Raritan Bay and Southern Shore

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Important Bird and Birding Areas

IBBA Site Guide

Monmouth County

Coordinates: N 40.46457
W 74.10175

Piedmont Plains: New England / Mid-Atlantic Coast

Area: 34,869 Acres

Habitat: Open water

Site Description: The Raritan Bay, also called Sandy Hook Bay, and Southern Shore is part of the Sandy Hook Bay Complex, a significant habitat complex of the New York Bight Watershed, designated by US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). This site includes the open water of Raritan/Sandy Hook Bay from the confluence of the Shrewsbury and Navesink Rivers and Sandy Hook, west to Raritan River and includes the southern shore, a strip of bayshore forests, dunes, marsh and beach. This shoreline also consists of 3600 acres of shallow tidal mudflats and sandflats and the largest remaining salt marsh on the Raritan Bay, Conaskonk Point.

IBA Criteria:

Criterion	Species
Conservation Concern – State-endangered (B)	Black Skimmer
Conservation Concern – State-threatened (B)	Black-crowned Night-Heron, Yellow-crowned Night-Heron
Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 30 Salt Marsh/Wetland (B)	American Black Duck, Clapper Rail, Mallard, Marsh Wren, Osprey, Seaside Sparrow, Willet
Significant Congregations (W)	Waterfowl
Significant Congregations - Exceptional Single Species Concentration (W)	Greater Scaup


Yellow-crowned Night Heron	John Parke

Birds: Many state listed species use the Bay for foraging during breeding season. These include state-endangered Black Skimmers and Least Terns and state-threatened Yellow-crowned Night-Herons, Black-crowned Night-Herons and Ospreys. The salt marsh of Conaskonk Point hosts breeding American Black Duck, Clapper Rail, Mallard, Marsh Wren, Osprey, Willet, Green Heron, American Oystercatcher, and Seaside and Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow. Conaskonk Point is also important for Sanderlings, Ruddy Turnstones, Semipalmated Sandpipers and Red Knots that benefit from a supply of protein-rich horseshoe crab eggs during spring migration. Wintering waterfowl species include Brant, Bufflehead, Northern Pintail, American Black Duck, White-winged Scoter, Black Scoter, Common Goldeneye, Long-tailed Duck, Red-breasted Merganser, Red-throated Loons and as many as 30,000 Greater Scaup.

Conservation: The adjacent industrial, commercial and residential development has resulted in the prevalence of pollutants including heavy metals and trash in Raritan/Sandy Hook Bay and along its shores. Protection and restoration of undeveloped sites along Raritan/Sandy Hook Bay should be a priority. This can be achieved through conservation easements, acquisition, purchase of development rights, enforcement of existing regulations and by encouraging landowners to participate in restoration through state and federal incentive programs. Conaskonk Point, a significant habitat for shorebirds during spring migration, is a corporate property that should be protected from development. A regional conservation plan identifying strategies to protect the habitats of Raritan/Sandy Hook Bay should be developed and implemented.

Additional Information: Site Report


Raritan Bay in winter	Matt Wood