Barataria Terrebonne


IBA Justification

The site was identified as internationally important for bird conservation in 2010 because it was regularly supporting significant populations of the species listed below, meeting IBA criteria.

Populations meeting IBA criteria ('key species') at the site:
Species Red List Season (year/s of estimate) Size IBA criteria
White Ibis Eudocimus albus LC resident (-) present A4i
Little Blue Heron Egretta caerulea LC resident (-) present A4i
Brown Pelican Pelecanus occidentalis LC resident (-) present A4i
Wilson's Plover Charadrius wilsonia LC breeding (-) present A4i
Piping Plover Charadrius melodus NT winter (-) present A1
Short-billed Dowitcher Limnodromus griseus VU winter (-) present A4i
Forster's Tern Sterna forsteri LC resident (-) present A4i

IBA Conservation

Ideally the conservation status of the IBA will have been checked regularly since the site was first identified in 2010. The most recent assessment (2014) is shown below.

IBA conservation status
Year of assessment State Pressure Response
2014 not assessed very high medium
Whole site assessed? State assessed by Accuracy of information
yes unset unknown

Pressure (threats to the key species and/or their habitats)
Threat Timing Scope Severity Result
Natural system modifications happen­ing now whole popul­ation/area (>90%) rapid deteri­oration (>30% over 3 gener­ations) very high
Climate change and severe weather happen­ing now whole popul­ation/area (>90%) moderate deteri­oration (10–30% in 3 gener­ations) very high
Human intrusions and disturbance happen­ing now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium
Energy production and mining happen­ing now some of popul­ation/area (10–49%) slow deteri­oration (1–10% over 3 gener­ations) medium

Response (conservation actions taken for the key species and/or their habitats)
Designation Planning Action Result
Some of site covered (10–49%) A compre­hensive and appropriate manage­ment plan exists that aims to maintain or improve the popul­ations of qualify­ing bird species The conservation measures needed for the site are being comprehensively and effectively implemented medium

IBA Protection

Year Protected Area Designation (management category) % coverage of IBA
- Bayou Des Allemands State Wild or Scenic River (V) <1
1968 Grand Isle State Park (III) <1
1978 Jean Lafitte National Historical National Historical Park And Preserve (V) 1
1992 Isles Dernieres Barrier Islands Refuge (V) <1
1996 Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge (IV) <1
1998 Lafitte Woods Fee Private Conservation Land (V) <1
2002 Grand Isle Fee Private Conservation Land (V) <1
2011 WRP_St. Charles , LA (22089) Environmental System (V) <1
2012 WRP_Assumption, LA (22007) Environmental System (V) <1

Habitats

Habitat % of IBA Habitat detail
Marine Coastal/Supratidal major (>10)
Marine Intertidal major (>10)
Marine Neritic major (>10)
Forest minor (<10)

Land ownership
Though the majority of the IBA is privately owned, 90,000 acres are owned and managed by the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries (LDWF). The Wildlife Management Areas functioning under the department are Salvador, Timken, Wisner, Pointe-Aux-Chenes, and Lake Boeuf. Grand Isle State Park and Bayou Segnette State Park are owned by Louisiana State Parks. Mandalay National Wildlife Refuge, on the other hand, is federally managed. Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve is owned by the U.S. Department of the Interior and run by the National Park Service.


Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2025) Important Bird Area factsheet: Barataria Terrebonne (USA). Downloaded from https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/barataria-terrebonne-iba-usa on 14/01/2025.