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Important Bird and Birding Areas
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Crystal Lake
Burlington CountyCoordinates: N 40.11868
W 74.7355
Site Map Piedmont Plains: New England / Mid-Atlantic CoastArea: 1,128 Acres Habitat: Open water surrounded by deciduous forest and cultivated fieldsSite Description: Surrounded by dense urban areas and agricultural fragments, Crystal Lake offers a refuge for birds from the harsh landscape of this portion of Burlington County. Crystal Lake is fed by Spring Hill Brook and is adjacent to the Delaware River at Newbold Island. The site is composed of open water habitat surrounded by a matrix of deciduous forest, cultivated fields, scrub-shrub and nontidal wetland.IBA Criteria:
| Criterion | Species |
| Conservation Concern – State-endangered (B) | Bald Eagle |
| Significant Migrant Stopover/Flyover | Landbirds |
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| Northern Flicker | Steve Byland |
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Birds: New Jersey State-endangered Bald Eagles breed at Crystal Lake and occasionally winter in the area. Other breeding birds observed at Crystal Lake include Great Blue Herons, Red-bellied Woodpeckers, Downy Woodpeckers, Hairy Woodpeckers, Northern Bobwhites, Baltimore Orioles and Northern Flickers. One of the few forested areas in the region, this site provides spring and fall migrants with resting and roosting habitat before they continue their migration.Conservation: Crystal Lake and the adjacent habitats come under a variety of different ownership types, making protection and conservation of this site complicated. Large development projects, potentially interfering with Bald Eagle foraging habitat, are proposed for some of the area’s remaining agricultural parcels. Stream flow to the lake is heavily compromised by nearby development, both through stormwater discharge and by considerable groundwater use. Local advocacy groups, including the Concerned Citizens of Mansfield Township and Crafts Creek & Spring Hill Brook Watershed Association, are working to protect and improve water and habitat quality.Additional Information: Site Report
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| Crystal Lake | Kate Tallon |
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