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Important Bird and Birding Areas
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Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area and Splitrock Reservoir
Morris CountyCoordinates: N 40.96946
W 74.42158
Skylands: Appalachian MountainsArea: 28,272 Acres Habitat: Deciduous upland forestsSite Description: This site encompasses contiguous, deciduous woodlands, swamps, scrub-shrub habitat and steep slopes of the Wildcat Ridge Wildlife Management Area (WMA) and Farney State Park as well as the open waters of Splitrock Reservoir. The site includes the Splitrock Reservoir and Hibernia Mine Natural Heritage Priority Sites. These sites are designated by the NJ Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) as the State’s most significant natural areas. The Hibernia Mine is an abandoned iron mine which provides habitat for eight species of bats. 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) | Northern Goshawk, Red-shouldered Hawk |
| Conservation Concern – State-special Concern (B) | Cerulean Warbler |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 28 Forest (B) | Acadian Flycatcher, Black-and-white Warbler, Black-billed Cuckoo, Canada Warbler, Cerulean Warbler, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Gray Catbird, Hooded Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Mallard, Scarlet Tanager, Wild Turkey, Wood Duck, Wood Thrush, Worm-eating Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo, Yellow-throated Warbler |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 28 Scrub-shrub/Barrens (B) | American Woodcock, Blue-winged Warbler, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Golden-winged Warbler, Indigo Bunting, Prairie Warbler, Whip-poor-will, Wild Turkey, Yellow-breasted Chat |
| Significant Congregations (W) | Waterfowl |
| Significant Migrant Stopover/Flyover (FM) | Raptors |
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| Birders at the Hawk Watch | David Lapuma |
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Birds: This site provides essential feeding and nesting habitat for the state-endangered Northern Goshawk and Red-shouldered Hawk, the state-threatened Barred Owl and state-special concern Cooper’s Hawk. The largely unfragmented forests of this site host significant numbers of state-special concern Cerulean Warblers and other forest interior bird species. The scrub-shrub habitats of several utility rights-of-way host a suite of early successional species. Splitrock Reservoir provides wintering habitat for Ring-necked Ducks, Common Loons, Lesser Scaups and over 2000 Common Mergansers. The ridgetops harbor large populations of Whip-poor-wills. During spring and fall migration, migrating raptors rely on thermals along the top of Wildcat Ridge to conserve energy. Over 16,000 raptors have been counted at this site in a single season.Conservation: One of the most significant threats to the Wildcat Ridge WMA and Splitrock Reservoir is the loss and fragmentation of the adjacent, unprotected forests and wetlands. Many privately-owned parcels carry no regulatory protection and are threatened by residential development. Loss of forested habitats reduces the suitability of the area for forest interior species, degrades water quality and may increase flooding downstream. Sewage treatment plant discharges also degrade water quality. A number of state agencies, local agencies and nonprofit organizations have been actively conserving the area through acquisitions, easements and outreach for good stewardship of private lands. In 2000, the NJDEP’s Green Acres Program, Trust for Public Land (TPL), Morris Land Conservancy, the Forest Legacy Program, the Land and Water Conservation Fund, Morris County and Rockaway Township preserved 295 acres of land adjacent to Wildcat Ridge WMA. In 2001, the Green Acres Program partnered with TPL, NJ Conservation Foundation and the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation to purchase an additional 100 acres. Unregulated off-road vehicle use and invasive plant species also degrade the habitats of this site. NJDEP is currently working to increase enforcement of the area to inhibit illegal activities and vandalism. Management of nonnative, invasive plant species should include mechanical removal and/or use of herbicides. Exotic pests and tree diseases also threaten forest health in this area. The hemlock woolly adelgid, for example, has caused extensive mortality of eastern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis). Bacterial leaf scorch, one of many foliage diseases, has affected American elms (Ulmus americana), sycamores (Platanus occidentalis) and oaks. Forest health is further compromised by overabundant deer. Over-populated deer can severely reduce forest regeneration and alter structure by browsing heavily on native plants and the buds and young shoots of woody shrubs and saplings. Regular maintenance of scrub-shrub habitats is also recommended to prevent succession to a forest community. The Wildcat Ridge Hawk Watch, an official Hawk Migration Association of North America "hawk watch," is responsible for collecting valuable data about the spring and fall movements of migrating raptors.Additional Information: Site Report
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| Wildcat Ridge | Po Shan Cheah |
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