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Important Bird and Birding Areas
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Island Beach State Park
Ocean CountyCoordinates: N 39.82492
W 74.09534
Site Map Atlantic Coast: New England / Mid-Atlantic CoastArea: 2,646 Acres Habitat: Extensive dune systems, maritime forest, tidal marshes and sandy beachesSite Description: Island Beach State Park (IBSP), bordered on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and the west by Barnegat Bay, encompasses one of last remaining undeveloped barrier beaches in the northeastern United States. This 9.6 mile barrier island characterized by extensive primary and secondary dune habitats, a nationally significant maritime forest, tidal salt marsh and expansive beaches hosts an incredible diversity of birds each year. The New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection designated this site a Natural Heritage Priority Macrosite for harboring some of NJ’s most significant habitats.
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| Common Tern | Kevin Watson |
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Birds: Nesting birds include Willets, Clapper Rails and several species of herons and egrets. This site is also a significant Osprey, Least Tern and Black Skimmer nesting area. The federally threatened Piping Plover is an occasional breeder on the open beaches and dunes. In spring and fall IBSP becomes a migration corridor for migrating landbirds, raptors and shorebirds. The barrier beach is an important autumn migration route for several species of raptors, including Ospreys, Northern Harriers, Sharp-shinned Hawks, American Kestrels, Merlins and Peregrine Falcons. Many of these raptors benefit from a plentitude of migrating passerine prey found resting and foraging among the thick vegetation of the dune woodland community. Shorebirds peak in May and again in August and on many days, hundreds of Black-bellied Plovers, Willets, Least Sandpipers, Semipalmated Sandpipers, Dunlin, Ruddy Turnstones, Sanderlings and Short-billed Dowitchers can be found feeding in the mudflats. Thousands of loons, Northern Gannets, cormorants, scoters and Long-tailed Ducks migrate past IBSP in the fall and many stay locally for the winter.Conservation: Major threats to the integrity of IBSP’s habitats include non-point sources of pollution from nearby intense development, recreational overuse of the park, disturbance from human activities including boat traffic and vehicular traffic on the beach and invasive plant species. Nonpoint sources include yard fertilizers, pesticides, septic sewage, motor oil and other household products that accumulate in the groundwater and are discharged into the bay. There is also continuing pressure on the park from an increasing number of visitors especially in the summer months. Recreational boating and off-road vehicles consistently degrade habitat and disturb breeding waterbird colonies and beach nesting birds. Additional disturbances and predation can be attributed to a growing gull population, feral cats, foxes, raccoons, opossum and rodents. Many of these issues have been addressed with educational signage, fencing and park regulations however additional enforcement and staff is recommended. Control of prominent invasive species such as Japanese honeysuckle (Lonicera japonica), purple loosestrife (Lythrum salicaria), Japanese knotweed (Polygonum cuspidatum), and common reed (Phragmites australis) is also encouraged.Additional Information: Site Report
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| Typical Dune Habitat | Patrick Belardo |
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