The continuing loss and degradation of habitat is the most serious threat facing populations of birds and other wildlife, both in the United States and abroad.  The Important Bird Areas (IBA) Program is a worldwide response to this challenge.

    The aim of the IBA Program is to identify and conserve key sites for birds.  An Important Bird Area is a place that provides essential habitat for one or more species of bird, whether in the breeding season, winter, or during migration.

    More than 500 Important Bird Areas, or IBAs, have been identified in the United States through the partnership efforts of the National Audubon Society and American Bird Conservancy.   Audubon has focused on identifying and conserving sites that are IBAs at the state-level through the creation of state-based IBA programs.

    In Maryland and the District of Columbia, planning efforts began in 1996 when representatives of Maryland Partners in Flight organizations and other interested parties met to define criteria for selecting IBAs and began reviewing site nominations.

    Since that time, new state-level criteria have been developed and a total of 35 Important Bird Areas have been identified.  Later this year, the members of Audubon's IBA advisory committee will review data from the sites deemed "potential IBAs" by the Maryland Partners in Flight.

Check back soon for instructions on how to nominate your site for the Maryland-DC IBA Program!