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Important Bird and Birding Areas
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Edward G. Bevans (Millville) Wildlife Management Area
Cumberland CountyCoordinates: N 39.3328
W 75.0907
Delaware Bay: New England / Mid-Atlantic CoastArea: 39,304 Acres Habitat: Primarily mixed woods with grasslands and shrub-scrubSite Description: Located in southern Cumberland County, the Millville Wildlife Management Area (WMA), now the Edward G. Bevans WMA, is characterized by extensive oak-pine forest interspersed with freshwater wetlands and early successional habitats including scrub-shrub and grasslands.IBA Criteria:
| Criterion | Species |
| Conservation Concern – State-threatened (B) | Red-headed Woodpecker |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 30 Scrub-shrub/Barrens (B) | American Woodcock, Blue-winged Warbler, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Field Sparrow, Northern Bobwhite, Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Whip-poor-will, Wild Turkey |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 30 Forested Wetland (B) | Acadian Flycatcher, American Black Duck, Chimney Swift, Fish Crow, Kentucky Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Mallard, Wood Duck, Yellow-throated Vireo |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 30 Mixed Upland Forest (B) | Acadian Flycatcher, Baltimore Oriole, Black-and-white Warbler, Black-billed Cuckoo, Blue Jay, Broad-winged Hawk, Carolina Chickadee, Common Grackle, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Gray Catbird, Great Crested Flycatcher, Northern Flicker, Scarlet Tanager, Tufted Titmouse, Whip-poor-will, Wild Turkey, Wood Thrush, Worm-eating Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo |
| Significant Congregations | |
| Significant Migrant Stopover/Flyover (FM, SM) | Landbirds |
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| American Woodcock | Kevin Watson |
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Birds: The grassland and early successional habitats of Edward G. Bevans WMA support breeding Red-headed Woodpeckers and a number of scrub-shrub dependant birds including Prairie Warblers, Blue-winged Warblers and American Woodcocks. This site also provides large expanses of forested wetland and upland habitats for breeding forest interior species and forested wetland dependant species. A Doppler Radar migration study, “Oases Along the Flyway,” conducted by the Research Department of New Jersey Audubon Society has confirmed this site as critical stopover habitat for migrating songbirds during spring and fall migration.Conservation: Edward G. Bevans WMA is protected from development; however, the integrity of this IBA is threatened by increased habitat loss and forest fragmentation resulting from nearby residential and industrial development pressure. The widening of roads, creation of power lines, conversion of forests to nursery operations and expansion of nearby sand and gravel operations along the periphery of the WMA are additional threats. A recently approved race track complex will likely impact the northern section of the WMA. Off-road vehicle use is a potential threat that should be controlled by increasing enforcement by conservation officers. Protection and restoration of agricultural and upland forests adjacent to the WMA is necessary to prevent further impacts from the encroaching development and non-compatible agricultural practices. This can be accomplished by promoting landowner incentives for protecting and managing habitat and by prioritizing parcels for acquisition. Because the site supports species that depend on early successional habitats, such as grasslands and scrub-shrub, active management including brush hogging, disking and/or prescribed burning to keep the early stage of succession from reverting to forest is recommended.Additional Information: Site Report
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| Shaw's Mill at Bevans WMA | Laurie Pettigrew for NJ F&W |
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