IDAHO’S IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM

Idaho launched its Important Bird Areas program in 1996 as a partnership between Idaho Partners in Flight and the Idaho Audubon Council. An IBA Technical Committee was formed to encourage nominations and review materials for candidate Important Bird Areas. From 1997 through 1999, the committee reviewed nominations and voted to accept, reject, or table each nomination. To date, 53 sites have been identified as Important Bird Areas in Idaho. The Idaho IBA program is beginning phase two of the IBA process. Proponents are being sought to work towards conservation and management of IBAs. These individuals and organizations will be champions for bird conservation at particular sites and will work cooperatively with each site’s land manager or landowner. As part of the phase two process, monitoring has been initiated at some sites - conducted either by biologists responsible for the management of the area, or by volunteers. These efforts, intend to collect basic information about the IBAs, at a minimum create an inventory of bird species present at each site, which will lead to further investigations. .

FEATURED IMPORTANT BIRD AREA
Name: American Falls Reservoir
State: Idaho
Counties: Power and Bingham Counties
Nearest Communities: American Falls, Ft. Hall, Aberdeen, and Springfield, Idaho

Site Description: The American Falls Reservoir Important Bird Area is an irrigation reservoir that provides shallow feeding areas for waterfowl and mudflats for migrating shorebirds. This site also contains some excellent bottomland cottonwood forests, mostly on Fort Hall Indian Reservation. The reservation includes a large area of springs and willow habitat. Located in a valley bottom, this area is the remnant of a large natural marsh called Dingle Swamp. In the early 1900s, the Bear River was diverted through the area to store irrigation water and subsequently a number of dikes were established, separating the marsh into management units. The marsh is a mix of hardstem bulrush, cattail and open water habitats. Wet meadows outline the marsh and contain sedges, rushes, beardless wildrye, and saltgrass. Drier areas found at the site contain sagebrush and greasewood with minor amounts of willow.

Ornithological Summary: The avifauna in the American Falls Reservoir area is among the most diverse in Idaho (over 200 species recorded). In addition to supporting thousands of ducks, geese, and shorebirds, this area is also a breeding and wintering area for WatchListed Trumpeter Swans, a wintering area for Bald Eagles, and a breeding area for eight species of colonial waterbirds. In addition, it is a minor fall staging area for Sandhill Cranes (200-400 cranes) and has been designated a Shorebird Reserve of Regional Importance by the Western Hemisphere Shorebird Reserve Network. This area attracts many rare species in Idaho.
Conservation Issues: Major conservation issues at this site include recreational disturbance, contamination from pesticides, and nutrient enrichment due to agricultural runoff. Runoff problems have been compounded by grazing at the site, which potentially reduces the understory vegetation within willow and cottonwood stands and facilitates the introduction of nutrients through feces. Direct impacts to waterfowl include several outbreaks of Botulism. Most of the shoreline at the reservoir is in federal or tribal ownership. A management plan has been written and an irrigation water operation plan by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation is in progress. One success for the area was the designation of Springfield Bottoms as part of the Shorebird Reserve Network. This designation should result in a heightened awareness of the importance of the site.

To Learn More About Idaho’s
Important Bird Areas Program

Contact:
Rita Dixon
Regional Nongame Biologist
Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game
1540 Warner Ave.
Lewiston, ID 83501
(208) 799-5010
(208) 799-5012 (Fax)
rdixon@idfg.state.id.us