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Important Bird Areas |
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DEFINITIONS CRITERIA
A site
meeting any one of the criteria in the following four categories may
qualify as an IBA. Many sites
will meet several criteria. These
criteria should not be considered absolutely binding, and other factors,
such as relative importance to other sites, may be weighed in making
final site selections. Category UT-1: Sites important to endangered, threatened or sensitive
species in Utah Description: Sites that
regularly support breeding or non-breeding densities (wintering and
migratory sites) of one or more of the following species listed as endangered,
threatened, or sensitive species in the state of Utah. Sites should be those where the species occurs
or potentially occurs with some regularity, not areas of infrequent
occurrence. Thresholds (i.e., percent of state population)
will vary due to the lack of population data for many species in Utah.
In other cases the species naturally occurs in low density due
to its position on the food chain or foraging guild.
Category UT-2: Utah Partners in Flight Priority Species Description: Sites that
regularly support breeding or non-breeding densities of the following
species identified as priority species in the Utah Partners in Flight
Avian Conservation Strategy. Thresholds
will vary, but may include sites with 25 or more breeding pairs. May also include sites with a significant complement
of species with a totaling of 50 or more breeding pairs of up to three
listed species or 100 breeding pairs of any number of listed species.
Description: Sites that
contain rare or unique habitat within the state/region or an exceptional
representative of a natural habitat, and that hold important species
or species assemblages largely restricted to a distinctive habitat type. This category is intended to cover relatively large
areas capable of supporting substantial bird populations, especially
of species with particular habitat requirements.
Examples of such habitats are saline environments in close association
with emergent marshes harboring populations of avocets and stilts or
a complex of productive sage grouse lecks. Small remnants of an exceptional habitat
type may be included, however. Selection
of sites will be based on avian assemblages with the habitat community
type, not on the habitat community type alone. Characteristic species of birds and other wildlife
indicative of the habitat type should be identified and, if possible,
quantified. Below is a table that lists Utah Partners in Flight
habitat categories, the total number of bird species found in each habitat
category and the number of Partners in Flight priority species that
utilize these habitats. This
information indicates the types of habitats that are most important
for the approximately 231 species of birds, excluding waterfowl, that
breed in Utah on a regular basis. Additional
information can be found in the Utah
Partners in Flight Avian Conservation Strategy.
If you have questions or would like additional information about
this Strategy please contact Jim Parrish, Utah Partners in Flight Coordinator,
Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, (801) 538-4788, or jimparrish@utah.gov.
Category UT -4: Avian
Congregations Description: Sites where
significant numbers of birds concentrate for breeding, migration, or
over-wintering. Sites that regularly hold substantial numbers of one or more species, breeding or non-breeding, including migration, and including sites supporting a high diversity of bird species. Significant numbers are subjectively defined, but could include 1 percent or more of the state’s population. The guidelines indicated below provide some logical thresholds for site selection. Except where indicated, numerical estimates should be based on a short period of time, such as one-time counts on daily surveys, not on cumulative totals. 4(a) Congregations of waterfowl: The site regularly supports at least 2,000
breeding/wintering waterfowl or 5,000 migrating waterfowl. “Waterfowl” includes such birds as loons, grebes,
ducks, coots, and moorhens. 4(b)
Congregations of gulls or terns: The site supports at least 5,000 or more gulls
at sites around the Great Salt Lake or 500 gulls at other sites in Utah
or 50 terns over a short period of time during any season. For breeding pairs, the site regularly supports
at least 200 pairs of California gulls or 50 pairs of Franklin or other
gulls or 25 pairs of terns. 4(c) Congregations of shorebirds: The site regularly supports 2,000 or more shorebirds
at sites around the Great Salt Lake or 500 shorebirds at other sites
in Utah. For breeding pairs,
the site regularly supports 50 pairs of shorebirds.
4(d) Congregations of raptors: The site is a migratory corridor for at least
1,000 raptors (seasonal total) during spring or fall migration, or is
a winter concentration area used by at least 100 raptors. The area may include topographic features that
funnel birds through a particular site.
4(e) Concentrations of wading birds: The site regularly supports 100 or more pairs
of wading birds (herons, egrets, and ibises). 4(f) Congregations of migratory land birds: The site is an important migratory stopover,
bottleneck, or migratory corridor.
Sites should contain exceptional numbers and/or diversity. No threshold
in numbers is set. 4(g) Single species concentrations: The site regularly supports significant concentrations
of a congregatory species but may not meet the thresholds for specific
groups of birds listed in criteria 4a-4f above. Such sites should support a higher proportion
of a species counted on a statewide basis than other comparable areas.
Examples of this condition are:
waterfowl in molt migration, post-breeding congregations of pinyon
jays, and significant concentrations of wintering land birds i.e., rosy-finch.
Supportive Criteria
The following two criteria may be used to supplement
or support a site nomination. By
themselves, they are insufficient to warrant the designation of a site
in Utah as an IBA. In addition
to the two criteria described below, you are encouraged to list other
outstanding resources that characterize the site you are nominating
(see nomination form). Supportive Category A: Sites supporting long-term avian research efforts. Sites protected under this criterion should be a natural
area where a long-term avian research project is based. Past or on-going research at the site should
have contributed substantially to ornithology, avian ecology, or bird
conservation. Publication of
relevant findings in a widely recognized, peer-reviewed journal (e.g.,
Utah Birds, Great Basin Naturalist, Western Birds,
Journal of Field Ornithology, Condor, and Southwestern
Naturalist) is one of the primary considerations. Breeding Bird Survey blocks and Christmas Bird Count routes, while
important within the context of their own programs, will not qualify
an area as an IBA. Supportive Category B: Sites providing important, bird-specific educational opportunities. Sites
supporting educational programs in which a significant component of
the program content focuses on avian ecology, bird identification, biodiversity,
or the value of high-quality habitat for birds.
Sites may be in a natural, urban, suburban, or rural setting,
but should retain significant natural habitat.
Sites where educational programs are being developed will also
be considered, as will sites where habitat restoration is a significant
management goal. Further Information If you require further assistance or need to obtain
the nomination form that should accompany these criteria, please contact
the IBA Program at the addresses below or check the Utah IBA website
at www.audubon.org/bird/iba/utah. You may also wish to check the Audubon website
for general information about the IBA program at www.audubon.org/bird/iba. For general information about the Utah IBA program, nominating a site, nomination forms, criteria, etc., please contact:
Val
Grant
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