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Important Bird and Birding Areas
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Lakes Bay/Great Egg Harbor Bay
Atlantic CountyCoordinates: N 39.32408
W 74.5545
Site Map Atlantic Coast: New England / Mid-Atlantic CoastArea: 17,089 Acres Habitat: Primarily open water and tidal salt marshSite Description: This bay complex is bounded entirely by anthropogenic features: major thoroughfares to the north, south and east and dense development of the mainland and barrier islands to the east and west, respectively. Expanses of salt marsh and bays of varying size and depth, including Skull, Pecks, Lakes and Great Egg Harbor Bays, characterize the area.
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| Horned Grebe | Jim Gilbert |
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Birds: American Oystercatchers, Black Skimmers, Ospreys, Clapper Rails, American Black Ducks, Seaside Sparrows, Marsh Wrens and Willets are regular breeders throughout the Lakes Bay/Great Egg Harbor Bay complex. It is also an important foraging and breeding area for Common Terns, Yellow-crowned and Black-crowned Night-Herons, Tricolored and Little Blue Herons, Whimbrels and Northern Harriers. Thousands of Buffleheads, American Black Ducks, Horned Grebes, Long-tailed Ducks, Red-breasted Mergansers, Common Loons, Double-crested Cormorants and Greater and Lesser Scaup find refuge here during the winter. The marshes contained within the southern portion provide important foraging habitat for migrant shorebirds, especially in spring.Conservation: The dense development surrounding this bay complex severely compromises the integrity of the habitat and water quality. Nonpoint sources of pollution from human related activities and recreation related disturbance of foraging and breeding birds is widespread. Where appropriate, these activities should be limited or regulated.Additional Information: Site Report
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| Great Egg Harbor Bay | Michael Hogan |
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