IBA Criteria

Important Bird Areas, or IBAs, are sites that provide essential habitat for one or more species of bird. To qualify as an IBA, sites must satisfy at least one of the following general criteria.The site must support:

• Species of conservation concern (e.g. threatened and endangered species)
• Restricted-ranges species (species vulnerable because they are not widely distributed)
• Species that are vulnerable because their populations are concentrated in one general habitat type or biome
• Species, or groups of similar species (such as waterfowl or shorebirds), that are vulnerable because they occur at high densities due to their congregatory behavior

IBAs in Michigan are identfied through a process of scientific review by the Michigan IBA Technical Committee, consisting of ornithologists, birders, and experts throughout the state. IBAs are further prioritized as Global and Continental IBAs by the U.S. IBA Committee, in coordination with the national IBA office.

In Michigan, we are currently identifying the highest priority Important Bird Areas in the state, using the Global and Continental IBA Criteria. State-level IBA Criteria for Michigan are in development.

Michigan IBA Technical Committee

• Caleb Putnam, MI IBA Coordinator
• Ray Adams (chair), Kalamazoo Nature Center
• Karen Cleveland, Michigan Department of Natural Resources
• Michael Monfils, Michigan Natural Features Inventory
• Dick Wolinski, Michigan Department of Transportation
• Jim Bull, Detroit Audubon Society
• Mick Hamas, Central Michigan University
• Katie Kahl, Michigan State University
• Kim Hall, Michigan State University
• Dave Ewert, The Nature Conservancy
• David Flaspohler, Michigan Technological University
• Bob Hess, Michigan Resource Stewards
• Greg Corace, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service
• Joe Kaplan, Common Coast Research & Conservation
• Steve Sjogren, U.S. Forest Service