Friends of Greenwich Point are hosting an important meeting to discuss the important birding report prepared for Greenwich Point by Audubon Connecticut. The report — “Greenwich Point Park an Important Bird Area Conservation Proposal” will be presented on Wednesday, Nov. 12 at 7:30pm at First Congregational Church of Greenwich, 108 Sound Beach Ave in Old Greenwich with Keynote Speakers, Corrie Folsom-O’Keefe, IBA Program Coordinator Audubon Connecticut, and Eric Davison of Davison Environmental.
Audubon’s Important Bird Areas (IBA) Program is a global effort to identify and protect habitat that will protect sustainable populations of birds. The IBA Program is built around an adaptable, science-based blueprint that allows Audubon and other conservation partners to make sound conservation decisions in the face of considerable uncertainty from the changing climate, the economy, and gaps in our knowledge of the abundance and distribution of our highest priority species.
In 2013, Friends of Greenwich Point, Greenwich Conservation Commission, and Audubon Connecticut sponsored the Important Bird Area Conservation Plan for Greenwich Point Park. This plan, prepared by Davison Environmental, was designed to identify avian resources present on the property and to summarize strategies to protect and enhance those resources.
The draft plan identifies conservation goals and action plans for Greenwich Point Park. In particular, the plan suggests ways to reduce bird disturbances in sensitive habitats, and maintain habitat diversity and quality.
Connecticut currently has 27 publicly announced IBAs and is working to announce additional sites in the future. In Greenwich Great Captain’s Island, Greenwich Point and Audubon are all designated “Important Bird Areas.” At Greenwich Point, due to the park’s peninsular geography and the variety of habitats available it is an important migrant stopover habitat for many species of birds.
According to Connecticut Audubon, there are good numbers of waterfowl winter offshore and in Eagle Pond. Many raptors pass the park in fall migration and the park acts as stopover habitat for some of them. The offshore islands offer breeding habitat for Common and Least Terns.
More info on Friends of Greenwich Point is available online.
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