MNN - Mother Nature Network

 

"Without places to rest and feed on the southern tip of the Delmarva Peninsula, many migrating birds would find it extremely difficult to safely arrive at their wintering habitat," said Michael Lipford, director of The Nature Conservancy of Virginia. "We are very pleased and proud to receive this funding, and to participate in this important partnership."

 

Specifically the NAWCA funding will go towards protecting 772 acres of upland forest bird habitat, and restoring another 423 acres in Northampton and Accomack Counties. This is the third time the "Southern Tip Ecological Partnership" (STEP) has received NAWCA funding for conserving bird habitat. In previous years the partnership protected/restored 10,770 acres in bird habitat on Virginia's Eastern Shore.

 

This funding announcement is particularly timely in that it precedes this weekend's upcoming Eastern Shore Birding & Wildlife Festival in Cape Charles, Virginia, and highlights the economic benefits of conservation.

 

The importance of the Fall songbird and raptor migrations to the economy of Virginia's Eastern Shore is reflected in the Eastern Shore Birding and Wildlife Festival, which is sponsored by the local Chamber of Commerce,” said Stephen Parker, director of The Nature Conservancy's Virginia Coast Reserve. "This latest funding from NAWCA will not only serve the Eastern Shore's birds, but also our people."

 

The Eastern Shore, which lies between the Chesapeake Bay and the Atlantic Ocean, is well recognized as a critical geographic area for migratory birds and Virginia's barrier island-lagoon system is arguably the best remaining example of coastal wilderness on the Atlantic Coast of the U. S. The STEP 3 proposal area is designated a Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), a Western Hemisphere International Shorebird Reserve, and contains several globally significant Important Bird Areas (American Bird Conservancy, Audubon).

 

STEP 3 Partners:

 

Birds that will benefit:

Bald eagle

Northern pintail

American widgeon

Peregrine falcon

Lesser scaup

Bufflehead

American oystercatcher

Greater scaup

Goldeneye

Whimbrel

Snow geese

Turkey

Upland sindpiper

Atlantic brant

Quail

Salt-marsh sharptailed

Canada geese

Hooded merganser

sparrow

Green-winged teal

Red-breated merganser

Woodthrush

Ruddy duck

Tundra swan

Acadian flycatcher

Gadwall

Prarie warbler

Marsh wren

Blue-winged teal

White-eyed vireo

Snowy egret

Wood duck

Yellow-breasted chat

Black duck

Redhead

Willet

Mallard

Canvasback

Glassy ibis

Ringed-neck duck

 

Other Wildlife:

Delmarva fox squirrel (Endangered Species Act protected)

Northern diamond-backed terrapin (federal species of concern)