Background
The Important Bird Areas (IBA) Program is an international bird conservation program found in six continents, 156 countries, and forty-six states. The New York State IBA Program was started in 1996 by Audubon New York. The aim of the program is to identify a network of sites throughout the state that are essential for sustaining naturally occurring populations of bird species, and to protect or mange these sites for the long-term conservation of birds, other wildlife, and their habitats. For a site to be recognized as an IBA it must meet criteria based on large bird congregations, species consider to be at-risk, and assemblages of responsibility species. 136 IBA sites have been identified in New York State.
Local community members can play a vital role in furthering the goals of the IBA program. Through the Adopt an IBA initiative, a local group (such as an Audubon chapter, local land trust, bird club, school group, etc.) adopts an IBA and facilitates others to get involved at the site in an environmentally sensitive way. Involvement can include organizing an education program, monitoring effort, clean-up day, or habitat improvement project. Adopting an IBA can help in the conservation of the site by spreading the word on the importance of the site and building a local group of constituents that care about the site.
Benefits
Participate in and assist an international bird conservation program
Promote a community-based program
Participate in meaningful science leading to bird conservation
Implement exciting projects that combine science, education, and birding
Create new public outreach opportunities
Adoption Procedures
- Select an IBA site near you for adoption. Identify an individual from your group to act as the main contact.
- Fill out the simple adoption form and return to the New York IBA Coordinator.
- Work with the IBA coordinator to get permission from the landowner(s) to adopt the site.
- Work with the IBA Coordinator and Education Manager to develop a site-specific program. Audubon New York staff will provide any necessary assistance in establishing methodology, training, and data forms.
Examples of Activities
- An education program that engages people in learning about birds and their conservation.
- A monitoring program that collects data to document the occurrence, relative abundance, breeding status, and long-term changes in bird populations and habitat.
- A resource management program such as a trash clean-up day, birdhouse construction/installation, or recycling program.
- A habitat restoration project such as an exotic plant control effort or native planting.
- An outreach program to foster community support for the IBA site such as an annual birding festival.
Contacts
| IBA Coordinator | Education Manager |
| Jillian Liner | Andrew Mackie |
| Audubon New York | Audubon New York |
| 159 Sapsucker Woods Road | 200 Trillium Lane |
| Ithaca, NY 14850 | Albany, NY 12203 |
| Tel: 607-254-2437 | Tel: 518-869-9731 |
| Fax: 607-254-2415 | Fax: 518-869-0737 |
| jliner@audubon.org | amackie@audubon.org |