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CRITERIA
FOR IMPORTANT BIRD AREA 1) Sites important to endangered or threatened species in Colorado Description: Sites that regularly support significant breeding or non-breeding densities of one or more of the following species listed as endangered, threatened, or of special concern in the state of Colorado. Applies primarily to breeding or wintering sites, though regular migratory areas may be considered if known to be of exceptional importance. The site should be one of regular and/or recent occurrence in the last ~10 years. Thresholds will vary and may include sites with 1% of the state population (if known) in a season, or the 3-5 sites in the state with the highest regularly occurring numbers. Endangered Threatened Special Concern 2) Sites important to species of high conservation priority in Colorado Description: Sites that regularly support significant breeding or non-breeding densities of the following species identified as high conservation priorities in Colorado by Partners In Flight. Thresholds will vary, but may include sites with 25 or more breeding pairs, 5% or more of the seasonal state population (if known), or the 2-3 sites in the state with the highest regularly occurring numbers. May also include sites with significant complement of species with a total of 50 or more breeding pairs of up to three listed species or 100 breeding pairs of any number of listed species (average of 15 pairs per species). Western Grebe 3) 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. Description: Sites with habitats that are rare or unique in the state, or are exceptional representative examples (large and intact) of the habitats that should support, or could be managed to support, the full complement of bird species dependent on that habitat type. Representative examples in Colorado might include wetland (Virginia Rail, Yellow-headed Blackbird, Cinnamon Teal), alpine tundra (White-tailed Ptarmigan and Brown-capped Rosy-finch), and short-grass prairie (Mountain Plover and McCown’s Longspur). Consideration will also be given to sites with exceptionally high species and habitat diversity, and some attempt will be made to distribute representative sites throughout the state 4) Sites where significant numbers of birds concentrate for breeding, during migration, or in the winter. Description: Sites that regularly hold significant numbers of one or more species, breeding or non-breeding, including migration. Significant numbers are not easily defined. The following guidelines are suggested to provide some logical thresholds for site selection. Except where indicated, numerical estimates should be based on a short period of time, e.g. one-time counts such as daily surveys – not on cumulative totals. Introduced, feral, and nuisance species (resident Canada Goose, European Starling, House Sparrow) should not be counted. Waterfowl - >2000 over a short period of time Heronries - >50 nesting pairs total or >30 nesting pairs of Great Blue Herons east of the 106th parallel or >10 nesting pairs of Black-crowned Night-Herons west of the 106th parallel. Shorebirds - >750 in migratory concentration Gulls - >2000 breeding pairs Terns - >25 breeding pairs Raptors - >1000 migrants (season total), or large breeding/wintering concentration Landbirds – Consistently holds an exceptional number of landbirds in migratory concentrations or attracts an exceptional diversity of landbirds over the course of a year. 5) Sites important for long-term research and/or monitoring projects that contribute substantially to ornithology, bird conservation, and/or education. Description: These are generally sites with a distinguished record and/or unique potential for long-term research and monitoring, or exceptional educational value. Such sites may occur in urban, suburban, rural, or other settings. Evidence should be cited showing the area’s value, such as publications of research conducted at the site. |
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