On Monday, April 7^th, the Northern Neck Audubon Society will present a program on the Lower Rappahannock Important Bird Area (IBA) and migratory land birds of the Northern Neck.

Important Bird Areas (IBAs) have been designated worldwide as sites that provide essential habitat for one or more species of birds and sites important for breeding, wintering, and/or migrating birds. The area on both sides of the Rappahannock River and the river itself from above Port Royal to Tappahannock have been designated as an IBA. This reach of the Rappahannock River supports the only known breeding population of Coastal Swamp Sparrows in Virginia. The area supports the densest breeding population of Bald Eagles in Virginia and one of the largest summer and winter bald eagle concentration areas in eastern North America with migrant eagles numbering in the hundreds.

Sandy Spencer, biologist for the Rappahannock River Valley National Wildlife Refuge, will discuss threats to the IBA and the importance of protecting this valuable area. She will also present a Power Point program on the migratory birds of the Northern Neck, their habitats, what habitats they choose for breeding, wintering, or stopover, and why birds migrate.
 

This program, open to all, will be held at 7:00 p.m. at Grace Episcopal Church in Kilmarnock. Attendees are invited for refreshments after the program.