Mountain Birdwatch - Vermont Center for Ecostudies

Mountain Birdwatch

Mountain forests of the Northeast are under pressure from recreational development, cell tower construction, windfarm development, acid rain, and climate change. Of particular conservation concern is Bicknell's Thrush, a bird that breeds exclusively in the high-elevation forests of New York and northern New England, and in the spruce-fir highlands of Quebec, Nova Scotia, and New Brunswick. Because of its specialized habitat requirements, limited breeding range, and small population size, the species has been listed as the top conservation priority among neotropical migratory songbirds in the Northeast.

Mountain Birdwatch was launched in the spring of 2000 in order to establish a long-term monitoring program for Bicknell's Thrush and other montane forest birds. From the Catskills to Mount Katahdin, trained volunteers conduct dawn surveys along foot trails that pass through some of the region's most awe-inspiring forests. The typical time commitment is one to two mornings each June, with overnight camping recommended on remote routes. Participants receive training in bird identification, experience the thrill of alpine adventure, and help guide the stewardship of vulnerable mountain habitat. Results are used to measure population trends, monitor changes in bird distribution, identify conservation opportunities, evaluate proposed development, and project effects of climate change on mountain songbirds.

Mountain Birdwatch is an offshoot of the Vermont Forest Bird Monitoring Program (FBMP). It is funded by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the Stone House Farm Fund of the Upper Valley Community Foundation, and by individual donors. Several conservation groups and government agencies provide vital assistance in various forms.

Click here for a list of partners. Special thanks to the Stone House Farm Fund for funding major improvements to the Mountain Birdwatch web site.