Barrier Island/Lagoon System


IBA Justification

The site was identified as important in 2009 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting ('triggering') IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('trigger species'):
Species Current IUCN Red List Category Season Year(s) Population estimate at site IBA criteria met
Brent Goose Branta bernicla LC non-breeding 2004 17,000 individuals A4i
Glossy Ibis Plegadis falcinellus LC breeding 2003 669 breeding pairs A4i
American Oystercatcher Haematopus palliatus LC breeding 2003 525 breeding pairs A4i
Piping Plover Charadrius melodus NT breeding 2005 151 breeding pairs A1, A4i
Whimbrel Numenius phaeopus LC passage 1996 40,000 individuals A4i
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus LC passage 1996 46,000 individuals A4i
Black Skimmer Rynchops niger LC breeding 2003 1,679 breeding pairs A4i
Least Tern Sternula antillarum LC breeding 2003 703 breeding pairs A4i
Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri LC breeding 2003 1,521 breeding pairs A4i
Royal Tern Thalasseus maximus LC breeding 2003 2,058 breeding pairs A4i
Seaside Sparrow Ammospiza maritima LC breeding 2005 122,000 breeding pairs A4ii

The current IUCN Red List category may differ from that which was valid at the time of IBA criteria assessment (2009).


IBA Protection

Protected area (PA) PA designation PA area (ha) Relationship of PA with IBA Overlap of PA with IBA (ha)
Wallops Island National Wildlife Refuge 1,890 protected area overlaps with site 0
US-VA-92-1 Environmental System 60 protected area overlaps with site 0
US-VA-87-1 Environmental System 60 protected area overlaps with site 0
US-VA-86-1 Environmental System 89 protected area overlaps with site 0
US-VA-62-1 Environmental System 87 protected area overlaps with site 0
US-VA-104-1 Environmental System 19 protected area overlaps with site 0
US-VA-103-1 Environmental System 76 protected area overlaps with site 0
US-VA-102-1 Environmental System 137 protected area overlaps with site 0
The Virginia Coast Reserve UNESCO-MAB Biosphere Reserve 13,511 protected area overlaps with site 0
The Nature Conservancy Easement 5 protected area contained by site 0
The Nature Conservancy Easement 25,694 protected area overlaps with site 0
Smith Island Private Conservation Land 1,107 protected area contained by site 0
Ship Shoal Island Private Conservation Land 266 protected area contained by site 0
Rogue Island Private Conservation Land 92 protected area contained by site 0
Revel Island Private Conservation Land 530 protected area contained by site 0
Phillips Creek Environmental System 126 protected area overlaps with site 0
Parramore Island Private Conservation Land 1,907 protected area contained by site 0
Myrtle Island Private Conservation Land 176 protected area contained by site 0
Mockhorn Wildlife Management Area 3,117 protected area contained by site 0
Mink Island Private Conservation Land 545 protected area contained by site 0
Metompkin Island Private Conservation Land 473 protected area contained by site 0
Magothy Bay Landings Easement 211 protected area overlaps with site 0
Magothy Bay State Natural Area Preserve 116 protected area overlaps with site 0
Little Cobb Island Private Conservation Land 21 protected area contained by site 0
Hog Island Private Conservation Land 1,288 protected area overlaps with site 0
Greens Creek Private Conservation Land 41 protected area contained by site 0
Godwin Island Private Conservation Land 333 protected area contained by site 0
Fowling Point Private Conservation Land 679 protected area contained by site 0
Fisherman Island National Wildlife Refuge 883 protected area overlaps with site 0
Eastern Shore of Virginia National Wildlife Refuge 2,923 protected area overlaps with site 0
Cobb Island Private Conservation Land 446 protected area overlaps with site 0
Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge 7,352 protected area overlaps with site 0
Chincoteague Proposed Wilderness 818 protected area overlaps with site 0
Chesapeake Bay Estuarine Complex Ramsar Site, Wetland of International Importance 45,000 protected area overlaps with site 0
Cedar Island Macrosite Fee Private Conservation 8 protected area contained by site 0
Cedar Island Private Conservation 256 protected area contained by site 0
Brownsville Farm Private Conservation Land 513 protected area overlaps with site 0
Assateague Island National Seashore 19,754 protected area overlaps with site 0

Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2023) Important Bird Area factsheet: Barrier Island/Lagoon System. Downloaded from http://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/barrier-island-lagoon-system-iba-usa on 05/12/2023.



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