Audubon Science - Important Bird Areas

St. Clair Flats, Photo by Caleb Putnam

The Important Bird Areas Program (IBA) is a global effort to identify and conserve areas that are vital to birds and other biodiversity. The Michigan Important Bird Areas Program officially began in March 2006 with the hiring of a coordinator by four managing partners: Audubon, Detroit Audubon Society, Kalamazoo Nature Center, and Michigan Audubon Society. Caleb is building on work done by the Kalamazoo Nature Center between 1997 and 2006, nominating an initial list of nearly 500 potential IBAs.

Since April 2006, the Michigan IBA Technical Committee has been reviewing the most important of these sites. As of May 2007, 22 IBAs have been identified. You will very soon be able to nominate your own IBAs, or to help by providing data for sites nominated by the Nature Center. Please see list of sites and check back for the nomination form!

For more information about the Important Bird Areas in Michigan, contact:

Caleb Putnam
Michigan IBA Coordinator
1345 Monroe Ave NW, Ste. 210
Grand Rapids , MI 49505
616-774-3000
cputnam@audubon.org

For information on the Important Bird Areas Program throughout the U.S. visit http://www.audubon.org/bird/iba/.

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