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Important Bird and Birding Areas
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Walpack Valley
Sussex CountyCoordinates: N 41.07373
W 74.9385
Skylands: Appalachian MountainsArea: 63,433 Acres Habitat: Extensive forested uplands with forested wetland and scrub-shrub habitatSite Description: The Walpack Valley is a narrow, 17-mile long, lush valley formed by a tributary of the Delaware River, the Flat Brook, and its tributary, the Little Flat Brook. The Valley is bound by the Delaware River and Old Mine Road to the west, the northwest facing slopes of Kittatinny Mountain to the east, the confluence of the Flat Brook and the Delaware River to the south and the Flatbrook-Roy Wildlife Management Area (WMA) to the north. The site is composed of extensive hardwood forests, hardwood and conifer swamps and early successional habitats. Walpack Valley is contained within the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area and includes the Walpack WMA. This IBA also intersects the Kittatinny Ridge Natural Heritage Priority Site which is recognized by New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection (NJDEP) as one of the state’s most significant natural areas. This site is part of the Delaware Valley Water Gap Macrosite IBA.IBA Criteria:
| Criterion | Species |
| Conservation Concern – State-endangered (B) | Bald Eagle, Northern Goshawk, Red-shouldered Hawk |
| Conservation Concern – State-special Concern (B) | Black-throated Green Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, Cerulean Warbler, Northern Saw-whet Owl, Sharp-shinned Hawk, Winter Wren |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 28 Forest (B) | Acadian Flycatcher, Black-and-white Warbler, Black-billed Cuckoo, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Gray Catbird, Hooded Warbler, Louisiana Waterthrush, Mallard, Scarlet Tanager, Wood Duck, Wood Thrush |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 28 Scrub-shrub/Barrens (B) | Blue-winged Warbler, Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Prairie Warbler, Wild Turkey |
| Significant Congregations - Exceptional Diversity (B) | Landbirds |
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| Northern Saw-whet Owl | Jim Gilbert |
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Birds: Walpack Valley provides breeding habitat for an exceptional diversity of birds. Breeding raptors include state-endangered Bald Eagles, Northern Goshawks and Red-shouldered Hawks, state-threatened Barred Owls and state-special concern Sharp-shinned and Broad-winged Hawks. Additional species of special concern breeding at Walpack Valley include Cliff Swallows, Winter Wrens, Veeries, Blue-headed Vireos, Northern Parulas, Black-throated Green Warblers, Least Flycatchers, Cerulean Warblers and Great Blue Herons. Among the site’s state-threatened species are Golden-winged Warblers, Savannah Sparrows and Red-headed Woodpeckers. Breeding conservation priority species include Ruffed Grouse, American Woodcocks, Brown Creepers, Hairy Woodpeckers and Northern Saw-whet Owls.Conservation: Walpack Valley remains one of the most unspoiled regions in NJ. This site continues to maintain one of the most diverse concentrations of breeding avian species in the state and should be managed for avian biodiversity. Better management and monitoring techniques require coordination among the various public agencies and private landowners in the region to benefit local populations of breeding bird species. Areas of abandoned farmland, pastures and scrub-shrub habitat are increasingly threatened by development pressure and natural succession to forest. Strategies to reduce development pressure on the remaining unprotected lands include assisting landowners to restore habitat, prioritizing lands for acquisition, and enforcing and/or improving zoning and land use protection regulation. Early successional habitats will naturally succeed to forested habitats without regular maintenance. Management techniques may include delayed mowing and selective application of herbicides to prevent the establishment of tree species, control invasive species and maintain shrubs. Forest health is threatened by a number of exotic pests and tree diseases. The hemlock blight, for example, is caused by the hemlock woolly adelgid. This pest is extremely damaging to eastern hemlocks (Tsuga canadensis) thereby affecting the nesting habitat of species including Black-throated Green Warbler, Blue-headed Vireo, Blackburnian Warbler and Magnolia Warbler. Though very difficult to control, application of some insecticidal soaps, oils and pesticides as well as release of a Japanese lady beetle may be effective in protecting the trees. The combination of deer overbrowsing and nonnative plant infestation has stripped the understory of native vegetation thus reducing habitat structure and inhibiting the ability of the forest to regenerate. Additionally, some nesting bird species may suffer brood parasitism by Brown-headed Cowbirds. Cowbirds lay their eggs in the nests of other birds ultimately compromising the parents’ ability to raise their own chicks.Additional Information: Site Report
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| Pastureland succession | John Parke |
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