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Important Bird and Birding Areas
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Cape May Intracoastal Waterway
Cape May CountyCoordinates: N 39.09548
W 74.76587
Site Map Atlantic Coast: New England / Mid-Atlantic CoastArea: 40,192 Acres Habitat: Open water and tidal marshSite Description: The Cape May Intracoastal Waterway contains a network of large bays, including Jenkins, Great and Grassy Bays, marsh islands and tidal creeks. It is bounded by the Garden State Parkway to the west and by barrier islands to the east. The site encompasses the Avalon-Stone Harbor Natural Heritage Priority Macrosite, designated by New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as some of the state’s most significant natural areas.IBA Criteria:
| Criterion | Species |
| Conservation Concern – State-endangered (SM) | Red Knot |
| Conservation Concern – State-endangered (B) | Black Skimmer, Peregrine Falcon |
| Conservation Concern – State-threatened (B) | Black-crowned Night-Heron, Osprey, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron |
| Conservation Concern – Conservation Priority (W) | American Black Duck |
| Conservation Concern – Conservation Priority (B) | Snowy Egret |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 30 Salt Marsh/Wetland (B) | American Black Duck, Brant, Bufflehead, Clapper Rail, Lesser Scaup, Marsh Wren, Osprey, Seaside Sparrow, Willet |
| Significant Congregations (W) | Waterfowl |
| Significant Congregations (B) | Gulls & Terns, Wading Birds |
| Significant Congregations - Exceptional Single Species Concentration (W) | Brant |
| Significant Migrant Stopover/Flyover (FM) | Raptors |
| Significant Migrant Stopover/Flyover (FM, SM) | Shorebirds |
| Long-term Research/Monitoring | |
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| Snowy Egrets | David Lapuma |
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Birds: The region likely contains up to one-third of the New Jersey Osprey population and up to half of the state’s breeding population of the Yellow-crowned Night-Heron. Ring Island, west of Stone Harbor, contains the largest breeding colony of Laughing Gulls in North America. Wintering waterfowl include Brant, Greater and Lesser Scaup, American Black Duck, Bufflehead and Red-breasted Merganser. Merlins, Peregrine Falcons, Northern Harriers, Ospreys and other raptors pass through the region during fall migration. Tens of thousands of shorebirds use the region in both spring and fall migration including Semipalmated Sandpipers, Dunlins and Short-billed Dowitchers.Conservation: Heavy recreational boat traffic throughout this system increases disturbance to nesting and foraging birds. Runoff and sewage inputs from dense coastal development and oil spills from watercraft, for example, are regular occurrences that contribute to water pollution problems. Habitat loss due to rising water levels has also become evident. Efforts to prohibit disturbance to nesting birds should include education, interpretive signage, fencing and law enforcement. Undeveloped areas should be protected as critical habitat.Additional Information: Site Report
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| Cape May Intracoastal Waterway | Cristina Frank |
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