Audubon Connecticut, in partnership with the Town of Greenwich Conservation Commission and the Friends of Greenwich Point Park, is pleased to announce the completion of the Greenwich Point Park Important Bird Area Conservation Plan. The plan, produced by Davison Environmental, LLC, explains the importance of Greenwich Point Park to birds, especially during spring and fall migration, and was created with the overarching goal of ensuring the Park continues to be valuable to birds into the future.
Within the plan, you can find a review of the concerns and threats to the park’s birds and the habitats that are critical to birds. These include 1) human disturbance, 2) loss or degradation of coastal habitat, and 3) invasive species infestation and loss of native plant diversity. Management actions, outlined in the plan, that address these threats will provide the best chance for maintaining high-quality habitat and reducing disturbance particularly to roosting and foraging birds.
Most notably, the plan calls for the designation of portions of the park as Wildlife Conservation Areas. Designating areas specifically for wildlife will: (1) focus the outcome of management and policy decisions on what is best for wildlife rather than recreation; (2) improve public education of the significance of these areas for birds and other wildlife; and (3) improve grant funding opportunities by demonstrating a focus on wildlife conservation and management.
It is our hope that the plan will serve as a useful tool for the Town of Greenwich Conservation Commission and the Friends of Greenwich Point Park and we look forward to working together to ensure the long-term health and viability of this Important Bird Area.
