The Virginia Important Bird Areas Program of the Virginia Audubon Virginia is a state rich with natural beauty and awe-inspiring diversity.
Extending from the expansive forests and pastoral beauty of the ridge and valley, to the rolling hills and woodlands of the Piedmont, to the extensive marshes and remote barrier islands of the coastal plain, Virginia has a remarkable diversity of habitats. Not surprisingly, this incredible habitat diversity supports an equally impressive diversity of bird life. Over 400 bird species have been reco
rded either breeding, wintering, or migrating through Virginia. Native birds bring enjoyment, educational opportunities, and economic vitality to many parts of our state and have helped to maintain the biological diversity that our natural world so intimately depends upon. The Virginia Important Bird Areas Program was initiated to help ensure the protection of the most essential places for birds in our state. The Virginia Audubon Council partnered with the Virginia Society Of Ornithology, the Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries, and the National Audubon Society to establish the program in 2002. An IBA Technical Committee was soon created to facilitate the nomination and review of potential IBAs throughout the state. Members on this committee and other important partners represent over 15 different conservation and management groups throughout the state. The Center for Conservation Biology, with funding from the Department of Environmental Quality's Coastal Zone Management Program, has contributed significantly to IBA designation on the coastal plain. To date, the Virginia IBA Technical Committee has recognized 20 IBAs that span the broad diversity of habitats from the sandy coastal beaches to the rugged mountains of the Appalachians and everything in between. Identification of new IBAs will be an ongoing process as more information about potential sites is gathered from conservation partners and citizen scientists. Also, please check us out on Flickr at and on Twitter at
Thanks for your interest in bird conservation in Virginia!
