Edge of Appalachia

Located in southwest Ohio in Adams County, this IBA includes more than
14,000 acres of rugged woodland, prairie openings, and clear streams. It consists
of Appalachian forest matrix with small barrens, with more than 20 specific plant communities in the interior low plateau ecoregion. The IBA includes the Ohio Brush Creek Corridor.

Ornithological Summary

It harbors priority species such as Yellow-billed Cuckoo, more than 60% of Ohio's breeding Chuck-will's-widows, Whip-poor-will, Blue-winged Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Grasshopper Sparrow, and Henslow's Sparrow. Breeding Bird Surveys have been conducted for more than 10 years with six years of 250 point counts, eight years of BBC on two 20-ha plots, and two years of OBBA II atlas work. Green Herons number 100s seasonal total during breeding season.

Conservation Issues

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) has been protecting land here for more than 40 years. They have continued to acquire large intact forest tracts. TNC has identified neo-tropical migrants and grassland birds as conservation targets. TNC and Cincinnati Museum Center staff continue to monitor bird species and coordinate OBBA II south-western region in Ohio. TNC has enrolled 250 acres in the Grassland Reserve Program for management for the grassland species and continues to keep secondary growth habitats from reverting fully for species requiring that habitat. For forest interior species TNC continues to purchase properties to decrease fragmentation and reduce potential edges. Future plans may include conservation forestry for improvement of forest composition and sustainability.

Ownership

Owner: The Nature Conservancy, 6375 Riverside Dr. Suite 50, Dublin, OH 43017