Data Zone
Country/territory: USA
IBA criteria met: A1, A4i (2010)
For more information about IBA criteria, please click here
Area: 1,116,529 hectares (11,165.29 km2)
| IBA conservation status | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year of assessment (most recent) | State (condition) | Pressure (threat) | Response (action) |
| 2014 | not assessed | very high | medium |
| For more information about IBA monitoring, please click here | |||
Site summary
The Barataria Terrebonne Important Bird Area (IBA) is close to three million acres of refuges, Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs), National Wildlife Refuges (NWRs), State Parks, and privately owned land. This site contains the only national park natural area in Louisiana, Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve. Nearby IBAs include East Delta Plain and Atchafalaya Basin. Within Barataria Terrebonne IBA is Grand Isle State Park, a very important migratory bird stopover which has seventeen acres of woods on the island preserved and owned by The Nature Conservancy. Located on the eastern coast of the state, this IBA contains over 350 species of birds and over 280 species of fish in a diversity of habitats, including salt marshes and swamps, brackish and freshwater environments, beaches, and a variety of forests. This site is particularly important to shorebirds and a number of migratory birds, including the Piping Plover, considered vulnerable in both Canada and the United States. Other birds include herons, ibis, egrets, pelicans, gulls, terns, skimmers, ducks, and raptors. The IBA offers a number of recreational activities such as fishing to the public. Unfortunately, because of its location, the Barataria Terrebonne Important Bird Area is subject to significant coastal erosion, with the highest erosion rates in the state.
Recommended citation
BirdLife International (2024) Important Bird Area factsheet: Barataria Terrebonne (USA). Downloaded from
https://datazone.birdlife.org/site/factsheet/barataria-terrebonne-iba-usa on 23/12/2024.