|
Important Bird and Birding Areas
|
Jenny Jump State Forest
Warren CountyCoordinates: N 40.88494
W 74.93374
Skylands: Appalachian MountainsArea: 17,934 Acres Habitat: Primarily deciduous woods with forested wetland, sod farms, fields and several lakesSite Description: The Jenny Jump State Forest IBA is comprised of largely contiguous forested habitat within the state-owned boundary and the surrounding, unconnected forest and forested wetland parcels. The IBA also includes the Pequest River Valley, an area to the east dominated by fields, sod farms and swamps.IBA Criteria:
| Criterion | Species |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 28 Forest (B) | Baltimore Oriole, Black-and-white Warbler, Black-billed Cuckoo, Cerulean Warbler, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Gray Catbird, Mallard, Scarlet Tanager, Wild Turkey, Wood Duck, Worm-eating Warbler |
| Significant Congregations - Exceptional Diversity (B) | Landbirds |
| Significant Migrant Stopover/Flyover (SM) | Landbirds |
 |
| Pileated Woodpecker Family | Steve Byland |
| |
Birds: The forested portions of the IBA support an impressive diversity of forest-breeding birds including the more common species listed in the table above as well as Broad-winged and Red-tailed Hawks, Pileated Woodpeckers, Brown Creepers, Hooded and Canada Warblers, American Redstarts and Rose-breasted Grosbeaks. The area is also heavily visited by migrant passerines during spring migration. The sod farms of the Pequest River Valley support grassland shorebirds during fall migration.Conservation: Major threats to the site include non-native flora, pollution, stormwater discharge and residential development. Like many deciduous forests of northern New Jersey, invasive species such as Japanese barberry (Berberis thunbergii) and Japanese stilt grass (Microstegium vimineum) are a major problem at the Jenny Jump State Forest IBA because they crowd out native understory plants. Removal of these species is recommended to increase diversity and allow the re-establishment of native plant species. Residential development expanding throughout the region has resulted in direct habitat loss and forest fragmentation. Increased development has also resulted in increased storm water runoff and pollution. State Forest staff and volunteers from local communities have addressed some of the conservation issues at the Jenny Jump IBA. Members of the Mountain Lake community and its Environmental Commission, for example, have obtained a grant for stormwater drain filters to reduce the effects of stormwater pollution. Volunteer restoration events in the IBA also include invasive species removal. Forest health is also threatened by exotic pests and tree diseases including the hemlock woolly adelgid, a pest causing wide-spread mortality of eastern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis) and bacterial leaf scorch, one of many devastating foliage diseases.Additional Information: Site Report
 |
| Ghost Lake at Jenny Jump S.F. | John Parke |
| |
|
|