Hello Maryland Birders,

In addition to using Bird Blitz results to identify new Important Bird
Areas, we also can use these data to determine whether already-identified
state-level IBAs qualify as global IBAs. In 2009, Bird Blitz surveys
targeted one of the state’s globally vulnerable bird species, the Saltmarsh
Sparrow, in an effort to assess whether or not the Somerset-Wicomico Marshes
IBA and the Southern Dorchester County IBA supported globally significant
populations. Just a small number of surveys in these extensive saltmarsh
sites provided important data indicating the significance of these IBAs.
More surveys to assess the global status of these IBAs will be planned for
2010, but to read the full summaries from Bird Blitz 2009 at these sites,
follow the links below:

Somerset-Wicomico Marshes IBA
http://mddc.audubon.org/files/Audubon%20Maryland-DC/documents/SomersetWicomicoMarshesIBA_2009_Summary_0.pdf

Southern Dorchester County IBA
http://mddc.audubon.org/files/Audubon%20Maryland-DC/documents/Southern_Dorchester_IBA_2009_Summary_0.pdf


Best regards,

David

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David Yeany II
IBA Program Coordinator
Audubon MD-DC
2437 Eastern Avenue
Baltimore, MD 21224
Phone: 814-221-4361
Email: