Upper Neuse River Bottomlands
Location: Johnston County
Total Size: 18,415 acres
Map
Site Description: The upper Neuse River Bottomlands IBA is located along
the Neuse River between Goldsboro and Smithfield. The site consists of
extensive bottomland hardwood forest, cypress-gum swamp bordered by longleaf and
loblolly pine, mixed hardwoods and agriculture lands. A central feature of
the IBA is Howell Woods Environmental Learning Center. This 2856-acre
complex, established by Johnston Community College, has implemented long-term
bird monitoring programs, conducts regular bird identification workshops, and
works to protect, manage, and restore habitats for birds.
Habitats: bottomland hardwood forest, cypress-tupelo-gum swamp forest, pine forest, mixed hardwood forest, agriculture.
Land Use: wildlife conservation, other conservation, agriculture/cultivation, education.
Primary Threats: logging/treecutting, introduced species
Protection Status: The Howells Woods Environmental Learning Center
protects and manages 2856 acres within the IBA. The remaining acreage is
in private holdings.
Conservation Issues: The bottomland forests within this IBA are essential to
North Carolina's birds, but these forests are prime targets for timber
harvest. Protecting the swamp forests in this IBA is vital for those
species of birds that depend on this habitat type.
Birds: This site has significant acreage of bottomland hardwood forest and
cypress-tupelo-gum swamp forest and support the suite of species associated with
these natural communities (Criteria 3). The site has a significant
diversity of landbirds. This is likely one of North Carolina's most
important sites for Mississippi Kites. The Howell Woods ELC manages agriculture
lands and grassland habitats that support species such as Northern Bobwhite,
Eastern Meadowlark, and Grasshopper Sparrow. Also at Howell Woods, a
Cerulean Warbler was recorded during the 2001 breeding season.
Key Bird Species
|
Criteria |
Season |
Number |
||
| 4a | Kentucky Warbler | B | -- | |
| 4a | Mississippi Kite | B | 6-12 | |
| Indigo Bunting | B | 30+pr. | ||
| Swainson's Warbler | B | -- | ||
| Prothonotary Warbler | B | -- | ||
| Hooded Warbler | B | -- | ||
| American Redstart | B | -- | ||
| Summer Tanager | B | -- | ||
| Yellow-breasted Chat | B | -- | ||
| Prairie Warbler | B | -- | ||
| Wood Thrush | B | -- | ||
| Acadian Flycathcer | B | -- | ||
| Red-headed Woodpecker | all | -- | ||
| Blue Gray Gnatcatcher | B | -- |
Source:
Mark Johns, NC Wildlife Resources Commission
James Sasser, Howell Woods ELC