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Important Bird and Birding Areas
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Belleplain State Forest
Cape May and Cumberland CountiesCoordinates: N 39.26147
W 74.88618
Site Map Delaware Bay: New England / Mid-Atlantic CoastArea: 34,165 Acres Habitat: Mixed upland forest with nontidal wetlands and shrub-scrub habitatSite Description: Located in northwest Cape May County, Belleplain State Forest contains mixed oak-pine forests, Atlantic white cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) and hardwood swamps, grasslands, scrub-shrub habitat and several lakes. This site includes the contiguous wetlands of the Woodbine Bogs Natural Heritage Priority Site as well as Lake Nummy, a 26 acre lake named for the last Lenni Lenape Indian chief. In 1933, shortly after Belleplain was established, the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) set up camp to provide labor for the forest. For eight years, the CCC constructed the State Forest’s headquarters, maintenance buildings, a road system, bridges, dams and Lake Nummy. Belleplain State Forest was established to provide recreation, wildlife management, timber production and water conservation.IBA Criteria:
| Criterion | Species |
| Conservation Concern – State-endangered (B) | Bald Eagle |
| Conservation Concern – State-threatened (B) | Barred Owl, Cooper's Hawk |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 30 Scrub-shrub/Barrens (B) | Blue-winged Warbler, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler, Whip-poor-will, Wild Turkey |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 30 Mixed Upland Forest (B) | Acadian Flycatcher, Baltimore Oriole, Black-and-white Warbler, Black-billed Cuckoo, Broad-winged Hawk, Carolina Chickadee, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Gray Catbird, Great Crested Flycatcher, Louisiana Waterthrush, Northern Flicker, Scarlet Tanager, Whip-poor-will, Wild Turkey, Wood Thrush, Worm-eating Warbler, Yellow-throated Vireo |
| Significant Congregations - Exceptional Single Species Concentration (B) | Yellow-throated Warbler |
| Significant Migrant Stopover/Flyover (FM, SM) | Landbirds |
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| Yellow-throated Warbler | Kevin Watson |
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Birds: For over 20 years, Belleplain State Forest has supported several species of breeding raptors including state-endangered Bald Eagles, state-threatened Barred Owls and state-special concern Cooper’s Hawks. Belleplain provides exceptional mixed upland and scrub-shrub habitats for breeding regional responsibility species. Exceptional concentrations of Yellow-throated Warblers also breed at this site. The Research Department of New Jersey Audubon Society has identified this site as an important stopover area for songbirds during spring and fall migration through its Doppler Radar migration study, “Oases Along the Flyway.”Conservation: This site is protected from development; however, fragmentation and loss of the adjacent privately-owned habitats are major threats. Residential and industrial development continues to expand in Cape May County. Nearby sand and gravel operations have already created large gaps in habitats. Protection and restoration of privately-owned lands can be achieved by promoting state and federal habitat incentive programs to landowners and by prioritizing lands for acquisition. NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s Green Acres Program continues to add parcels to Belleplain State Forest. Additional threats include habitat degradation from illegal off-road vehicle use and the southern pine beetle, a destructive forest insect pest. The southern pine beetle attacks all pine species and may have a negative impact on Barred Owl populations because of the mortality of pine in lowland areas. Scrub-shrub and classic pine barrens habitat are threatened by forest succession. Forest management of this site should include restoration of disturbance regimes, such as prescribed fire and silviculture that restore early seral stages in appropriate forest community types.Additional Information: Site Report
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| Oak-pitch pine forest type | Michael Hogan |
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