Mountain Birds
While rich in bird life, mountain ecosystems like the Appalachian Trail are among the most sensitive indicators of environmental change. Mountains are more susceptible than low-lying areas to the effects of global warming, atmospheric pollution, and certain land uses such as wind farming and mountaintop mining. Continued research must be done to understand the full impact these things will have on mountain bird habitats and populations. The limited information available through existing bird surveys indicates a cause for concern, revealing sharp declines in several high-elevation bird species such as the Magnolia Warbler and Bicknell's Thrush. Monitoring bird populations along the Appalachian Trail will help determine what species are at risk, the factors that influence bird species' distribution and population numbers, how severely population numbers are changing, and how the birds will fare in the face of climate change or other stressors. With this information, land managers and policy-makers will be better able to protect the birds’ habitat to ensure their continued survival. Join Mountain BirdWatch to help monitor A.T. birds
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Mountain forests of the eastern United States are very important to the region’s variety of bird species, but the forests cover less than one percent of the eastern landscape. Many birds found in mountain forests use only this type of habitat and cannot be found at lower elevations. Examples include Bicknell's Thrush in the northern Appalachians, Canada Warbler in the central mountains, and Golden-winged Warbler on shrubby summits extending into Georgia.
