 |
|
Bird Conservation
>
Important Bird Areas
>
NORTH CAROLINA'S IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM
|
Audubon's Important Bird Area (IBA) program is an evolving conservation blueprint that helps Audubon, its partners, and landowners identify and safeguard the natural areas and landscapes that are most critical for maintaining bird populations, diversity, and habitats. In North Carolina, these living landscapes comprise more than four million acres ranging from manmade islands where nesting coastal birds find refuge, to rugged Grandfather Mountain, our newest state park where challenging trails and scenic vistas attract tourists and hikers from all over the country.As watchful stewards of North Carolina's 96 IBAs, Audubon staff encourages landowners to use environmentally friendly practices and works with partner agencies such as the N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation to craft management plans that benefit key bird species and habitats within their holdings. Audubon North Carolina depends upon an army of volunteers, including members of the state's local chapters, to help monitor close to 80% of the IBAs in the state through the Adopt an IBA program. IBA data has been folded into all the state?s major conservation initiatives, including the Statewide Comprehensive Conservation Plan.Through ongoing monitoring of bird and wildlife populations, Audubon biologists stay informed of the health and vitality of every IBA. If legislation or land management threaten IBAs and birdlife, Audubon intervenes with measured, science-based strategies.In 2004, Audubon North Carolina published Important Bird Areas of North Carolina, which features descriptions, species lists, and maps. Visit our state website at www.ncaudubon.org to view the publication online.Audubon biologists are busy updating the Important Bird Areas of North Carolina publication and it will be published in 2009. Stay tuned!We are always looking for volunteers to help us monitor the 90+ IBAs around the state. Visit the Adopt an IBA page of our website to learn how you can get involved!
|
| |
Dunlins by Walker Golder
| Name: |
Cape Hatteras National Seashore |
| State: |
US-NC |
| Counties: |
Dare, Hyde
|
| Site Status: |
Identified |
| |
|
Cape Hatteras National Seashore encompasses more than 70 miles of barrier islands including much of the area often referred to as the "Outer Banks." It is a diverse landscape and one of the best examples of a mid-Atlantic barrier island system. The Seashore is relatively low with average elevation approximately 6 above sea level. The site varies in width from about 200 to near 3 miles. The island system consists of Holocene sand ridges sitting on Pleistocene mounts that slowly migrate westward due to rising sea levels. The area known as Buxton Woods is one of North Carolina's best examples of maritime forest and includes an extensive fresh water marsh system. Nine villages are adjacent to the boundaries of the Seashore. The Western boundary extends 150 into Pamlico Sound. The Seashore is popular with tourists during the warmer months and attracts about 2 million visitors annually.
Barrier beach/dune habitat and maritime forest are extensive and significant (Criteria 3). Dozens of scientific studies of birds, bird populations, and bird habitats conducted have contributed significantly to the overall knowledge of birds (Criteria 5).
Significant off- road vehicle (ORV) and other recreational pursuits have disturbed nesting colonial birds and piping plovers for many years. Predation from feral cats as well as raccoons, are a significant stress on ground nesting plovers and colonial birds. Habitats have been altered by dune building and channelization, ditching, etc. and have changed quantity and quality of seashore habitat and vegetation.
| Contact: |
| Curtis Smalling |
667.George.Moretz.Lane
|
| Boone, NC 28607 |
| phone: 8282650198 |
| email: csmalling@audubon.org
|
| |
|
|
