Dear Ospreyers,

Now that migration is winding down and all that's left are our breeding birds it's time to shift from questions like "Where can I find my first Kentucky Warbler of the year?" to questions like "How many Kentucky Warblers are there breeding at that site?". Bird Blitz surveys give us the answers to these kind of questions and help to identify Important Bird Areas (IBAs) across the state.

Over the winter the IBA Technical Review Committee identified 8 new IBAs in Maryland. The first 5 of these, listed below, were identified as a direct result of the tremendous effort put in by Bird Blitz teams in 2007. Thanks to all who participated.  I have just updated the Maryland-DC IBA website so you can read about all 26 IBAs and see where they are located, at: http://www.audubonmddc.org/SciCon_IBAs.html

There are still more than 20 candidate IBA sites that do not have enough data for a full review. A map of these sites is available on the IBA website, along with instructions, froms etc. Please consider doing Bird Blitz surveys this summer at a candidate IBA site - I will be at the MOS conference this weekend and would be happy to discuss IBAs and Bird Blitz with all who are interested.

New IBAs indentified in 2007-08:
 - Lower C & O Canal IBA: Identified for breeding Prothonotary Warbler, Lousiana Waterthrush, wintering/migrant Rusty Blackbird.
 - Prettyboy IBA: Identified for a diverse assemblage of Forest-Interior Dwelling Species. Significant numbers of Louisiana Waterthrush and Worm-eating Warbler
 - Tuckahoe Creek IBA: Identified for breeding Prothonotary Warbler, Kentucky Warbler and Louisiana Waterthrush.
 - Idylwild IBA: Identified for Northern Bobwhite, Whip-poor-will, Prothonotary Warbler, and a diverse assemblage of both Forest-Interior Dwelling Species and shrubland/early successional birds.
 - South River Greenway IBA: Identified as an IBA for Forest-Interior-Dwelling Species. Near-significant numbers of Kentucky Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Worm-eating Warbler.
 - Somerset-Wicomico Marshes IBA: Identified for breeding, Least Bittern, Black Duck, Northern Bobwhite, Northern Harrier, Black Rail, King Rail, Common Moorhen, American Oystercatcher, Chuck-will's Widow, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow, Seaside Sparrow, Coastal Plain race of Swamp Sparrow, wintering Short-eared Owl.
 - Pocomoke-Nassawango IBA: Identified for Northern Bobwhite, Whip-poor-will, Chuck-will's Widow, Red-headed Woodpecker, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Wood Thrush, Prairie Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Swainson's Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Kentucky Warbler, a diverse assemblage of Forest-Interior Dwelling Species, exceptional concentrations of migrant landbirds.
 - Great Cypress Swamp: Identified for Wood Thrush,  Prothonotary Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Swainson's Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Kentucky Warbler, a diverse assemblage of Forest-Interior Dwelling Species.

Happy bird counting!

Dave

David Curson, PhD
Director of Bird Conservation,
Audubon MD-DC,
2437 Eastern Avenue,
Baltimore  MD  21224
Tel: (410) 558 2473
E-mail: 







David Curson, PhD
Director of Bird Conservation,
Audubon MD-DC,
2437 Eastern Avenue,
Baltimore  MD  21224
Tel: (410) 558 2473
E-mail: