Nantahala Mountains
Location: Macon, Clay and Cherokee Counties
Total Size: 25,000 acres
Site Description: The Nantahala Mountains IBA extends from the
Georgia-North Carolina line northward to the northern boundary of Macon County and
west to the Valley River Mountain-Tusquitee Mountain area. Many peaks exceed 5,000' in elevation.
Habitats: Cove forest, mountain bald, northern hardwood forest.
Land Use: Conservation, hunting, fishing
Primary Threats: logging, recreational/commercial development on private lands
Protection Status: The IBA includes portions of Nantahala Game Lands, Nantahala National Forest and privately-owned land.
Conservation Issues: Much of the Nantahala National Forest in this IBA has been logged in the past. The second growth forest provides habitat for species such as Golden-winged Warbler.
Birds: This is an excellent site for mid-high elevation birds and probably the most important nesting area for Yellow-bellied Sapsuckers in the Southern Appalachians. Cove forests, northern hardwood forests are extensive and support bird assemblages typical these habitats (Criteria 3). Other species that are common in the area include: Ruffed Grouse, Black-throated Blue Warbler, Rose-breasted Grosbeak, Red-breasted Nuthatch, Winter Wren, Ovenbird, and Golden-crowned Kinglet.
Key Bird Species
|
Criteria |
Season |
Number |
||
| 2 | Golden-winged Warbler | B | -- | |
| 2 | Yellow-bellied Sapsucker | B | -- | |
| Black-throated Blue Warbler | B | -- | ||
| Rose-breasted Grosbeak | B | -- | ||
| Winter Wren | B | -- | ||
| Red-breasted Nuthatch | B | -- | ||
| Ovenbird | B | -- | ||
B=Breeding FM=Fall Migration SM=Spring Migration W=Winter