Audubon releases book on important bird areas

Project targets over two million acres for conservation in New York

REGION — Audubon New York, the state program of the National Audubon Society, has updated and released the second edition of “Important Bird Areas of New York” to provide the most current information about critical habitat for bird populations that live in or migrate through the state.

There are three Important Bird Areas (IBA) in Sullivan County, comprising over 43,000 acres of critical bird habitat, some shared by other counties. Providing significant reserves of deciduous and mixed woods, riverine, fresh water, tidal and non-tidal wetland habitats as well as open fields and agricultural lands, the sites are:

• The Upper Delaware River, a 73-mile stretch of the longest un-dammed river in the northeastern U.S. and one of the most important sites in the state for bald eagles. The Upper Delaware supports almost 10 percent New York’s breeding population.

• The Bashakill, an important wetland complex hosting fall concentrations of Canada geese and wood ducks. The site supports many at-risk species including American black ducks, pied-billed grebes, American and least bitterns, ospreys, bald eagles, northern harriers, and sharp-shinned, cooper’s and red-shouldered hawks. Species that depend on wetlands breed here, such as great blue heron, Virginia rails, Sora and common moorhens.

• The Mongaup Valley Wildlife Management Area, one of the largest concentrations of wintering bald eagles in the state, and several breeding pairs.

Habitat loss and degradation are the leading threats to vulnerable bird species in North America. But not all habitats are of equal value for sustaining populations of native birds. Sites that have been identified as IBAs are those that meet standardized criteria, based on global IBA principles developed by BirdLife International, a partnership of environmental organizations and research institutions, including Audubon. After sites have been identified, the IBA program serves as a catalyst for preserving, managing and/or restoring these remarkable places with a broad array of scientific, educational and advocacy initiatives on local, state and national levels.

A full description with detailed information on each site, as well as sites in surrounding counties, is offered in “Important Bird Areas of New York.” The book is available online at ny.audubon.org or by calling 518/869-9731.