We conducted an informal but complete survey of the breeding 

 birds at most of the wooded and shrub-bog habitats upon which 

 we report. We did not survey the avifauna of marsh habitats 

 included as natural areas in this report. Other "high profile" 

 vertebrates were noted where observed. 



The seven natural areas we have identified are as follows 

 (also see county map) : 



(1) Alligator River Swamp Forest - Swan Lake - 16,300 acres 



(2) Cypress Park - 300 acres 



(3) Roper Island - 9,500 acres 



(4) New Lake Fork Pocosin - 9,300 acres 



(5) Gull Rock Game Lands - 10,575 acres 



(6) Scranton Hardwoods - 6,000 acres 



(7) Salyer's Ridge - 80 acres 



The candidates represent several edaphic and biotic combinations. 

 Most of the areas selected have a long history of disturbance of 

 the cover vegetation by human activity; but all are considered 

 to be recovered from past disturbance and ecologically intact; 

 i.e. not drained, having continued frequent fire in fire-adapted 

 vegetation, etc. Most of the areas are large, in keeping with 

 the expansive and still relatively unbroken character of the 

 vegetation in the northern and southern peripheries of the county, 

 but no natural area was' chosen on the basis of so-called "wilderness 

 values." All support some rare plant and/or animal species, but 

 none was chosen based solely on the presence of these organisms. 

 Typical questions we considered when examining a potential site 

 were: 



(1) Does the site have regional, state or county-wide 

 significance as a natural area? 



(2) Are there unusual habitat conditions present? 



(3) Has the site recovered from or escaped prior 

 disturbance? 



11 



