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DoD Partners in Flight (DoD PIF)

Military Lands as Important Bird Areas

The Important Bird Areas (IBA) Program is a global effort to identify and conserve areas that are vital to birds and other biodiversity. Some military lands, including DoD installations and Army Corps of Engineers projects, have been identified as IBAs. In general, an IBA should exist as an actual or potential protected area, or should have the potential to be managed in some way for birds and general nature conservation. Military installations, through their Integrated Natural Resources Management Plans and Sikes Act compliance, manage their lands in ways that benefit naturally occurring bird populations. Corps project sites also implement comprehensive management plans which enhance bird habitat. Refer to the table below for IBA information on DoD installations. Global IBAs are administered by American Bird Conservancy (ABC), and IBAs administered by the National Audubon Society may meet State, Continental, or Global criteria.

Identification as an Important Bird Area is recognition from an outside organization (American Bird Conservancy, National Audubon Society, or both) of excellent stewardship of military lands that benefits resident and migratory birds and their habitats. Identification as an IBA entails no legal or management requirements. Once a site has been identified and/or nominated as an IBA, official designation via a recognition ceremony may take place at the discretion of the installation. The DoD PIF program endorses Important Bird Areas on military lands, where appropriate. Please note that public access to military installations is handled on a site by site basis. IBA status does not imply public access to a site.

Air Force

Holloman Air Force Base (NM)

None

Kirtland Air Force Base (NM)

None

Westover Air Reserve Base (MA)

None

Army

Fort Jackson (SC)

None

Fort McCoy (WI)

None

Huachuca Mtns (AZ), includes Fort Huachuca

None

Massachusetts Military Reservation (MA)

None

Yakima Training Center (WA)

None

Marine Corps

Camp Lejeune (NC)

None

Boardman Bombing Range (OR)

None

Crescent Harbor Marshes (NAS Whidbey Island WA)

None

None

None

None

San Diego NWR Complex (CA), includes:

– Outlying Landing Field Imperial Beach
– Seal Beach Naval Weapons Station

None

US Army Corps of Engineers

Allegany Reservoir (NY)

None

Andrews Island Spoil Site (GA)

None

Blue Marsh Lake (PA)

None

Coos Bay (OR)

None

Fern Ridge Reservoir (OR)

None

Jordan Lake (NC)

None

Lake Red Rock (IA)

None

Lake Wappapello (MO)

None

Riverlands Environmental Demonstration Area (MO)

None

Savannah Spoil Site (SC)

None

Saylorville Reservoir (IA)

None

Schodack Island State Park Area (NY)

None

Siltcoos Lake (OR)

None

Walla Walla River Delta (WA)

None

Wickiup Reservoir (OR)

None