OHIO'S IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM

Audubon Ohio's Important Bird Areas Program officially began in early 2000 with the establishment of the Ohio IBA Technical Committee. This Committee established criteria and a nomination package of which over 400 were sent out. To date, the Committee has accepted information for 87 candidate IBAs with approximately a dozen or more still in process. The Committee, in concert with the Conservation Committee of Audubon Ohio, is formulating monitoring program protocols and, using a conservation matrix to establish priorities for conservation among the sites. Audubon Ohio, along with local chapters and other environmental organizations, is working to protect several Important Bird Areas that face a number of conservation threats.

FEATURED IMPORTANT BIRD AREA
Name: Magee Marsh / Crane Creek / Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge (Contiguous large sites)
State: Ohio
County: Ottawa County
Nearest Community: Oak Harbor

Site Description: This Important Bird Area forms the most essential wetland complex in the Lake Erie Marsh region. Approximately 7,000 acres are composed of primarily diked marshland, along with representative Lake Erie shoreline, old wooded beach ridges, a small estuary, swamp forest, and upland woodlots.

Ornithological Summary: It is the complex of wetlands that make up this IBA that allow for waterbirds and songbirds to flourish. Major waterfowl species include: Mallard, American Black Duck, American Widgeon, and Canada Goose. Rafts of waterfowl, up to 100,000 individuals, are present offshore in winter. During migration Tundra Swans pass through along with thousands of neotropical migrants. This IBA probably provides the most important migratory staging area in the state for these songbirds. Also abundant during the migratory seasons are birds of prey.

Conservation Issues: The core of this Important Birds Area is state and federally owned and is generally stable in conservation practices. Surrounding areas are heavily farmed with some development occurring.

To Learn More About Audubon Ohio's
Important Bird Areas Program

Visit the Web Site:
Important Bird Areas of Ohio

Contact:
John Ritzenthaler
Director of Habitat Conservation
Audubon Ohio
692 North High St., Suite 208
Columbus, Ohio 43215-1585
(614) 224-3303, ext. 13
jritzenthaler@Audubon.org