Two Rye nature preserves along Long Island Sound have been named an Important Bird Area by the Audubon Society.

The Marshlands Conservancy and the Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary, which together span more than 300 acres, earned the Important Bird Area (IBA) designation for their role in sustaining bird populations, including rare and threatened species, according to MyRye.com.

The two properties sit along the Hudson River flyway, a major migratory corridor on the East Coast. Fall migration, which runs September through November, brings thousands of warblers, raptors, shorebirds and waterfowl through the sanctuaries to rest and feed before continuing south. Spring migration peaks March through May.

The Marshlands Conservancy, a 147-acre preserve at 220 Boston Post Road, is anchored by a large salt marsh. That habitat is disappearing along the coast due to development and climate change. The Edith G. Read Wildlife Sanctuary covers 179 acres and features brackish and freshwater ponds. Together, the sites support tidal marshes, mudflats, deciduous forests and open meadows.

Ospreys now nest at both preserves after nearly being eliminated by DDT decades ago. The saltmarsh sparrow, a declining species, is occasionally spotted at the Marshlands Conservancy. The piping plover, a federally threatened shorebird, has also been recorded along the coastal areas.

Grace Devine, a Larchmont nature photographer who has spent about 10 years documenting wildlife at the sanctuaries and nearby Rye sites, said she values the preserves' accessibility. "We are so fortunate to have all of this natural beauty on our doorsteps," Devine said.

Local interest in birds extends beyond the trails. Patrick Corcoran, owner of Arcade Books in Rye, told the Rye Record in July that nonfiction bird books were a summer trend in town, crediting the popularity to Rye's backyards.

Saw Mill River Audubon hosts regular guided walks at the conservancy, including a "Signs of Autumn" bird walk on Saturday, Sept. 5, from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. at the Marshlands Conservancy.

The conservancy can be reached at (914) 835-4466, and the Read Sanctuary at (914) 967-8720.