BETHEL CITIZEN • March 11, 2021
World-wide, conservation groups have worked to identify, monitor and conserve critical habitat for birds through the Important Bird Area (IBA) program spearheaded by National Audubon and Birdlife International. IBAs are ranked by their importance at the state, continental or global level. Maine has 77 IBAs. Only one is of global significance, and that IBA is here on our doorstep. Almost 18 million acres of western and northern Maine forest form the Northern Maine Forest Block IBA which has been recognized as essential bird habitat since 2013. ~ James Deddoch