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The Saltmarsh Sharp-tailed Sparrow is highly at-risk due to its limited range, shrinking habitat, and rising sea levels resulting from glob al climate change. Photo: David Yeany II

Welcome to the Maryland-DC Important Bird Areas (IBA) Program. The program is a major bird conservation initiative carried out as a partnership between National Audubon and Birdlife International and is part of a worldwide program developed by Birdlife International.

The goals of the program are to identify the areas most essential for sustaining native bird populations, and then to focus conservation efforts on these places. Click here for an overview of the IBA Program. For fast facts on the Maryland-DC's IBA Program download this fact sheet.

Check out a map and site descriptions of IBAs in Maryland and DC. Find out what the IBA criteria are for site selection in Maryland and DC, and learn how to nominate an IBA. If you know of a place that you think is important for birds, consider submitting a nomination form (MS Word .doc or Adobe .pdf).

Volunteers looking for Bird Blitz survey materials, click here.

The Cerulean Warbler depends on mature deciduous forests and is threatened by habitat loss and forest fragmentation. Photo: Bill Hubick

The Audubon MD-DC IBA Program utilizes Bird Blitz surveys in an effort to identify areas throughout the state which are critical habitat for birds of conservation concern. Bird Blitz is a breeding season count of targeted at-risk bird species used to determine whether an area supports the minimum populations necessary to qualify it as an IBA in Maryland. These surveys are volunteer-based and involve counting and mapping at-risk bird species listed in the IBA criteria. Bird Blitz is vital to the identification of IBAs in Maryland. Results from 2007 and 2008 Bird Blitz surveys led to the identification of seven Maryland IBAs. Click here to read about the success of Bird Blitz in 2007 and 2008.

Extensive cutting and forest fragmentation in eastern deciduous forests has greatly reduced Canada Warbler breeding habitat. Photo: David Yeany II

In 2009, Bird Blitz efforts will focus on sites in western and southern Maryland. Routes for Bird Blitz surveys are being developed in these target areas to ensure adequate coverage for each candidate IBA. To see which areas are highest priorities this year; check out the map of candidate IBA sites. Target at-risk species for southern Maryland include Red-headed Woodpecker, Kentucky Warbler, Worm-eating Warbler, Prothonotary Warbler, Chuck-will's-widow, and Whip-poor-will. Primary at-risk species for western Maryland include Cerulean Warbler, Golden-winged Warbler, Henslow's Sparrow, Upland Sandpiper, Canada Warbler, Blackburnian Warbler, Mourning Warbler, Alder Flycatcher, and Whip-poor-will. Check out the at-risk species on this page to learn more about the reasons why these birds are in need of conservation.

The state Threatened Henslow's Sparrow is one of several grassland songbirds in steep decline due to significant habitat losses across its range. Photo: Matthew Sileo

All 2009 Bird Blitz sites are in need of volunteers for survey routes. You can make a significant contribution toward conserving the birds you love and the habitats important to them by volunteering for even one Bird Blitz route. If you would like to be a part of Bird Blitz 2009, contact David Yeany II, IBA Program Assistant at 814-221-4361 or email for more information.

The Red-headed Woodpecker has declined by nearly 50% since 1966, and has suffered from significant habitat degradation. Photo: Bill Hubick

See links below for BIRD BLITZ MATERIALS:

Bird Blitz 2009 Instructions

Bird Blitz 2009 Survey Form

Target Species & Mapping Codes

Bird Blitz 2009 Vehicle Placard

Map of 2009 Candidate IBAs

Visit Audubon's National IBA website for information about Important Bird Areas across the United States.

Thanks to these organizations for their partnership with Audubon MD-DC and generous support of the IBA Program and Bird Blitz: