Plovers. The wetland management districts mission is to maintain and improve habitat conditions to maximize waterfowl and other wildlife production and maintenance.

Conservation Issues: The Complex's primary purposes have always been the preservation, restoration and creation of migratory bird habitat. A few key programs include: rotational grazing with public cooperators, farming to increase dense nesting cover, haying to rejuvenate the growth of native prairie, and water management to promote good aquatic vegetation, both emergent and submergent. Prescribed fire is used throughout the Complex to prevent brush and tree expansion, to clean up hazardous fuel areas, and to rejuvenate the native stand. These management practices are also combined with rest. Most importantly, the Complex provides resting places for migratory waterfowl and shorebirds.

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