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Important Bird and Birding Areas
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Picatinny Arsenal North/Denmark Lake
Morris CountyCoordinates: N 40.97863
W 74.51527
Skylands: Appalachian MountainsArea: 15,935 Acres Habitat: Nontidal wetlands with upland forest and open waterSite Description: The Picatinny Arsenal North/Denmark Lake IBA is located in the Picatinny Valley between Green Pond Mountain and Mount Hope. This site is situated within the northern portion of the US Department of the Army’s 6500-acre Picatinny Arsenal, a military research and manufacturing facility that has been in operation for over 100 years. The forested wetlands, uplands and open waters of Denmark Lake are part of the Green Pond Mountain Macrosite, a Natural Heritage Priority Site designated by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) as one of the state’s most significant natural areas. This site is also 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).IBA Criteria:
| Criterion | Species |
| Conservation Concern – State-endangered (B) | American Bittern, Northern Goshawk, Red-shouldered Hawk |
| Conservation Concern – State-threatened (B) | Long-eared Owl |
| Conservation Concern – State-special Concern (B) | Cooper's Hawk |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 28 Forest (B) | Black-and-white Warbler, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Hooded Warbler, Wood Thrush, Worm-eating Warbler |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 28 Scrub-shrub/Barrens (B) | Eastern Towhee, Golden-winged Warbler, Prairie Warbler |
| Significant Congregations (SM) | Waterfowl |
| Significant Congregations - Exceptional Diversity (FM, SM) | Landbirds |
| Significant Migrant Stopover/Flyover (FM, SM) | Landbirds |
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| Cooper's Hawk in Flight | Jim Gilbert |
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Birds: This site is incredibly important for breeding raptors such as state-endangered Northern Goshawks and Red-shouldered Hawks, state-threatened Barred Owls and Long-eared Owls and state-special concern Cooper's Hawks. State-endangered American Bitterns and state-special concern Least Bitterns also breed here. Scrub-shrub specialists include Golden-winged Warblers, Prairie Warblers and Eastern Towhees. Picatinny Arsenal North/Denmark Lake also provides essential breeding habitat for forest interior species. Denmark Lake hosts Hooded Mergansers, Long-tailed Ducks, Northern Shovelers, 200-300 Ring-necked Ducks and as many as 1500 Common Mergansers in late winter and early spring. The ridgetop is important for breeding Whip-poor-wills.Conservation: The US Army’s Natural Resources Office manages 6500 acres of land, forest, surface water and ground water at Picatinny Arsenal’s Development and Engineering Center. Most of the site is forested and remains relatively pristine at its northern end. The southern portion of Picatinny Arsenal, though not part of the IBA, is a superfund site laden with hazardous substances associated with the research and development of armaments. A variety of contaminants from rocket fuels, munitions, propellants, landfills and drum storage areas are likely polluting the waters of Bear Swamp Brook, Green Pond Brook, Denmark Lake, Picatinny Lake and private wells. Participation in the Installation Restoration Program will assist the Department of Defense in identifying and cleaning up the contaminated areas of this superfund site. The Picatinny Arsenal Environmental Restoration Advisory Board, consisting of representatives of local government and local citizens, oversees the environmental restoration. The site is also included in the US Army Materiel Command’s conservation program which requires the development and implementation of an endangered species management plan and an integrated pest management plan. If the Picatinny Arsenal becomes military surplus, the site should be acquired and managed as an integral part of the region’s forested landscape. Management strategies for scrub-shrub habitats should include prescribed mowing/haying, grazing and burning. Forest management to protect and preserve habitat quality for Northern Goshawk is also recommended. Additionally, control and management of invasive species and overabundant deer is required to improve habitat diversity and forest structure.Additional Information: Site Report
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