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FOR ENVIRONMENT EDITOR AUDUBON RECOGNIZES TEN NEW 'IMPORTANT BIRD AREAS' IN UTAH Announcement Comes on Eve of International Migratory Bird Day SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH May 7, 2004 --/WORLD-WIRE/-- The Utah Important Bird Areas (IBA) program, which operates under the auspices of the National Audubon Society, has added ten new IBA sites in Utah: The five major bays on Great Salt Lake - Farmington, Ogden, Bear River, Gilbert (or South Arm), and Gunnison (or North Arm); Provo and Goshen Bay on Utah Lake; Cutler Marsh-Amalga Barrens in Cache County; the Upper Strawberry Watershed in Wasatch County; and, Lytle Preserve in Washington County. These ten new sites add to the five sites recognized last year at this time: Fish Springs National Wildlife Refuge, Ouray National Wildlife Refuge, Deseret Land and Livestock Ranch, Fremont River within Capitol Reef National Park, and Clear Lake Waterfowl Management Area. The announcement comes on the eve of International Migratory Bird Day (May 8, 2004), which highlights the perils and journeys of migratory birds. The announcement also occurs during National Wetlands Month. Important Bird Areas are sites that provide essential habitat for one or more species of bird, and meet criteria established by Utah's IBA Technical Team, which includes many of the state's leading ornithologists. "The IBA program is an excellent way to identify critical areas for birds across the world and in Utah," declares Val Grant, president of Bridgerland Audubon Society and chair of Utah's IBA Technical Team. "The inclusion of specific properties grants no management authority nor enables any landowner restrictions from the IBA program. But by working cooperatively with landowners, the hope is that the areas can continue to be monitored and conserved for the future." Eight of the new IBAs focus mostly on the Great Salt Lake and the Greater Great Salt Lake Watershed. The valuable habitats include the open water of Great Salt Lake, the freshwater at the wildlife management areas, mudflats, playas, riparian areas and uplands. The Upper Strawberry Watershed and Lytle Preserve accentuate the tremendous variety in habitats that are important for birds in Utah - from a high mountain valley and reservoir dominated by sagebrush steppe, mountain riparian, aspen forest and conifer forest to Mojavian Desert, lowland riparian and desert scrub. The eight IBAs in the Greater Great Salt Lake Watershed are being nominated primarily for their value to a tremendous variety and number of waterbirds. The following provides counts for just one bird for each area: 81,927 American Avocets at Farmington Bay; 335,051 Wilson's Phalaropes at Ogden Bay; 200,818 Green-winged Teal at Bear River Bay; 24,154 American White Pelicans at Gunnison Bay; and 778,260 Eared Grebes at Gilbert Bay. Survey data also shows 12,261 Mallards at Provo Bay, 1,390 White-faced Ibis at Goshen Bay, and 30 Great Blue Herons at Cutler Marsh-Amalga Barrens The other two nominations also host a variety of birds including birds that are listed as Utah State Sensitive Species and/or Utah Partners in Flight Priority Species. The Upper Strawberry Watershed provides habitat for more than 100 Greater Sage-Grouse, while Lytle Preserve is home to roughly 100 Gamble's Quails. In addition to being State Important Bird Areas, each of the five bays of Great Salt Lake will also be nominated as Globally Important Bird Area sites. One criterion for becoming a global IBA is to have more than 1 percent of the world's population of a particular bird species. Each bay of the Great Salt Lake easily fulfills this global criterion. There are more than 20 species that have more than 1 percent of their world population on various bays of the Great Salt Lake including: Tundra Swan, Cinnamon Teal, White-faced Ibis, and Marbled Godwit. A good way to find out more is to attend the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival coming up on May 14-22, www.greatsaltlakebirdfest.com. The IBA Program is designed to be proactive, voluntary, science-based, and credible. The Utah program connects to other IBA sites throughout the U.S. through the National Audubon Society, and the world through BirdLife International. Additional information about the national program can be found at www.audubon.org/bird/iba. Wayne Martinson, Utah Important Bird Areas Coordinator for Audubon states, "The 15 announced IBA sites provide a good base for the statewide IBA program. We look forward to designating additional IBAs in Utah in the future." Audubon is dedicated to protecting birds and other wildlife and the habitat that supports them. Our national network of community-based nature centers and chapters, scientific and educational programs, and advocacy on behalf of areas sustaining important bird populations, engage millions of people of all ages and backgrounds in positive conservation experiences. Note: Additional information about each of the ten new IBAs, as well as a brief summary of the five IBAs announced in 2003, is available upon request from Wayne Martinson, 801-355-8110. For more about International Migratory Bird Day: Bob Walters - Watchable Wildlife Program Coordinator Utah Division of Wildlife Resources bobwalters@utah.gov or 801-538-4771 For more information about the Great Salt Lake Bird Festival: Neka Roundy, Davis County Tourism tour@co.davis.ut.us or 801-451-3286 www.greatsaltlakebirdfest.com |
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