ALABAMA'S IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM

Alabama is new to the Important Bird Areas Program. Earlier informal efforts led to unofficial recognition of some of the state's most important bird areas, providing a basis upon which an official IBA program can be built. The current effort involves representatives from Audubon, the Alabama Ornithological Society, South Alabama Birding Association, Alabama Natural Heritage Program, Alabama Partners in Flight, Auburn University, US Forest Service, and US Fish and Wildlife Service.

Photo Courtesy: W. Douglas Robinson.

CANDIDATE* IMPORTANT BIRD AREA
Name: Bankhead National Forest
State: Alabama
County(ies): Winston and Walker Counties
Nearest Community: Double Springs and Cullman

Site Description: Bankhead is the largest remaining tract of unfragmented deciduous forest in the state. It also contains mixed deciduous-hemlock forests in the ravines surrounding some of the most picturesque streams in Alabama. Aquatic diversity in the streams is extremely high and includes several endangered species. Bankhead is National Forest land, parts of which have been managed for timber production, including establishment of pine plantations on higher ridges.

Photo Courtesy: W. Douglas Robinson.

Ornithological Summary: Bankhead contains the state's largest known breeding population of Cerulean Warblers, which is estimated at 7 - 15 breeding pairs. Several other songbirds typical of the Appalachian Mountains reach the southern limit of their breeding range here, such as Black-throated Green Warbler and Blue-headed Vireo. No population size estimates are available. Other species uncommon in Alabama that breed commonly in Bankhead are Black-and-white Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Acadian Flycatcher, and Kentucky Warbler. A few young clearcuts in scattered locations are known to attract Bachman's Sparrows, but the site's breeding population has not been measured.

Conservation Issues: A primary conservation issue is conversion of deciduous forest on ridges to pine plantations. Past forestry efforts focused on establishing economically profitable pines for harvest at the expense of the naturally occurring deciduous forest. U.S. Forest Service scientists have established a network of point counts to monitor Neotropical migrant abundance during the breeding season and some of these counts are located on the pine ridges. Conservationists have argued that ridges should be allowed to revert to deciduous woodland.

* Candidate sites are being considered for designation as Important Bird Areas by the respective State Technical Committee.

To Learn More About Alabama's
Important Bird Areas Program

Contact:
Lori Wilson
Acting IBA Program Coordinator
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service
P.O. Drawer 1190
Daphne, Alabama 36526
(251) 441-5181 ext 29
lori_m_wilson@fws.gov