Site Summary: Site Summary: Eugene Moran Wildlife Management Area
Nominated By:
Tony Gola, Ed Neumeth
Size:
1,462 acres
Towns and Counties:
Windsor; Berkshire
Ownership:
MassWildlife
Major Habitats:
15% spruce-fir forest, 20% northern hardwoods forest, 15% early successional shrubland, 15% cultural grassland, 5% emergent freshwater wetland, 10% palustrine woodland swamp, 15% shrub-scrub wetland, river/stream
Land Use:
nature & wildlife conservation/ land trust, hunting/fishing, other recreation or tourism
Minor Threats:
invasive plants, cowbird parasitism, succession, habitat conversion
IBA Criteria:
- Category 1: Land Birds: The site is an important migratory stopover or seasonal concentration site for migratory land birds (e.g., warblers). Sites may also qualify on the basis of supporting exceptionally high densities of breeding species as shown from point counts or other surveys or if they represent "migrant traps" relative to surrounding areas. Strong consideration will be given to areas with consistently high overall species diversity.
Site Description:
This IBA is a mix of wet grass/sedge meadows, alder swamps, beaver ponds, fields, old field/brush/scrub habitats, deciduous northern hardwoods, and conifers such as red spruce and balsam fir.
Current Conservation Status:
Invasive plants in this IBA include European Buckthorn being cut and stump treated with herbicide, and Reed Canary Grass, which may be suppressed by controlled burns. No active management is currently in place to inhibit Brown-headed Cowbirds. Succession: ~90 acres of old field habitat created in recent years. Funding to maintain habitat is uncertain. Habitat conversion: Temporary disturbance to nesting birds during first year of old-field conversion. RD/Overuse: Snowmobiles restricted to one trail during winter.
Ornithological Significance:
One to four (possibly seven) state-listed species have nested here during the past 20 years. 3F - 185 species documented from this area over the past 30 years.
Federally Listed Species:
Species |
Breeding |
Winter |
Migration |
| Peregrine Falcon | * | * | F, 1+, 1970s |
| Bald Eagle | * | * | F, 1-6, 1990s, 2001 |
* None known
State Listed Species:
* None known
Other Important Species:
Species |
Season |
Maximum Numbers |
Years |
| Olive-sided Flycatcher | B | 1+ | 1970s |
| Henslow's Sparrow | B? | 2+ | 1983 |
| Sedge Wren | B | 1-2 | 1980, 1993 |
| Sharp-shinned hawk | 1+pr every year | * | S.F. every year |
* No data currently available
Other Flora or Fauna of Significance:
Rare species include Woodland-millet (threatened), Spiny Swamp-currant (special concern), Swamp Red currant (watch listed), Twinflower (watch listed), shining Ladies' Tresses (watch listed), and Variegated Scouring Rush (watch listed).
Data Sources:
Personal observations.
