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Important Bird and Birding Areas
North Brigantine Natural Area

IBBA Site Guide

96
Atlantic County
Coordinates: N 39.42991
W 74.34836
Site Map
Atlantic Coast: New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast

Area: 1,136 Acres     

Habitat: Beach/dune habitat backed by extensive maritime forest and tidal marsh

Site Description: North Brigantine Natural Area boasts a rarity along New Jersey’s Atlantic coast: approximately 2.5 miles of undeveloped beach. Located between the city of Brigantine and Brigantine Inlet, the site is composed of primary to mature dunes, maritime forest and tidal marsh. The site has been designated as a Natural Heritage Priority Site by New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection.

IBA Criteria:
CriterionSpecies
Conservation Concern – Federally-threatened; State-endangered (B)Piping Plover
Conservation Concern – State-endangered (B)Bald Eagle, Northern Harrier
Conservation Concern – State-endangered (SM)Red Knot
Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 30 Beach/Dune (B)American Oystercatcher, Piping Plover
Significant Congregations - Exceptional Single Species Concentration (W)American Oystercatcher
Significant Congregations - Exceptional Single Species Concentration (FM)Red Knot
Significant Migrant Stopover/Flyover (FM)Shorebirds
Long-term Research/MonitoringPiping Plover
Piping Plover
Piping PloverMike Lyncheski
 
Birds: Piping Plovers and Northern Harriers regularly breed at this site. Shorebirds, including as many as 250 state-endangered Red Knots, utilize feeding areas during fall migration. These areas are created by routine flooding along the bay side and northern tip of the site. In addition, there are large open sandy areas that provide resting habitat for shorebirds.

Conservation: Disturbance from motor vehicles continues to threaten birds at this IBA. NJ Division of Fish and Wildlife’s Endangered and Nongame Species Program temporarily closes part of the beach to vehicles during the Piping Plover’s breeding season. The closure usually coincides with the beginning of fall shorebird migration allowing migrant shorebirds ample feeding and resting areas. When the beach is open to vehicles, birds are subject to the possibility of continual disturbance. Consequently, flocks of shorebirds often retreat to Little Beach, an undeveloped barrier island to the north, which may have fewer feeding opportunities and less resting habitat. Flooding can also be a problem for Piping Plovers during the breeding season as the high water regularly destroys nests.

Additional Information: Site Report
North Brigantine Natural Area
North Brigantine Natural AreaNJ Division of Fish and Wildlife