3.3 Birds
Management of disturbance at Peregrine Falcon nest sites is accomplished through techni- cal guidance to land owners and should continue. Examples of disturbance at a nest site include rock climbing, manned or unmanned (e.g., drone) aircraft operation, and building construction near a nest site.
Where the Barn Owl and American Kestrel are nest-site limited, nest boxes can be posted. Land man- agement practices that support rodent populations provide foraging habitat for these two raptors. Restoration of high elevation forests used by Northern Saw-whet Owl, Red Crossbill, and Black-capped Chickadee is underway through the eforts of the Southern Appalachian Spruce Restoration Initiative and should continue.
3.3.6 Threats and Problems North Carolina’s human population is expected to increase signifcantly in the next decade, with most
Barn Owl (Joe Tomcho NCWRC)
development expected to be in the Piedmont region. In addition to traditional conserva- tion land protection, development patterns can be afected through local and regional land managers. In 2010, NCWRC initiated the Green Growth Toolbox program, designed to proactively educate and inform development planning to minimize the impact of human development on wildlife. NCWRC will continue to evaluate and modify this program as needed. In 2012, NCWRC published “Conservation Recommendations for Priority Terrestrial Wildlife Species and Habitats in North Carolina,” a guide to development and habitat man- agement practices to best protect priority species and habitats (NCWRC 2012) . Simple recom- mendations are accompanied by an extensive appendix of backing research for each. Te NCWRC will continue to promote these practices and update the guide as needed. Conversion of farmlands to residential developments is a particular threat to Barn Owl and American Kestrel. Fragmentation of large forest blocks by conversion to non-forest is an increasing threat to a variety of songbirds and raptors in the Mountains and can exacer- bate problems with hybridization (e.g., Golden-winged and Blue-winged Warbler) and nest parasitism.
Because North Carolina provides important nesting, migration stopover, and wintering habitat for numerous shorebird and waterbird species, any loss of this important habitat is
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2015 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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