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Important Bird and Birding Areas
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Hamburg Mountain
Sussex CountyCoordinates: N 41.14138
W 74.52838
Skylands: Appalachian MountainsArea: 10,474 Acres Habitat: Primarily upland forest with open water and scrub-shrub habitatSite Description: Hamburg Mountain, located east of Franklin in Sussex County, is part of a large forest patch interspersed with streams, vast beaver ponds, hardwood swamps, eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis) groves and the 20 acre Silver Lake. The densely forested habitats of Hamburg Mountain protect the headwaters and tributaries of the Pequannock and the Wallkill Rivers. A majority of the site contained within site the Hamburg Mountain Wildlife Management (WMA) Area and Wawayanda State Park.
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| Winter Wren | Neil Nappe |
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Birds: This site hosts more than 100 species of breeding birds. Breeding raptors include the state-endangered Red-shouldered Hawks and Northern Goshawks, state-threatened Barred Owls and state-special concern Sharp-shinned, Cooper’s and Broad-winged Hawks. Scrub-shrub habitats support one of the largest concentrations of state-threatened Golden-winged Warblers in the state. Significant numbers of state-special concern Winter Wrens and Black-throated Green Warblers also breed here. State designated conservation priority species include Ruffed Grouse, Hairy Woodpecker, Brown Creeper, American Woodcock and at least four pairs of Northern Saw-whet Owls. In addition, this site provides breeding habitat for state-special concern Cerulean Warblers, Blue-headed Vireos, Veeries, Canada Warblers, Northern Parulas and Least Flycatchers. Hamburg Mountain is also widely used by migrating birds as they pass through the Atlantic flyway during spring and fall migration.Conservation: The majority of the Hamburg Mountain IBA is owned by the state of NJ, as part of a wildlife management area and a state park, and by the City of Newark as part of the Newark Watershed. Several significant private inholdings must be targeted for protection and restoration efforts to preserve the integrity of the largely contiguous habitats that characterize the area. Efforts should include prioritizing lands for acquisition and promoting various state and federal incentive programs that compensate landowners for habitat restoration. The northern part of the site is heavily disturbed by decades of activities associated with the ski resort industry, including the damming of streams. Expansion of the industry was halted in 2001 when the Highlands Coalition, a grassroots movement to protect the natural resources of the Highlands Region of NJ, won a lawsuit to stop a massive housing and ski resort development on Hamburg Mountain. In 2004, The Trust for Public Land, a nonprofit conservation organization, acquired 1,200 acres in Hardyston linking Hamburg WMA and Sparta Mountain WMA. National Biodiversity Parks, Inc., a federally designated nonprofit land preservation and ecological management firm, has identified a 1300 acre preservation area within the foothills of Hamburg Mountain. The project, upon approval from NJ Department of Environmental Protection, will create a buffer between development and the Hamburg Mountain WMA. Other threats include overabundant deer, cowbird parasitism, invasive plant encroachment, exotic pests, tree diseases and off-road vehicle use of the area. Forest management to protect and preserve habitat quality for Northern Goshawk is also recommended.Additional Information: Site Report
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| Hamburg Mountain | Beth Ciuzio |
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