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Important Bird and Birding Areas
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Dennis Creek and Corson Wildlife Management Areas
Cape May CountyCoordinates: N 39.17367
W 74.87168
Site Map Delaware Bay: New England / Mid-Atlantic CoastArea: 11,983 Acres Habitat: Primarily tidal wetlandSite Description: his site borders the Delaware Bay from Reeds Beach at Bidwell Creek in Cape May County northwest to Thompsons Beach in Cumberland County. It contains the vast expanses of tidal salt marsh of Dennis Creek and Corson WMAs. This IBA also includes the Dennis Creek Marsh Natural Heritage Priority Macrosite, several bayside beaches including Reeds, Moores and Thompsons Beaches and is intersected by West and Dennis Creeks.
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| Ruddy Turnstone | Michael Hogan |
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Birds: Dennis Creek and Corson WMAs provide exceptional breeding and wintering habitat for state-endangered Bald Eagles and Northern Harriers. Black Rails and Ospreys also nest at this site. In the spring, thousands of migrating shorebirds including Red Knots and Ruddy Turnstones stopover at Reeds, Moores and Thompsons Beaches to feed on protein-rich horseshoe crab eggs before departing for their breeding grounds in the arctic. The Research Department of New Jersey Audubon Society has identified this site as an important stopover area for songbirds during spring and fall migration through its Doppler Radar migration study, “Oases Along the Flyway.” Wintering waterfowl species include Lesser Scaups, American Black Ducks, Mallards and Green-winged Teals. Wintering Short-eared Owls regularly hunt the marsh at Jakes Landing.Conservation: Major threats to the Dennis Creek and Corson WMAs include change in hydrology, stormwater discharge, non-compatible agriculture and development of adjacent privately-owned lands. Development in adjacent areas along Route 47 generates non-point sources of pollution, such as runoff from septic systems, lawns and gardens which impair the natural ability of the wetlands to purify and absorb water filtering into the bay. The practice of salt marsh ditching to control mosquito populations and create tillable land likely impacts the hydrology in portions of the site. Additionally, the common reed (Phragmites australis), an aggressive invasive plant species, has replaced much of the beneficial marsh vegetation along creek channels. Oil spills occasionally affect this region as it contains the nation’s third largest petrochemical port. Protection and restoration of privately-owned parcels adjacent to this IBA can be accomplished by promoting landowner incentives for protecting and managing habitat and by prioritizing parcels for acquisition. Protection of breeding habitat for this site’s population of Black Rails, for example, is recommended as it occurs on a privately-owned salt hay farm.Additional Information: Site Report
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| Dennis Creek WMA | Mark S. Garland |
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