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Important Bird and Birding Areas
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Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge - Barnegat Division
Ocean CountyCoordinates: N 39.7531
W 74.1381
Atlantic Coast: New England / Mid-Atlantic CoastArea: 20,928 Acres Habitat: Extensive tidal wetlands bordered by forested wetlands, upland forest and shrub-scrub habitatsSite Description: The Barnegat Division of Edwin B. Forsythe National Wildlife Refuge was originally added to the refuge system in 1967 to provide important wintering habitat for waterfowl, especially American Black Ducks and Brant. Together with Forsythe’s Brigantine Division, the refuge offers thousands of acres of tidal salt marsh interspersed with coves, bays and brackish water impoundments, upland forest and forested wetland for many waterbirds, songbirds and raptors during breeding, migrating and wintering seasons. In 1986 it was designated a Wetland of International Importance under The Convention on Wetlands of International Importance, also known as the Ramsar Convention. The site intersects the Manahawkin Bay Natural Heritage Priority Macrosite, designated by the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection as some of NJ’s most significant habitats.IBA Criteria:
| Criterion | Species |
| Conservation Concern – State-endangered (B) | Peregrine Falcon |
| Conservation Concern – State-threatened (B) | Barred Owl, Osprey |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 30 Scrub-shrub/Barrens (B) | Blue-winged Warbler, Eastern Towhee, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 30 Forested Wetland (B) | American Black Duck, Chimney Swift, Kentucky Warbler, Mallard |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 30 Salt Marsh/Wetland (B) | American Black Duck, Black Rail, Brant, Clapper Rail, Mallard, Marsh Wren, Osprey, Salt-marsh Sparrow, Seaside Sparrow, Virginia Rail, Willet |
| Significant Congregations (W) | Waterfowl |
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| Bufflehead | Kevin Watson |
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Birds: The impoundments and associated tidal salt marshes at the Barnegat Division provide nesting, migrating and wintering habitat for many waterfowl species. American Black Ducks frequently breed here and Mallards, Buffleheads, Brant, Greater Scaup, Northern Pintails and American Black Ducks utilize the area for resting and feeding throughout the winter months. Breeding landbird diversity is also significant within the upland forests at the coastal fringe of the Barnegat Division of Forsythe. Nearly 100 species of birds have been recorded as probable or confirmed breeders in or adjacent to Barnegat Bay. Breeding Common Terns regularly forage throughout this site. Nesting songbirds include Ovenbirds, Scarlet Tanagers, Yellow Warblers, Kentucky Warblers, Prairie Warblers, Blue-winged Warblers, Black-and-white Warblers and Pine Warblers. Nesting platforms erected for state-endangered Peregrine Falcons and state-threatened Ospreys are regularly used by these imperiled species.Conservation: Like most tidal wetlands along the NJ coast, the impacts from nonpoint sources of pollution from nearby intense development and human activities, including boat traffic, threaten habitat quality throughout this tidal system. The common reed (Phragmites australis), a common invasive, is also a problem within the refuge. Control efforts include annual burning and spraying. The refuge is actively managed to provide a diversity of habitat types which, in turn, benefits a wide variety of species. Several fields within the upland forest communities are managed to benefit scrub-shrub species such as American Woodcock. Water levels in the impoundments are managed to benefit waterfowl and other waterbirds that use shallow water habitats.Additional Information: Site Report
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| Barnegat unit of Forsythe NWR | Eric Reuter |
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