|
Important Bird Areas |
| Take Action | Local Audubon | Support Audubon | Birds & Science |
|
|
|
NEW
YORK'S IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM The Important Bird Area (IBA) Program of Audubon New York, in cooperation with a host of partners, has identified 127 critical bird breeding, migratory stop-over, feeding, and over-wintering areas in the state. Important Bird Areas have been identified throughout New York in all types of habitats, including forests, shrub/scrub, grasslands, freshwater and saltwater wetlands, and bodies of water. Since 1997 Audubon New York has been engaged in many efforts aimed at achieving conservation successes at IBAs. These efforts include several types of conservation actions, conservation planning, bird monitoring, and education and outreach.
FEATURED
IMPORTANT BIRD AREA Site Description: The Northern Montezuma Wetlands lie within the heart of the drumlins region of New York's Great Lakes Plain. The area is characterized by broad, flat basins interspersed with classic drumlin glacial formations. They are generally oriented in a north-south direction with wetland basins in the valleys between them. The mix of extensive mashes and swamps, upland forests, productive agricultural soils, topography, and hydrology creates a patchwork of diverse habitats important to many migratory and resident wildlife species. Due to the area's location in the Atlantic Flyway, the it plays a key role in providing waterfowl essential feeding and resting habitat, and provides a link between the deep water habitats of Lake Ontario and the Finger Lakes. Ornithological Summary: These wetland habitats support an abundance and diversity of wetland-dependent species, as well as one of the largest migratory concentrations of waterfowl in the Northeast. Over 500,000 Canada Geese pass through the complex each migration period. During spring migration, 15,000 Snow Geese regularly use the area. In late fall, Mallard numbers peak at 100,000 and American Black Ducks at 25,000 or more. Montezuma is also one of the most significant stopover and foraging locations for shorebirds in upstate New York, regularly hosting 1000 or more individuals of 25 species. Many federally-listed and state-listed species breed within the complex as well, including Pied-billed Grebes, American Bitterns, Least Bitterns, Ospreys (4 pairs), Bald Eagles (3 pairs), Northern Harriers, Cooper's Hawks, Red-shouldered Hawks, Black Terns (5-10 pairs), Sedge Wrens (2-5 pairs), and Cerulean Warblers (250 pairs). The site supports breeding colonies of Great Blue Herons and Black-crowned Night-Herons, and hosts one of the largest fall swallow concentrations in the state, sometimes estimated at 50-100,000 individuals.
Conservation Issues: Land acquisition within the complex by U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and NYS Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC) continues (750 acres acquired by NYS DEC in 1997), but there are insufficient funds to acquire land as quickly as willing sellers have been identified. Agricultural use of drained wetlands continues, though such lands are specifically targeted for acquisition whenever possible. There are some problems with run-off from croplands into wetlands. The invasion of purple loosestrife has been a major problem, but there have been active control programs by refuge and DEC staff, including an experimental release of insect control agents. The various measures have had some success in decreasing the spread of loosestrife and reestablishing cattails in certain areas, but the problem is ongoing. The drainage of a large landfill on the western boundary of the area flows directly into the Refuge. The landfill has requested a permit to expand operations, and the site may become the largest landfill in the state. There are concerns that in the long-term, contaminants could leach out and impact the wetlands and wetland-associated species. To
Learn More About Audubon New York's Visit
the Web Site: Contact:
|
|||||
| copyright 2000, 2001 by National Audubon Society, Inc. All rights reserved. |
