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Birds & Science
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Audubon Missouri Bird Conservation
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The Important Bird Area (IBA) Program – A Global Effort to Protect Wild Birds
The Important Bird Area, or “IBA” program is a worldwide bird conservation program designed to identify, monitor, and protect those areas most important to birds. BirdLife International initiated the IBA program in Europe during the 1980’s. Since then, over 156 countries have started IBA programs. The National Audubon Society, in partnership with BirdLife International, began implementing the IBA program in the United States in 1995. There are currently 46 states with IBA programs in various stages of development.
Audubon Initiates IBA Program In Missouri
In 2002, Audubon Missouri hired Andy Forbes as its first Director of Bird Conservation. Andy’s position is unique in that he also serves as the State Ornithologist for the Missouri Department of Conservation. This innovative staffing approach illustrates how Audubon is collaborating with public partners to achieve mutual conservation goals.
Two Committees Formed To Inform And Guide IBA Program:
The IBA Steering Committee – Comprised of representatives from affiliated Audubon chapters, state and federal wildlife agencies and other conservation-minded organizations that serve in an administrative capacity to guide the overall IBA program.
The IBA Technical Committee - A group of ornithological experts from agencies and universities responsible for insuring the scientific credibility of IBA program in addition to designating IBA sites based upon existing ornithological data and nominations submitted by citizen scientists.
IBAs Nominated and Selected – IBA MAP
In 2004, Audubon called for IBA nominations and through that process 47 IBAs were selected based on the criteria below and entered in the Missouri Natural Heritage Database for use by Audubon and other conservation organizations for planning and other purposes:
1. Provides habitat for species of conservation concern
2. Provides habitat for species with restricted ranges
3. Provides habitat for species closely tied to a rare habitat type
4. Provides habitat for species vulnerable because they congregate in large numbers
IBA Implementation Plan Now Under Construction
Even before the completion of the first phase of the IBA Implementation Plan, Audubon Missouri initiated the first on-the-ground conservation project under the IBA program through an exciting partnership with the Great Ozarks Audubon Society in Springfield and the Missouri Department of Conservation. The goal is to accelerate giant cane restoration along tributaries of the White River in the Drury/Mincy Conservation Area, which falls within the Ava/Caney Mountain IBA. Among the many wildlife beneficiaries of this project will be the state-endangered Swainson’s Warbler.
What’s Next
- Phase I of IBA Implementation Plan to be completed in late 2005.
- IBA Technical Report for Missouri will be released in early 2006.
- IBA Sign postings at IBAs in 2006.
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All photos © Jim Rathert, Missouri Department of Conservation.
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