Coastal Stronghold

Photo: Claudio Dias Timm/FlickrCC

While songbirds and other landbirds are expected to be impacted by warming temperatures and changing precipitation patterns associated with climate change, sea level rise may prove a greater threat to waterfowl and shorebirds. The Coastal Stronghold includes portions of existing Important Bird Areas likely to be impacted by sea level rise in the next 30 years. Rising seas can harm coastal birds by accelerating erosion at inlets and islands that are important for shorebirds and by submerging marsh habitat required by waterfowl. Also, building sea walls, terminal groins and other hardened structures reduces the potential for bird habitat to move upslope in response to sea level rise and puts shorebirds in further jeopardy. Protecting important coastal habitat from development, promoting living shorelines for birds and restoring marshland for waterfowl in areas like Currituck Sound are key priorities for Audubon.

Coastal Stronghold

Key climate-threatened birds and habitat “guilds”

Climate-threatened birds can be grouped according to the type of habitat that they prefer.  This coastal stronghold provides existing suitable habitat for birds threatened by climate change and sea level rise, including key birds listed below.

Marsh species:

Seashore species:

Piping Plover

Latin:  Charadrius melodus

Illustration for Piping Plover

Red Knot

Latin:  Calidris canutus

Illustration for Red Knot

American Oystercatcher

Latin:  Haematopus palliatus

Illustration for American Oystercatcher

Key Conservation Partners

Government: National Park Service, National Forest Service, U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, North Carolina State Parks, North Carolina Forest Service, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, North Carolina Division of Soil & Water Conservation, North Carolina Coastal Reserve Program, Currituck County, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers

National & State NGOs: The Nature Conservancy, The Conservation Fund, Conservation Trust for North Carolina, North Carolina Coastal Federation

Local Land Trusts: North Carolina Coastal Land Trust, Bald Head Island Conservancy, Northeast New Hanover Conservancy

Blue Ridge Mountains_akshay_flickr_CC

Blue Ridge Mountains Photo: Akshay/Flickr CC

How you can help climate-threatened coastal birds

  1. Sign up for Audubon North Carolina’s action alerts. Find out when state lawmakers are making important decisions that will impact protection of coastal strongholds and other natural areas in the state. Click here to join.
  2. Become an Audubon Ambassador. Audubon Ambassadors are volunteers working with state staff, Audubon chapters, and local communities to spread the word about the effect of climate change on birds, which includes recruiting others with a hopeful, solutions-oriented message.
  3. Become an Audubon Beach Bird Steward. Help protect coastal birds and ensure populations are large enough to survive changes in the climate and sea level rise.
  4. Are you a birder? Help Audubon refine and improve our climate modeling by participating in Audubon’s Christmas Bird Count and Climate Watch. Your participation will help us continue to refine our climate models and prioritize actions to protect birds.

News & Updates

North Carolina Passes Major Bipartisan Climate Bill
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North Carolina Passes Major Bipartisan Climate Bill

— House Bill 951 requires deep cuts to carbon emissions on a timetable that will help reduce the worst impacts of climate change for birds and people.
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Intern Reflections: Growing Our Grassroots Flock for Climate Action

Climate campaign interns reflect on their time building Audubon's network of bird champions.

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Revealing the Hidden Life of Secretive Marsh Birds

By surveying for rails, bitterns, and other rare marsh birds, we’ll better understand the health of the marsh and what it means for birds and people.

Report Finds North Carolina is Well-positioned for Battery Storage Growth
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Report Finds North Carolina is Well-positioned for Battery Storage Growth

— Study commissioned by Audubon shows North Carolina has opportunity to lead in battery storage.
Audubon Advocates Flock Virtually for Biggest Advocacy Day Yet
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Audubon Advocates Flock Virtually for Biggest Advocacy Day Yet

Nearly 100 members meet with lawmakers for first-ever virtual Advocacy Day.

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Four Legislative Wins for the Birds in 2019

From native plants to energy policy, you helped make these 2019 victories possible in Raleigh.

Audubon, NC DEQ's Regan, Grandfather Mountain officials talk WNC climate threats
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Audubon, DEQ Sec. Regan, Grandfather Mountain officials talk climate threats in WNC

— More than half of the breeding birds in the state threatened by changes to our climate can be found in western North Carolina.
New Audubon Science: Two-Thirds of North American Birds at Risk of Extinction Due to Climate Change
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New Audubon Science: Two-Thirds of North American Birds at Risk of Extinction Due to Climate Change

— More than 200 species that breed, winter, and migrate through North Carolina are vulnerable.

How you can help, right now