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Northern Ridge and Valley
(Area - 4,561,879 ha)
Executive Summary |
Description - The Northern Ridge and Valley extends from
southeastern Pennsylvania, through northwestern New Jersey and southeastern New York
nearly to the base of the Adirondack Mts. It includes portions of several major river
valleys, including the Hudson, Delaware, and Susquehanna Rivers. Ecologically, this is a
transitional area, with forested ridges grading from primarily oak-hickory forests in the
south to northern hardwood forests further north. Pine-oak woodlands and barrens and
hemlock ravine forests are also important along ridges, whereas bottomland and riparian
forests are important in the valleys, which are now largely cleared for agricultural and
urban development. Roughly 50% of the physiographic area is forested today, the vast
majority occurring at higher elevations. About 40% of the area is in agricultural
production, primarily a mixture of dairy pastureland and corn. Over 200,000 ha is state
forest land in PA and NJ; other important public lands include High Point State Park (NJ)
and Wallkill National Wildlife Refuge.
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Priority
Bird Populations and Habitats
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Scrub-shrub |
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![PIF](Pif_sm.JPG) |
Golden-winged
Warbler |
Persists at high elevation, naturally disturbed sites (e.g. alder
swamps); may be "safe haven" from competing Blue-winged Warbler |
Objective: Roughly 71,000 ha of natural
barrens and other disturbed habitats are required to support entire habitat-species suite
(e.g. 70,000 pairs of Eastern Towhees); 7,000 ha should be protected or managed at high
elevations to support 3,500 pairs of Golden-winged Warblers. |
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Hardwood forest |
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![PIF](Pif_sm.JPG) |
Cerulean
Warbler |
Recently expanding populations; both in mature upland (oak)
and bottomland (sycamore) forests. |
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![PIF](Pif_sm.JPG) |
Worm-eating
Warbler |
Favors dry, upland forests on steep slopes with dense shrubby
understory; ground nester. |
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![PIF](Pif_sm.JPG) |
Louisiana
Waterthrush |
Requires late succession (> 60 yr); rocky, flowing streams;
sensitive to declining stream quality and loss of riparian forest buffers. |
Objective: Roughly 1 million ha of deciduous and
mixed forest is required to support the entire habitat-species suite (e.g. 300,000 pairs
of Wood Thursh); of this, 40,000 ha should be suitable to support 18,000 pairs of
Worm-eating Warblers, and 6,000 ha should be suitable to support 6,000 pairs of Cerulean
Warblers. In addition, 12,000 km of forested streams are required to support 9,000
pairs of Louisiana Waterthrush. |
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Grasslands |
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![PIF](Pif_sm.JPG) |
Henslow's
Sparrow |
Formerly more widespread until very recently; requires tall,
unmowed pastures or margins of airport land. |
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![PIF](Pif_sm.JPG) |
Upland
Sandpiper |
Few breeding sites remain; area sensitive. |
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![PIF](Pif_sm.JPG) |
Bobolink |
Sensitive to early mowing of pastures, conversion of dairy farms
to row crops. |
Objective: Roughly 13,000 ha of pastureland are
required to support 12,000 pairs of Bobolinks and other grassland species; at least
1,000 ha should be in patches large enough to support 50+ pairs of Upland Sandpipers and
potentially Henslow's Sparrow. |
Complete
Physiographic Area Priority Scores (Zipped, Dbase5 file 288K)
Key to Abbreviations: AI-Area Importance, PT-Population Trend, TB-Threats to Breeding.
Priority Setting Process: General /
Detailed |
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Conservation recommendations and needs - This area is under increasing pressure
from growing urban areas around Albany, Harrisburg, and outlying suburbs of New York City
and Philadelphia. Suburban and second-home development continues to fragment forests and
devour pastureland, open shrub habitats and wetlands. Reduction of forest understory and
regeneration due to overpopulation of white-tailed deer, as well as forest-health problems
caused by insect and disease outbreaks, also represent major conservation issues for
forest birds in remaining tracts. The small proportion of forest land in public (mostly
state) ownership presents an important opportunity for implementing conservation
objectives. In particular, identification and protection of important sites for breeding
Cerulean Warblers should be a high priority. Active management for Golden-winged Warblers,
where feasible, should also be a high priority, especially identification and study of
remaining sites where Golden-winged Warblers may persist in sympatry with expanding
Blue-winged Warblers. In addition to breeding habitat, the ridges and river valleys of
this physiographic area represent major flyways for migratory passerines, raptors, and
waterfowl. Ongoing efforts to monitor migration and stopover (e.g. Hawk Mountain
Sanctuary) should be fully supported and enhanced. Specific conservation recommendations
for this physiographic area include:
determine range of suitable habitats and identify present breeding sites for
Golden-winged Warbler in this region;
identify and designate Bird Conservation Areas (BCA), within which long-term
sustainability of priority forest bird populations is a primary management objective;
identify present-day concentrations of Cerulean Warbler within the region;
determine protection status and specific threats at these sites;
identify, and either acquire, mange or restore grasslands > 50 ha with potential
to support Henslows Sparrow or Upland Sandpiper.
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