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Important Bird and Birding Areas
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Cedar Swamp/Farber Tract
Passaic and Sussex CountiesCoordinates: N 41.19707
W 74.41811
Skylands: Appalachian MountainsArea: 18,198 Acres Habitat: Mixed upland forest, scrub-shrub and forested wetlandSite Description: The Cedar Swamp and Farber Tract is located immediately north of Wawayanda Lake within Wawayanda State Park. This site consists of mature deciduous and mixed forest as well as and many remote Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) and black spruce (Picea mariana) swamps. This area of Wawayanda State Park is part of a continuous forest patch spanning over 10,000 acres and is also contained within the Wawayanda Macrosite, a Natural Heritage Priority Site. The NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) designates these sites as the state’s most significant natural areas. This site is located within the Highlands Preservation Area, a region of exceptional natural resource value designated by NJDEP’s Highlands Water Protection and Planning Act (Highlands Act). This act preserves open space and protects NJ’s diversity of natural resources.IBA Criteria:
| Criterion | Species |
| Conservation Concern – State-endangered (B) | Northern Goshawk, Red-shouldered Hawk |
| Conservation Concern – State-special Concern (B) | Blue-headed Vireo, Canada Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Nashville Warbler, Winter Wren |
| Conservation Concern – Conservation Priority (B) | Northern Saw-whet Owl, Ruffed Grouse |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 28 Forest (B) | Acadian Flycatcher, Eastern Towhee, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Hooded Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Wood Thrush, Worm-eating Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 28 Scrub-shrub/Barrens (B) | American Woodcock, Eastern Towhee, Golden-winged Warbler |
| Significant Congregations - Exceptional Diversity (B) | Landbirds |
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| Nashville Warbler | Bill Lynch |
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Birds: This site supports an exceptional diversity of breeding birds, many of which are species of concern in NJ. State-threatened Barred Owls and Golden-winged Warblers occur here as well as state-special concern Canada Warblers, Northern Parulas, Blue-headed Vireos, Winter Wrens, Broad-winged Hawks, Black-throated Green Warblers, Cooper’s Hawks and Veeries. Breeding conservation priority species include Ruffed Grouse, American Woodcocks, Brown Creepers, Hairy Woodpeckers and Northern Saw-whet Owls. This area also hosts one of the largest stable populations of Nashville Warblers in NJ with up to 10 pairs. The Cedar Swamp and Farber Tract IBA provides valuable breeding habitat for the state-endangered Red-shouldered Hawk and Northern Goshawk as well.Conservation: This site is protected from development as part of Wawayanda State Park; however, nearby residential development results in increased habitat loss and fragmentation of the region’s contiguous habitats. Expanding development likely degrades the water quality of Wawayanda Creek and the site’s wetlands by increasing inputs of point and nonpoint sources of pollution. Development also results in greater human disturbance of nesting birds and habitat, particularly through unregulated off-road vehicle use. Protection and restoration efforts targeting privately-owned upland habitats of this site should prioritize lands for acquisition and promote the various state and federal incentive programs that compensate landowners for habitat restoration. Additional threats include overabundant deer, cowbird parasitism and invasive species. Overabundant deer can severely reduce forest regeneration and alter structure by browsing heavily on native plants and the buds and young shoots of woody shrubs and saplings. Coupled with fragmentation caused by development, over browsing by deer also facilitates the establishment of many aggressive, nonnative plant species that outcompete native vegetation. In particular, Japanese stilt grass (Microstegium vimineum) and garlic-mustard (Alliaria petiolata) are affecting forest habitats by reducing habitat structure. Many nesting birds are now parasitized by Brown-headed Cowbirds. Cowbirds lay their eggs in the nests of other birds ultimately compromising the parents’ ability to raise their own chicks. A number of exotic pests and diseases, including the hemlock wooly adelgid and bacterial leaf scorch, threaten forest health. Forest management to protect and preserve habitat quality for Northern Goshawk is recommended.Additional Information: Site Report
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| Rhododendrum and cedar swamp | John Parke |
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