The Southern Blue Ridge (Physiographic Area 23) Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan for the Southern Blue Ridge (Physiographic Area 23)
Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan for The Southern Blue Ridge (Physiographic Area 23) Partners in Flight Bird Conservation Plan for The Southern Blue Ridge (Physiographic Area 23) Version 1.0 December 1999 Written by: Chuck Hunter, Robert Katz, David Pashley, and Bob Ford Send reviews, questions, or comments to: Chuck Hunter U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 1875 Century Blvd. Suite 200 Atlanta, GA 30345 ph: 404-679-7130 SOUTHERN BLUE RIDGE BIRD CONSERVATION PLAN EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Over 155 bird species nest in the Southern Blue Ridge. Widespread and representative species include dark-eyed junco, northern cardinal, black-throated blue warbler, Carolina wren and blue-headed vireo. Appalachian populations of Bewick’s wren, yellow-bellied sapsucker, northern saw-whet owl, and black-capped chickadee, as well as golden-winged, Swainson’s and cerulean warblers are rare or uncommon, have very specific habitat requirements and serve as umbrella, or focal, species for conservation planning efforts. Of these birds, a large proportion is nearctic-neotropical migrants dependent on mature forest. Examples include Louisiana waterthrush, Acadian flycatcher, veery, ovenbird and Canada warbler. Furthermore, species associated with frequently disturbed and/or early successional habitats like prairie warbler, field sparrow, and northern bobwhite have also suffered significant population declines in the recent past and warrant conservation attention. The Southern Blue Ridge Physiographic Area (SBR) includes the Central Blue Ridge, Southern Blue Ridge and Metasedimentary Mountains subsections of the Southern Appalachians which covers portions of Northern Georgia, Western North Carolina, Northwestern South Carolina, Eastern Tennessee and Southern Virginia. Topography consists of tall mountains with long broad ridges, steep slopes, deep ravines and wide intermountain valleys.
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