Mantua, Woodbury and Big Timber Creeks

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Important Bird and Birding Areas

IBBA Site Guide

Camden and Gloucester Counties

Coordinates: N 39.82414
W 75.17262

Site Map

Piedmont Plains: New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast

Area: 7,340 Acres

Habitat: Predominantly riparian habitats with tidal wetlands

Site Description: This IBA encompasses the major channels of Mantua, Woodbury and Big Timber Creeks from their mouths at the Delaware River inland to include most major tributaries and adjacent habitats. The IBA also includes small portions of grassland and mixed upland woods. The majority of the area is privately-owned and is characterized by commercial, urban and suburban development. The National Park Dredge Spoil IBA is adjacent to Big Timer Creek.

IBA Criteria:

Criterion	Species
Conservation Concern – State-endangered (B)	Bald Eagle, Red-shouldered Hawk
Significant Congregations (W, SM)	Waterfowl
Significant Congregations - Exceptional Single Species Concentration (W)	Northern Pintail


Northern Pintail Pair	Michael Hogan

Birds: The stream-associated habitats of Mantua, Woodbury and Big Timber Creeks provide valuable wintering and breeding habitat for state-endangered Bald Eagles. State-endangered Red-shouldered Hawks breed here as well. This area is incredibly important for wintering waterfowl including as many as 2900 Mallards and several hundred American Black Ducks. Northern Pintails congregate within these creeks before migrating north in the spring.

Conservation: Impacts from residential and commercial development including pollution and stormwater discharge are the primary threats to this IBA. The ecology of these watersheds was drastically modified with the filling of upland and tidal wetlands and through damming and dredging to allow for development. The New Jersey Conservation Foundation, the South Jersey Land and Water Trust and the NJ Department of Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Acres Program, nonprofit organizations whose mission it is to preserve and protect NJ’s land and natural resources, have partnered to preserve many parcels along the Mantua, Woodbury and Big Timber Creeks. The Andaloro Farm along the Big Timber, the Lodge Property along Mantua, Big Timber Creek Park and the Old Pine Farm Preserve together protect over 100 acres of land. Old Pine Farm is a rare example of a natural area along the highly developed section of Big Timber Creek that protects grassland savannas, deciduous woods and a maple swamp.

Additional Information: Site Report


Big Timber Creek	Michael Hogan