DNR proposes establishing local BCA

The Iowa DNR, along with Jones County Conservation, held a public meeting last week, Nov. 15, about the proposed Indian Bluffs-Pictured Rocks Bird Conservation Area (BCA) in Jones County.

The program was mainly led by Bruce Ehresman, wildlife biologist with the DNR. Also on hand were Doug Harr with the Iowa Audubon Society and Curt Kemmerer, DNR wildlife biologist.

The proposed BCA would encompass a good-sized portion of northeast Jones County, right outside of Monticello. The northern boundary stretches from Monticello and Mon Maq Dam and along Richland Road. It circles around both the Pictured Rocks park area and Indian Bluffs Wildlife Management Area. The eastern boundary travels along Eagle Road and the Hamilton Tapken Prairie Preserve, then south through Scotch Grove and up along Highway 38.

Ehresman said they are proposing to protect a total of 25,529 acres of land, comprised of 28 percent grassland and 3,264 acres of protected land for the birds and wildlife.

“You have at least 2,000 acres protected already,” said Kemmerer. “You have a great potential for grassland birds here.”

He said there is a lot of diverse habitat within those 25,000-plus acres. He said over the past few years, several people have asked about turning the area into a BCA.

“Our goal is to have a BCA in every (DNR) management area,” said Kemmerer. “This would be number 23.”

Iowa’s BCAs range from 16,000 to 135,000 total acres. This makes up 4.8 percent of the state, and 16 percent of total protected land.

Iowa’s BCA emerged in the early 2000s as a way to protect decreasing populations of birds in Iowa. The concept was actually developed in the late 1990s by the Wisconsin DNR.

BCAs are made up on public and private land, of at least 10,000 total acres in size. They must contain a “core” area of permanently protected habitat of roughly 2,000 acres, or 20 percent of the total BCA acreage.

Within the Indian Bluffs-Pictured Rocks area, Ehresman said there are many birds that they’ve been able to confirm that are likely in the area: Trumpeter Swan, Wood Duck, Mallard, Blue-winged Teal, Northern Bobwhite, Bald Eagle, Green Heron, Spotted Sandpiper, American Woodcock, Great Horned Owl, Red-bellied Woodpecker, Carolina Wren, Field Sparrow, Baltimore Oriole and so much more.

There are essentially 243 total species that have been found and documented. Of those, 79 are listed as GCN species (Greatest Conservation Need).

“Forty percent of Iowa’s breeding birds are significantly declining,” said Ehresman. “As well as 55 percent of Iowa’s grassland birds.”

He said this is due to disappearing habitat, with each species having its own unique habitat.

“A lot (of the birds) are area-sensitive species,” added Ehresman.

The BCA also include a variety of bird species. Ehresman said planting various forms of prairie grass helps.

“Most grassland birds prefer at least low to moderate flowering plant cover,” he said.

He added that ground-nesting birds prefer to build their nests in grasslands.

 

“You need to create areas large enough to support successful breeding and rearing of young,” he said.

While BCAs do help protect birds and ensure continued breeding and populating, Ehresman said they also attract hordes of people as well to bird watch.

“There are financial benefits of good bird management,” he said.

 

He said communities all over the U.S. attract visitors who spend money locally. In 2011, over $318 million was spent in the State of Iowa alone. Each year in the U.S., people spend a total of $55 billion to take in wildlife in their natural setting.

 

To aid in the establishment of a local BCA, Ehresman said partners across the state are willing to assist, private and government-based: Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation, Pheasants Forever, Ducks Unlimited, Iowa Wild Turkey Federation, WHIP (Wildlife Habitat Incentive Program), NRCS (Natural Resources Conservation Service), EQIP (Environmental Quality Incentives Program), ISU Extension, and county conservation. All of these are also great resources to assist landowners within the proposed BCA areas as well.

“Private land-protection organizations can apply for grants to protect land in BCAs,” offered Ehresman.

For more information on the proposed Indian Bluffs-Pictured Rocks BCA, contact Ehresman at 515-432-2823 or Kemmerer at 563-357-2035.

Bruce Ehresman, a wildlife biologist with the DNR, shows the proposed  25,529 acres of the  Indian Bluffs-Pictured Rocks BCA near Monticello. A public meeting was held with Jones County Conservation last week to discuss the concept. (Photo by Kim Brooks)