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The Important Bird Areas program, developed by the National Audubon
Society, designates key habitats critical to bird conservation.
These areas provide habitats essential for breeding, feeding,
wintering or migration of one or more species of birds. The
designated areas have characteristics such as high bird diversity,
populations of threatened species or unusually large numbers of
birds. The areas may be large or small, publicly or privately owned.
"The Important Bird Areas program helps us focus our efforts on
those places in which protecting our bird habitats will have the
most long-term benefits," said Sam Flood, acting director of the
Department of Natural Resources. "The program provides a list of
priority areas that need conservation in order to sustain healthy
and diverse bird populations and helps guide our planning and action
to protect and enhance that habitat."
Sites nominated are evaluated based on standard scientific
criteria to ensure statewide significance to birds. Land managers,
scientists or the general public may nominate sites. Nationally,
there are more than 1,800 designated areas in 48 states. Pyramid
State Park, which is one of 48 sites statewide, was chosen for its
exceptional numbers of breeding pairs of Bell's vireo, dickcissel,
grasshopper sparrow, Henslow's sparrow, loggerhead shrike, northern
harrier and willow flycatcher, and wintering short-eared owls and
migratory waterfowl. The large grassland complex allows visitors to
experience the state's original avian inhabitants.
"The outstanding grassland restoration work that has taken place
at this site is now providing habitat of both statewide and regional
significance for conservation priority species, especially grassland
and shrubland birds," said Terry Esker, natural heritage biologist
with the Department of Natural Resources. "Pyramid State Park
provides habitat for five of the six true grassland-area-sensitive
birds, all of which are state-listed, making it one of the most
important sites for grassland birds in Illinois."
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Illinois, nicknamed the Prairie State, has lost over 99 percent of
its original prairie and 90 percent of its original wetland acreage.
These and other habitat losses have lead to sharp declines in many
bird populations. Of the 11 most sharply declining bird species in
the nation, seven spend all or part of their life cycle in Illinois.
The Important Bird Areas program highlights those places where
the best habitats still remain and promotes habitat protection and
restoration so Illinois bird populations can be recovered. The
designation encourages government agencies, conservation groups,
landowners and land managers, as well as bird enthusiasts and other
interested citizens, to work together on bird conservation efforts.
"The Important Bird Area program identifies a network of sites
around the globe that provide critical habitat for our most
threatened bird populations," explains Judy Pollock, the director of
bird conservation for Audubon-Chicago Region.
The celebration Friday afternoon was at the Denmark Unit of
Pyramid State Park, six miles south of Pinckneyville off Illinois
Route 127, then eight miles west on Pyatts Blacktop in Perry County.
The designation ceremony featured Leslie Sgro, deputy director of
the Department of Natural Resources, and ornithologist Jeff Walk. A
guided bird walk followed the ceremony.
For more information on Important Bird Areas in Illinois, visit
www.habitatproject.org
or contact Judy Pollock, Illinois IBA coordinator, Audubon - Chicago
Region, 5225 Old Orchard Road, Suite 37, Skokie, IL 60077, phone
(847) 965-1150; or Jeff Walk, Illinois Department of Natural
Resources, One Natural Resources Way, Springfield, IL 62702, phone
(217) 557-9251.
[Illinois
Department of Natural Resources news release] |
