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Bird Conservation
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Important Bird Areas
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KENTUCKY'S IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM
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The IBA program in Kentucky was launched in 2001 when the Kentucky Audubon Council agreed to co-ordinate the effort. The Kentucky Audubon Council is an organization made up of delegates from each of the Audubon Society chapters statewide.In 2002 and 2003 nomination forms from surrounding states such as Ohio and Indiana were studied, used as guidelines, and criteria were then formulated based on Kentucky's habitat with the counsel and assistance of the Kentucky Division of Fish and Wildlife biologists.In 2004 a Technical Review Committee was recruited with one of the KAC delegates serving as the committee's facilitator. The Technical Review Committee is composed of eight people who are educators, biologists, and life-long ornithological hobbyists. It was decided by the KAC that every effort would be made for the Technical Review Committee to review nomination forms and submit their votes about the designation of each site to the committee chairman without travel for physical meetings. The reason for this decision was to contain the costs involved with the nomination and classification process. Avoiding travel also is a time saver for the very busy people who make up the Technical Review Committee. Nomination forms were distributed by the chapters and a form that could be downloaded was posted on the KAC Web site, kentuckyaudubon.orgIn the summer of 2004 a think tank of ornithologists gathered at the summer meeting of the Kentucky Ornithological Society to put together a list of potential IBAs across the state. This group was made up of a representative from each of 4 organizations: KAC, Kentucky Nature Preserves, Partners in Flight, and the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife. The sites considered to be possible IBAs were detailed on a spreadsheet for the use of the Technical Review Committee's facilitator in soliciting nominations. It is believed that when all nominations are received and reviewed, there will be between 35 and 50 IBAs in Kentucky. The range in the number of sites is due to the fact that it is not known how the Technical Review Committee will handle sites that are of great size and contain numerous different habitats that are critical to birds in one or more stages of life.
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Storm over the prairie at Bernheim Forest
| Name: |
Bernheim Forest |
| State: |
US-KY |
| Counties: |
Bullitt, Nelson
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| Site Status: |
Recognized |
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Henslow's sparrow at Bernheim Forest
Bernheim Arboretum and Research Forest encompasses 14,000+ acres in Bullitt and Nelson Counties, Kentucky, about 25 miles south of Louisville. Bernheim features a 250acre, nationally recognized arboretum; large expanses of scenic woodlands crossed by more than 35 miles of hiking trails; and extensive natural areas managed for the preservation of native species and ecosystem alliances. Bernheim’s arboretum is Kentucky’s official arboretum, and its woodlands, prairies, and wetlands make up the largest privately-owned natural area in Kentucky. Bernheim is a non-profit organization whose mission is to connect people with nature. Each year more than a quarter million people benefit from Bernheim, through visits and public and school programs. Numerous natural area and horticultural research projects are conducted annually at Bernheim, by staff and by visiting researchers, often in association with regional universities.
With over 14,000 acres of continuous forest Bernheim supports a wide diversity of birds during breeding, migration, and winter. Bernheim is a unique area in the Knobs region of Kentucky. It contains a wide range of habitat, including warm season grasslands, glades, lakes, wetlands, and forest. The natural areas are actively maintained throughout the year to support a wide diversity of bird species. Glades have been expanded to support a higher number of edge bird species such as Blue-winged Warbler. Over 150 acres of fescue pasture land was converted to warm season grassland to provide better habitat for grassland species, and in recent years these grasslands now support a new breeding population of Henslow’s Sparrow. Prescribed burns in the forest have been conducted to maintain oak-hickory forest for a wider diversity of forest types. Wetlands were constructed in the natural areas and arboretum that attract Wood Duck and shorebirds. Bernheim supports breeding populations of 24 PIF Watchlist species including forest dependent species Cerulean Warbler, Kentucky Warbler, Hooded Warbler, and Wood Thrush, and grassland dependent species Henslow’s Sparrow and Prairie Warbler. During migration, more than 30 species of neotropical birds can be seen in the forests and grasslands of Bernheim. More than 50 PIF Watchlist species and over 200 bird species are found in Bernheim during the year. During winter, Bernheim is one of the most easily accessed places in the region to see Golden and Bald Eagles. They can be found in the grasslands and along the creeks. Eagles are not the only thing to see at Bernheim during the winter. Waterfowl, including many species of ducks, swans, and geese, are found in the lakes in the arboretum throughout migration and winter.
The greatest threat to the habitat of Bernheim is the encroachment of invasive exotic plants and animals into the ecosystem. Ground-nesting birds are threatened by a population of feral pigs that were released into the surrounding area in the past five years. The natural areas staff are currently trying to control the pig population to reduce their impact on the bird species. Logging and residential housing in the surrounding areas are pressuring forest dependent birds into Bernheim, and is leading to the increase in Brown-headed Cowbird parasitism. Logging within Bernheim is prohibited. Fire roads in Bernheim also fragment the forest and cause a higher number of cowbird parasitism, but many of the roads in Bernheim are being closed and road corridors are being narrowed.
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