"…only a freak ornithologist would think of leaving the trails for more than a few feet. The discouragingly dense tangles in which Bicknell's Thrushes dwell have kept their habits long wrapped in mystery” (George Wallace 1939).

High elevation conifer forests of the Northeast support a distinctive bird assemblage and are threatened by airborne pollutants and human-related development. We initiated ecological and demographic studies of Bicknell's Thrush and other montane forest birds in 1992 in order to assess the conservation status of this avian community. Related research has included studies of mating systems, mercury levels, and ski area and wind turbine impacts, population monitoring and ecology.