Sourland Mountain Region

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Important Bird and Birding Areas

IBBA Site Guide

Hunterdon, Mercer, and Somerset Counties

Coordinates: N 40.4667
W 74.7264

Piedmont Plains: Piedmont

Area: 57,873 Acres

Habitat: Deciduous forest with freshwater wetlands and agricultural lands

Site Description: The Sourland Mountain Region contains approximately 25,000 acres of mature, contiguous forest, 7500 acres of wetlands and 20,000 acres of agricultural land in active production. Groundwater recharge and various streams in the Sourlands supply the Delaware & Raritan Canal, which provides water to about one million New Jersey residents. The Sourland Mountain Region IBA is a macrosite which includes Featherbed Lane IBA and Baldpate Mountain IBA.

IBA Criteria:

Criterion	Species
Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 29 Forest (B)	Kentucky Warbler, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Wood Thrush, Yellow-billed Cuckoo
Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 29 Scrub-shrub/Barrens (B)	American Woodcock, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Wild Turkey
Significant Congregations
Significant Congregations - Exceptional Diversity (B)	Landbirds
Significant Migrant Stopover/Flyover (SM)	Landbirds
Long-term Research/Monitoring


Ovenbird	Mike Lyncheski

Birds: The Sourland Region's extensive forested habitats support woodland breeding birds including: Kentucky Warblers, Sharp-shinned Hawks, Wood Thrushes, Yellow-billed Cuckoos, Cooper’s Hawks and Barred Owls. Scrub-shrub habitats support Field Sparrow, Eastern Towhee, Wild Turkey and American Woodcock. The Sourlands are especially known for nesting birds occurring on the edges of their breeding ranges including Summer Tanagers, Winter Wrens and Black-capped and Carolina Chickadees. Long-term avian studies conducted at Featherbed Lane confirm an impressive diversity of over 70 breeding birds. In addition, the Sourland Mountain Region serves as an important stopover area for migratory birds.

Conservation: Development pressure, invasive species and an overabundant deer population are severely threatening the integrity of the Sourland Mountain Region IBA. Preserving open space in this region, however, is among the NJ Department of Environmental Protection Green Acres Program's top priorities. The Program has protected 2075 acres in the Sourland Region and continues to negotiate with multiple landowners to purchase additional acres through the State Land Acquisition Program. Delaware & Raritan Greenway, along with other nonprofit organizations including the Stony Brook-Millstone Watershed Association, have partnered with the Sourland Planning Council to facilitate critical resource protection in the Sourland Region.

Additional Information: Site Report


Deciduous forest habitat	John Parke