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The threat of long-term population declines of neotropical migrant songbirds, shorebirds, seabirds, wading birds and others is well known. Although the factors that cause declines are complex, there is a broad consensus among scientists that habitat degradation and loss are the major factors affecting breeding grounds, migratory stopovers and pathways, and wintering areas.

An essential step in conserving bird habitats is the identification of those places that provide the greatest habitat value and support significant populations or an exceptional diversity of birds. These Important Bird Areas (IBAs) are essential strongholds of avian abundance and diversity.

IBAs are identified according to standardized, scientifically defensible criteria based on numbers of birds or assemblages of birds regularly occurring at a particular location. Once nominated, a site undergoes strict review by a technical committee comprised of the state's leading experts on birds. Once approved by the technical committee, the site is designated an IBA.

A listing of the state’s IBAs has been published and made available to the public. The publication presents a complete listing of those sites known to be vital to maintaining bird populations, diversity, and habitats in North Carolina. This is the blueprint for bird conservation in North Carolina.

The initial IBA publication will not be the end of the identification process. We will continue to evaluate additional sites as we learn more about the birds and their habitats across North Carolina. We plan a complete review and update of North Carolina's IBAs every five years.

Important Bird Areas is an exciting program for Audubon and North Carolina. It is one of the most important efforts undertaken in recent years to conserve birds and their habitats in our state.

• The IBA program will be the blueprint for the conservation of birds in North Carolina.
• Having a site designated as an IBA will place no restrictions on the property, nor will it restrict present or future use of the property.
• More than 90 IBAs have been identified from the North Carolina mountains to the coast.