Riverhead, Southold, Southampton, Suffolk County
22,800 acres 40.9561oN
0-50' elevation 72.4997oW
Description: This site is a large, sheltered marine bay system located between the North and South Forks of eastern Long Island, extending from the mouth of the Peconic River in the west to Little Peconic Bay in the east, including the adjacent shoreline and Robins Island. Along with the Peconic River, several smaller tributaries, including Goose Creek, Birch Creek, Mill Creek, and Hubbard Creek empty into the bays. The shores of Flanders Bay contain a relatively large (800-acre) undisturbed salt marsh complex. This very productive marine ecosystem serves as an important nursery area for a variety of finfish and shellfish.
Birds: This is an important breeding area for colonial waterbirds, including Piping Plovers (18 pairs in 1996; 7% of the state population), American Oystercatchers (10 pairs in 1996; 6% of the state population), Common Terns (nine pairs in 1996), Least Terns (369 pairs in 1996; 12% of the state population), and Black Skimmers (one pair in 1996). Ospreys nest here and forage in the wetlands. It is also an important wintering and staging area for waterfowl, loons, and grebes, particularly Canada Geese, American Black Ducks, scaup, Long-tailed Ducks, Redbreasted Mergansers, and Common Loons. The NYS DEC aerial waterfowl survey tallied 2,051 waterfowl in January 1994.
Conservation: This site is listed in the 2002 Open Space Conservation Plan as a priority site under the project name Peconic Pinelands Maritime Reserve Project. Inputs of nutrients into Peconic Bay from both point and non-point sources need to be greatly reduced. Degradation of water quality, especially by non-point source runoff, is a concern. Non-point sources released into the bay produce nutrient loading, followed by eutrophication and increased levels of fecal bacteria. Public outreach efforts should focus on reducing fertilizer and pesticide use, and proper maintenance of septic systems by landowners. Disturbances to colonial beach-nesting birds and wintering waterfowl should be minimized. Nesting terns and Piping Plovers, in particular, could benefit from programs involving public education, warden patrols, protective exclosures, predator control, and beach closures. Local conservation groups should consider negotiation of conservation easements or management agreements for some important privately owned beaches. Monitoring of breeding colonial waterbirds should continue, and a better system for monitoring wintering waterfowl and public use of the area should be implemented.
IBA Criteria Met
Criterion | Species | Data | Season | Source |
|---|
Species at Risk | Piping Plover | 1 pair in 2002, 13 in 1999, 19 in 1998, 23 in 1997, 20 in 1996, 24 in 1995, 16 in 1994, 10 in 1993 | Breeding | NY Natural Heritage Biodiversity Databases |
Species at Risk | Least Tern | 461 pairs in 1999, 291 in 1998, 307 in 1997, 368 in 1996, 254 in 1995, 147 in 1994, 168 in 1993 | Breeding | NY Natural Heritage Biodiversity Databases |
Congregations-Waterfowl | Mixed Species | 2,968 ind. in 2000 [1]; 2,051 in 1994 [2] | Winter | 1. NYSOA winter waterfowl counts 2. NYS DEC mid-winter aerial waterfowl surveys |
Congregations-Waterbirds | Terns | Estimated 2 pairs in 2002, 461 in 1999, 296 in 1998, 311 in 1997, 375 in 1996, 263 in 1995, 156 in 1994, 192 in 1993 | Breeding | NY Natural Heritage Biodiversity Databases |