WBCI Important Bird Areas Committee

Members

  • Noel Cutright (Committee Chair; WI Society for Ornithology)
  • Yoyi Steele (IBA Coordinator)
  • Karen Etter Hale (WBCI Chair; Madison Audubon Society)
  • Ed Frank (WI Sharp-tailed Grouse Society)
  • Bettie Harriman (WI Society for Ornithology)
  • open (WBCI Coordinator; WDNR)

Goals

  • Identify and recognize Important Bird Areas—key sites that provide critical habitat for bird populations and communities—throughout Wisconsin.
  • Develop and implement conservation plans for the highest priority IBAs.
  • Do outreach to and form partnerships with different stakeholders to encourage participation in bird conservation efforts at IBAs.
  • Explore opportunities (funding, technical assistance, site support groups, volunteers, etc.) to implement management and stewardship activities at IBAs.
  • Produce and disseminate a publication of Wisconsin IBAs.

Accomplishments

  • Formed a Technical Committee and developed criteria and nomination materials to advance the nomination and evaluation of potential IBAs.
  • Developed a website, http://www.wisconsinbirds.org/iba, to disseminate information, facilitate submission of nominations, and publicize news and progress.
  • 110 nominations received by the end of 2006.
  • 99 nominations evaluated by the Technical Committee by the end of 2006; 43 officially dedicated IBAs, and 44 other sites approved as meeting the IBA criteria and awaiting dedication.
  • Formed partnerships with a wide variety of groups including government agencies, universities, nonprofit organizations, county forests, private companies, and private citizens.
  • Provided outreach to numerous groups including Audubon chapters, bird clubs, state ornithological conventions, and bird festival participants.
  • Helped organize volunteer bird survey efforts (“bird blitzes”) at IBAs, including Bong State Recreation Area, Governor Dodge State Park, Greater Lake Koshkonong, and Rat River State Wildlife Area.
  • Received a Citizen-based Monitoring Partnership Program grant to coordinate volunteer bird surveys at additional nominated sites.
  • A private fundraising effort, the Quad 30 Campaign (http://www.quad30campaign.org), has raised over $50,000 for the IBA program.

Current Activities

  • Continue identification and recognition of IBAs.
  • Prioritize IBAs; develop and implement conservation plans for highest priority sites.
  • Continue outreach to partners and stakeholders.
  • Continue monitoring efforts at actual and potential IBAs.
  • Writing and production of the first Wisconsin IBA book.
  • Integrate IBAs into the WBCI All-bird Plan and State Wildlife Action Plan.

For more information about the IBA Committee or to join, please contact

Yoyi Steele, IBA Coordinator; 101 S. Webster Street, WM/6, P.O. Box 7921, Madison, WI 53719; 608-266-8169; yoyi.steele@wisconsin.gov.

ceremony Horicon Marsh first IBARibbon-cutting at ceremony for Horicon Marsh, Wisconsin’s first IBA, on October 16, 2004.  Pictured (left to right) are: IBA Coordinator Yoyi Steele, WDNR’s Steve Miller, Horicon Refuge Manager Patty Myers, and WSO’s Noel Cutright.

Picture by Mike McDowell.

 

 

 

 

IBA dedication Necedah Refuge(Left to right) Necedah Refuge biologist Rich King, IBA Coordinator Yoyi Steele, and Necedah Refuge Manager Larry Wargowsky hold up an IBA sign during the dedication of Necedah National Wildlife Refuge and Bear Bluff IBAs at the Whooping Crane Festival, September 17, 2005.

Picture by Rich King.