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Victory Bog Basin
Location:Victory, Essex County
Bird Conservation Region: BCR 14
Size: 21,350 Acres
Latitude: 44:30
Longitude: 71:50
IBA Criteria:
- Vermont High Conservation Priority Species (Criteria 2)
- Rare, Unique or Representative Habitat (Criteria 3)
- Long-term Monitoring and/or Research(Criteria 5)
Land Ownership:State
Habitats:Spruce-Fir and Northern Hardwood Forest, Swamp, Marsh
Land Use: Wildlife conservation/management, hunting, Forestry
Threats: Invasive/non-native species
Site Description
A large low relief basin with a mix of habitat types including large tracts of spruce-fir and northern hardwood forest, alder swamp, sedge meadow, and tamarack bog. The site contains the headwaters of the Moose River and includes Victory Basin Wildlife Management Area and Victory State Forest. Owned and managed by the State of Vermont, the site supports a number of Natural Community types including Lowland Spruce-Fir and Northern Hardwood forest, Northern White Cedar, Spruce-Fir-Tamarack and Black Spruce swamp, and Dwarf Shrub and Black Spruce Woodland bog.
Birds
The boreal forests and wetlands of Victory Bog Basin support a number of representative boreal species. High on this list are two species of special concern, Gray Jay (S1) and Black-backed Woodpecker. Other species associated with this habitat type include Boreal Chickadee, Rusty Blackbird (S3) and Lincoln's Sparrow. The various wetland habitat types support American Bittern (S3), and Virginia Rail as well as the occasional Northern Harrier (S2). Numerous warblers are seen and expected to occasionally breed here. These include Yellow-rumped, Cape May (S2), Wilson's (S2) and Bay-breasted warbler (S2). The habitat is suitable for the state endangered Spruce Grouse and this area has been suggested as a reintroduction site for this species.
Conservation
This remote area has stayed largely pristine other than the forestry practices coordinated by the Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife and Forest, Parks and Recreation. Long-term research on Gray Jays has been conducted along with surveys for Black-backed Woodpecker. Invasive species may become a problem in the wetland areas and recreational snowmobile use may have some impacts on resident boreal species although this has not been documented.
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