The Important Bird Area (IBA) program is a global program founded by BirdLife International in the 1980's with the goals of identifying, monitoring, and protecting the most important places for birds. The National Audubon Society is the IBA partner organization for the United States, and is leading the way to protect these iconic places and the birds that depend on them, and mobilizing our network of chapters to act as stewards.

The sites identified and protected through this program are part of a network of 8,000 sites in 178 countries, and are critical to the ongoing survival of wild bird populations.

The Arizona IBA Program was established in 2001 and is co-administered by Audubon Arizona and the Tucson Audubon Society. The Arizona IBA Program works in partnership with the Arizona Game and Fish Department (through the Arizona Bird Conservation Initiative), the Sonoran Joint Venture, the Inter-mountain West Joint Venture, Arizona State Parks, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. All nine Audubon chapters in Arizona have contributed to the IBA program and most chapters are stewards of one or more sites.

Please contact Tice Supplee, Director of Bird Conservation at 602.468.6470 x106 or email to nominate new IBAs or with any administrative issues. For science related questions, call Jennie MacFarland at 520.209.1804 or email. 

Objectives of Arizona's Important Bird Areas Program

• the compiling of information to help guide conservation of these important avian habitats,
• recognition given to the land managers whose habitat stewardship has provided for exceptional avian habitats and bird populations,
• the development of local site conservation commitment by people participating in community science and habitat conservation projects,
• the enhancement and/or restoration of species of conservation concern, and
• the facilitation of long-term conservation of these most important avian habitats and their avian communities.

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