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Important Bird and Birding Areas
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Buckshutem Wildlife Management Area
Cumberland CountyCoordinates: N 39.392
W 75.1481
Delaware Bay: New England / Mid-Atlantic CoastArea: 39,304 Acres Habitat: Mixed woods with hardwood swamps and fallow fieldsSite Description: Buckshutem Wildlife Management Area (WMA) is located in the center of Cumberland County. Its western portion is comprised of approximately 3000 acres of mixed forest and hardwood swamps. Its eastern portion contains a mix of fallow and agricultural fields interspersed with woods.IBA Criteria:
| Criterion | Species |
| Conservation Concern – State-threatened (B) | Barred Owl, Grasshopper Sparrow, Savannah Sparrow |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 30 Scrub-shrub/Barrens (B) | Brown Thrasher, Eastern Towhee, Field Sparrow, Northern Bobwhite, Pine Warbler, Prairie Warbler |
| Regional Responsibility Species - BCR 30 Mixed Upland Forest (B) | Acadian Flycatcher, Baltimore Oriole, Black-and-white Warbler, Carolina Chickadee, Eastern Wood-Pewee, Gray Catbird, Great Crested Flycatcher, Northern Flicker, Scarlet Tanager, Tufted Titmouse, Whip-poor-will, Wood Thrush, Worm-eating Warbler, Yellow-billed Cuckoo, Yellow-throated Vireo |
| Significant Congregations | |
| Significant Migrant Stopover/Flyover (FM, SM) | Landbirds |
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| Northern Bobwhite | Phil Jeffrey |
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Birds: The grassland and early successional habitats of Buckshutem WMA support breeding state-threatened Grasshopper Sparrows, Bobolinks, Savannah Sparrows and a suite of early successional dependant birds including Prairie Warblers, Field Sparrows, Eastern Towhees, Pine Warblers, Brown Thrashers and Northern Bobwhites. This site also provides forested habitat for the state-threatened Barred Owl. A Doppler Radar migration study, “Oases Along the Flyway,” conducted by the Research Department of New Jersey Audubon Society has confirmed this site as critical stopover habitat for migrating songbirds during spring and fall migration.Conservation: Buckshutem WMA is protected from development but nearby residential development and non-compatible agricultural practices negatively impact the IBA by increasing habitat loss and fragmentation. Additional protection and restoration of agricultural lands, upland forests and wetlands adjacent to the site is necessary. This can be accomplished by promoting landowner incentives for protecting and managing habitat and by prioritizing parcels for acquisition. In 2002, the NJ Department of Environmental Protection’s Division of Fish and Wildlife (NJDFW) worked with several partners to develop and implement a restoration plan for 128 acres of early successional habitats at Buckshutem WMA. This plan addressed the loss of open habitats and savannas, large areas of grasses interspersed with trees, due primarily to changes in farming practices and suburban development. Approximately 105 acres of savanna was created by reducing the canopy cover which allowed the openings to revegetate with forbs, weeds and warm and cool season grasses. Snags were left to provide feeding and nesting sites for state-threatened Red-headed Woodpeckers. Grassland fields were also created adjacent to the savanna by mowing and seeding. Impacts from these management activities will be monitored to allow NJDFW to maintain the habitats and appropriately respond to the habitat changes.Additional Information: Site Report
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| A prescribed burn | John Parke |
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