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Bird Conservation
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Important Bird Areas
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WYOMING'S IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS PROGRAM
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The Important Bird Areas (IBA) program is the focal point for Audubon Wyoming's conservation effort. Audubon Wyoming initiated the IBA program in 1999. As of March 2005, 44 IBAs have been identified in Wyoming, encompassing more than nine million acres of public and private lands (16% of the land area of the state). Even more impressive then the amount of land IBAs now encompass across the state is the level of local participation in conservation action on IBAs. With the assistance of many individuals and local Audubon Chapters, conservation efforts have begun on twelve IBAs, involving 14 avian monitoring programs and three habitat restoration projects. In addition to monitoring and restoration projects, IBA Adoption efforts were initiated this year in Wyoming to stimulate local Audubon Chapter participation and stewardship on IBA sites. The IBA Stewardship Adoption Program allows Audubon chapters, bird clubs, and other conservation groups to play a vital role in furthering the goals of the IBA Program and bird conservation in general. By adopting one or more IBAs, local community groups provide much-needed stewardship of the site through recruiting volunteer citizen scientists for monitoring bird populations, and offering educational opportunities to help conserve the sites.
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Snowy Range Peaks IBA
| Name: |
Flat Creek Marshes and Wetland Complex |
| State: |
US-WY |
| Counties: |
Teton
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| Site Status: |
Recognized |
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Learning about the prairie potholes at Laramie Plains Lakes IBA
The purpose of the Flat Creek March and Wetland Complex IBA is defined by refuge purposes of the National Elk Refuge. These are to provide winter foraging habitat for elk and other big game animals and to provide habitat for migrating birds.
The Flat Creek Marsh and Wetland Complex is located just north of the town of Jackson, Wyoming. Highway 191 bounds the area on the west and the entire complex is located within the National Elk Refuge boundaries. The area is one of the largest calcareous fen in Wyoming and the largest wetland in northwest Wyoming. Flat Creek runs north/south through the marshes with several ponds throughout the area. In 1990 a proposal was introduced in order to create or enhance the wetlands within the National Elk Refuge because of the damage caused by reconstruction of Jackson Lake Dam. The draw down that occurred while repairing the Jackson Lake Dam destroyed aquatic plant beds, important to fish, invertebrates, and migratory birds. Therefore plans were made to improve and expand two ponds (Boucher Pond (8.70 acres) and the Gros Ventre Diversion Pond (19.39 acres)) within the area to mitigation for Jackson Dam repairs.
The area is a critical site for migrating and staging waterfowl and shorebirds. It provides nesting and brood habitat for 4 pairs of Trumpeter Swan (3 of the 4 have produced young). The area also supports nesting Long-billed Curlews. Ornithological Importance:
Trumpeter Swan B, Yearlong
Long-billed Curlew B
Bald Eagle FM
Marsh Wren B
American Bittern B
White-faced Ibis SM
Bobolink B, SM, FM
Sora B
Virginia Rail B
Yellow Rail B (some years)
Various Waterfowl SM, B, FM
Invasive species (noxious weeds) are a long-term concern which could degrade biodiversity and negatively affect birds. High elk and bison numbers have degraded willow habitat and converted them to sedge dominated wet meadow. Control of invasive species (noxious weeds) is essential.
| Contact: |
| Alison Holloran |
154 N 8th Street
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| Laramie, WY 82072 |
| phone: 307-745-4848 |
| email: aholloran@audubon.org
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