Site Description: This site is located in northeastern North Carolina, near the town of Ahoskie. The Chowan river is a blackwater river flowing through northeastern North Carolina eventually emptying into Albemarle Sound. The majority of the Important Bird Area is the riverine swamp forest along the Chowan River. The site includes the bottomland forest and associated waters from north of Colerain to Parkers Ferry.  Merchants Millpond is approximately 760 acres in total area. Approximately 40% of the land is in public ownership.

Habitats: Swamp Forests with bald cypress, red maple, tupelo and loblolly pine; mixed forests with beech and mesophytic oaks; lake with cypress-tupelo swamp and a diversity of floating and submerged aquatics.

Land Use: wildlife conservation, hunting, recreation/tourism

Primary Threats: disturbance to birds, commercial development, tree cutting on private lands.

Conservation Issues:  Logging resulting in the fragmentation and loss of privately owned swamp forest is a primary concern.   Buffer zones along the river and swamp forest should be established.

Protection Status: Approximately 40% of the site is in state-ownership and includes merchants Millpond State Park and Chowan Swamp Game Lands, both of which are protected and managed. The remaining acreage is privately owned and not under protection.

Birds: The site is significant for breeding landbirds (Criteria 4g), wood ducks, barred owls, and woodpeckers.  In addition, the site holds a significant diversity and abundance of species associated with cypress-tupelo swamp forest habitat (Criteria 3).