Biodiversity of the Moodna Creek Watershed - Orange County Water ...

Appendix A. Flagship Species of the Moodna Creek Watershed
The following wildlife species represent the diversity of habitats in the Moodna Creek watershed. In many cases, conservation of these species will
contribute to conservation of other plants and animals with similar habitat needs. Information on recommended habitat and buffer sizes, important
temporal considerations, and additional conservation concerns are included. (Note that many of these species use a complex of different habitats, in
addition to the priority habitat group listed here.)
Common Name
Least Bittern
Botaurus lentiginosus
Priority Habitat
Group
Hudson River
Shoreline
Habitat Needs
Shallow or deep emergent marshes and
freshwater tidal marshes, with stands of
cattails or bulrush with bur-reed, sedges, or
common reed. Cattail stands are often
interspersed with pools of open water or slowmoving
channels and some woody vegetation.
Large marshes (>12 ac or 5 ha) are important
breeding areas for this species.
Conservation Considerations
Loss of suitable habitat and invasive species (e.g., purple
loosestrife) are major threats. Chemical contamination,
siltation, eutrophication, and other forms of pollution degrade
marshes, and recreational boating may disturb nesting bitterns.
Marsh habitats and associated wildlife benefit from substantial
buffers which can minimize impacts listed above, as well as
allow for inland migration of marshes that will likely be
necessary due to climate change and rising water levels. When
managing large wetland complexes for waterfowl, consider
retaining areas with cattails and bulrush. Nesting and fledgling
activity occurs in May through September.
Bald eagle
Haliaeetus
leucocephalus
American eel
Anguilla rostrata
Hudson River
Shoreline
Hudson River
Shoreline
Undisturbed, wooded areas near large bodies
of water, such as bays, rivers, and lakes, with
healthy populations of fish and waterfowl, their
primary food source. Large deciduous or
coniferous trees are used for nesting and
roosting.
Habitat loss or alterations are probably the most significant
threats. Areas with development or other human disturbances
are likely unsuitable for nesting and wintering bald eagles. It
may be beneficial to post signs and restrict access to areas
when breeding or wintering eagles are present. Nesting and
fledgling activity occurs in March through June. A minimum
1600 ft (500 m) buffer around nest sites and minimum buffer of
800-975 ft (250-300 m) for perch and feeding sites is
recommended.
There is much to learn about American eels, and studies are
American eels are born in the Atlantic Ocean,
ongoing in Hudson River tributaries to help understand why
and after about a year, arrive to Hudson River
there has been an overall decline throughout their range. While
tributaries. Eels live throughout the Hudson
eels are reknowned for their ability to move over land and
watershed in brackish tidewater and in
overcome barriers, their habitat, especially for juveniles, can be
freshwater ponds, lakes, and streams, but after
limited by dams, culverts, and other obstacles; "eel ladders"
reaching sexual maturity, they leave the
can help mitigate this problem and enable upstream migration.
Hudson and return to the Sargasso Sea to
Chemical contaminants and disease from polluted waters may
spawn and die.
also pose a threat.