Audubon Colorado

An Important Bird Area is a site that provides essential habitat to one or more bird species during some portion of the year, including breeding season, migration and/or winter. An Important Bird Area may be on private or public land, may be currently protected or not, and may range in size from a few acres to hundreds of thousands of acres. The program draws on science-based criteria and grassroots participation to identify and conserve a network of key habitats for birds. The recognition of a site does not confer any legal or regulatory status, and is entirely voluntary on the part of landowners and land managers. A range of individuals, including local Audubon chapter members, public land managers, or local residents, may nominate sites.

History of the Important Bird Areas Program
Important Bird Areas originated in Europe, in the mid-1980s, under the auspices of BirdLife International. Since the program’s inception, over 3200 sites have been identified in 32 countries. In North America, programs are underway in Mexico, Canada, and the United States.

In the United States, Audubon has focused on developing state-based programs in cooperation with state and local organizations. Audubon pioneered the first statewide Important Bird Area program in Pennsylvania in 1995. Important Bird Area programs are currently underway in over 30 states, where more than 500 sites have been recognized.

1. Establishing state-specific criteria for identification of sites;

2. Soliciting Important Bird Area nominations from Audubon members, land managers, landowners, and others;

3. Reviewing nominated sites;

4. Reporting approved sites; and

5. Collaborating with landowners and land managers, and local, regional and state organizations to pursue stewardship, restoration and education efforts at Important Bird Area sites.

Important Bird Areas in Colorado
The Colorado Important Bird Area program began in 1999. During the first year, Rocky Mountain Bird Observatory, with help from Audubon Colorado, worked to facilitate a first round of site nominations and review. Coordinators formed a Technical Review Committee, consisting of seven respected volunteers from the Colorado birding community. The committee then determined state-specific criteria for decision-making. A site must meet only one of the criteria to qualify as an Important Bird Area, though most will meet several.

Future Plans
To ensure that the Important Bird Area program is meeting its set objectives, Audubon Colorado will focus in 2005 on bridging the gaps between sites identified in years one and two and existing bird conservation plans. Specifically, the Important Bird Area Coordinator will analyze the relationship of the Colorado Partners In Flight Bird Conservation Plan to the identified sites in Colorado. In addition, he will determine which criteria have not yet been sufficiently met by the current sites (e.g., which species, habitats, and geographic regions are not yet covered by Important Bird Areas). The Coordinator and Technical Committee will pursue additional site nominations to fill the identified gaps and achieve more comprehensive coverage of desired species, habitats, and geographic areas.

During 2005, Audubon will also seek to work cooperatively with landowners, land managers, local Audubon chapters, and other community organizations to support stewardship, habitat restoration, and education projects at numerous Important Bird Area sites throughout the state.

Nominate an Area
To nominate an Important Bird Area, simply print and complete the following Nomination Form.