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Important Bird and Birding Areas
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Mannington Meadows
Salem CountyCoordinates: N 39.62175
W 75.43389
Site Map Piedmont Plains: New England / Mid-Atlantic CoastArea: 25,778 Acres Habitat: Primarily tidal and nontidal wetlands and open water surrounded by agricultural lands and grassland habitatSite Description: The Mannington Meadows IBA is formed by the Salem River on its northern and western boundaries and encompasses stretches of Fenwick, Mannington, and Keasbey’s Creeks. Agricultural land surrounds the waterways and wetlands of this IBA. The IBA is composed mainly of wetlands, agricultural lands, and rural development with the only significant development at the southern end in Salem City. The site contains possibly the largest wild rice stand in New Jersey. This site contains the Mannington Meadows Natural Heritage Priority Macrosite. Designated by New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP), Natural Heritage Priority Sites are considered the state’s most significant natural areas.IBA Criteria:
| Criterion | Species |
| Conservation Concern – State-endangered (B) | Bald Eagle, King Rail, Least Bittern, Pied-billed Grebe |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 30 Salt Marsh/Wetland (B) | American Black Duck, Clapper Rail, Mallard, Marsh Wren, Northern Pintail, Virginia Rail |
| Significant Congregations (B) | Wading Birds, Great Blue Heron, Great Egret, Snowy Egret |
| Significant Congregations (W, SM) | Waterfowl, American Black Duck, Greater Scaup, Green-winged Teal, Mallard, Northern Pintail |
| Significant Congregations - Exceptional Single Species Concentration (FM) | Caspian Tern |
| Significant Congregations - Exceptional Single Species Concentration (SM) | Pectoral Sandpiper |
| Significant Congregations - Exceptional Diversity (B) | Landbirds |
| Long-term Research/Monitoring | |
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| King Rail with chick | Noppadol Paothong |
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Birds: The site is one of the most important stopovers for migrant waterfowl and shorebirds. In addition, large groups of Eastern Meadowlarks and Savannah Sparrows can be found during late winter. Bald Eagles, American Woodcocks, Northern Pintails, American Black Ducks, egrets, herons, cormorants, shorebirds, songbirds and other bird species are common visitors to Mannington Meadows. Birds of prey, nesting in the nearby Supawna Meadows NWR, often hunt the area.Conservation: Major threats include development pressure, a monoculture of the common reed (Phragmites australis), hydrological alterations, agricultural runoff and a growing, nonindigenous Mute Swan population. The majority of the Mannington Meadows IBA is agricultural land, which is modeled as potential grassland habitat in the NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s Landscape Project. Funding is available from various incentive programs to compensate landowners who voluntarily engage in grassland restoration or management of hay fields for increased productivity of grassland birds. Grassland restoration can also reduce the impacts of agricultural runoff. A grassland restoration plan has been developed for this IBA, targeting 708 acres for restoration. Much of the littoral zone of the Mannington Meadow is dominated by a monoculture of the common reed. Restoration of native species of vegetation is recommended to increase diversity of habitat types to support the broad community of waterfowl and other avian species that depend upon the IBA for breeding, wintering and stopover habitat. Funding is also available from various federal and state incentive programs to take marginal cropland out of production to restore riparian habitat. The hydrology of the Mannington Meadow has been altered over time by water control structures, diversion of the Salem River via a canal and impoundments, and draining of wetlands for farming. In addition, the hydrology of many forested wetlands within the IBA has been modified by ditching. Funding is available from various incentive programs to engage farmers and landowners in wetland restoration. Additional threats to Mannington Meadows include a population of the nonindigenous Mute Swans and intense development pressure. Mute Swans are capable of reducing availability of food resources for native avifauna.Additional Information: Site Report
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| Aerial View of Marsh | Brian Marsh |
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