Forest Landbird Legacy Program

Learn about our work to preserve forest blocks across the state.

Photo: John Isenhour/NCWRC

The Forest Landbird Legacy Program (FLLP) guides and supports land management and habitat restoration to benefit forest birds. By establishing a protected and properly managed network of forested landscapes along the Atlantic Flyway, Audubon will work to increase and maintain healthy populations of forest dependent priority species including the Wood Thrush and Golden-winged Warbler. 

Working Lands at Work 
Audubon enlists landowners and foresters to help support birds that depend on forested landscapes along the Atlantic Flyway. This program provides outreach, financial assistance, tools and training that promote bird-friendly forestry practices and drive forest conservation. 

In North Carolina, Audubon collaborates with conservation partners to lead the FLLP initiative establishing outreach and forest stewardship in four focal areas: Northwest Mountains, Central Piedmont and the Uwharries, the Northern Piedmont and the southeastern Coastal Plain. 

Audubon NC staff will reach out to landowners though local foresters and land trust organizations to maintain forest blocks in a way that mimics the characteristics of natural forest dynamics. Methods will include hosting workshops, partnering with landowners to demonstrate beneficial management techniques, and encouraging management that creates quality bird habitats (through varied activities like creating small canopy gaps and cavity trees among other practices) to support forest landbird diversity. Audubon is working with private landowners, government entities and conservation partners, focusing on land parcels with at least 50 acres of 50-year-old+ trees. Working with partner agencies like the US Fish and Wildlife Service and NC Wildlife Resources Commission, we have  identified the best locations to focus our work, facilitating technical and financial assistance on private lands.  

Help Our Work Continue
In just a few years, Audubon North Carolina’s private lands outreach has expanded from early successional forest work focused in Western North Carolina, now leading forest ecosystem stewardship for the conservation of all forest-dwelling landbirds across the North Carolina.

Internationally, FLLP will contribute to Audubon’s goal to impact 35 million acres in the United States and 140,000 acres in Belize as part of the Eastern Priority Forests Initiative

Contribute to the Forest Landbird Legacy Program and all of Audubon’s work to restore habitat for our most imperiled land birds. Click here to make a gift to the Working Lands Program.

Learn more about becoming a Landbird Steward. Start with our training webinars, found here and here. Contact Audubon North Carolina Conservation Biologist Aimee Tomcho for more information.

The Forest Landbird Legacy Program will work to protect habitats for North Carolina’s most imperiled landbirds including: 

  • American Woodcock
  • Whip-poor-will
  • Wood Thrush
  • Black-throated Green Warbler
  • Swainson’s Warbler
  • Cerulean Warbler
  • Prothonotary Warbler
  • Kentucky Warbler
  • Brown-headed Nuthatch
  • Prairie Warbler
  • Worm-eating Warbler
  • Canada Warbler
  • Golden-winged Warbler 

A special thank you to the program partners collaborating on the Forest Landbird Legacy Progam:

Forest Management
Forest Management - Working Lands

Forest Management

Integrating bird conservation strategies with the existing goals of landowners, biologists, hunters, foresters, recreationists and other groups will expand our conservation efforts and the impact for North Carolina birds.

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Working Lands
Working Lands

Working Lands

Putting Working Lands to Work for Birds and People

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Golden-winged Warbler Conservation
GWWA Conservation - Working Lands

Golden-winged Warbler Conservation

Golden-winged Warbler populations are on the decline in the United States. Learn how Audubon North Carolina is impacting that decline.

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Wood Thrush

Latin:  Hylocichla mustelina

Illustration for Wood Thrush

American Woodcock

Latin:  Scolopax minor

Illustration for American Woodcock

Cerulean Warbler

Latin:  Setophaga cerulea

Illustration for Cerulean Warbler

Brown-headed Nuthatch

Latin:  Sitta pusilla

Illustration for Brown-headed Nuthatch

News & Updates

FAQs: Forest Management for Birds
Working Lands

FAQ: Forest Management Through Working Lands

FAQs for managing and improving your land to benefit birds.

Why Bottomland Hardwood Forests Matter to Landbird Migration
Forest Landbird Legacy Program

Why Bottomland Hardwood Forests Matter to Landbird Migration

Audubon’s Forest Landbird Legacy Program’s Eastern Forests initiative is an innovative program that enables landowners and foresters to help support birds that depend on forested landscapes along the Atlantic Flyway.

Readying for Winter at Cane Creek Reservoir
Working Lands

Readying for Winter at Cane Creek Reservoir

Audubon North Carolina biologist Aimee Tomcho joined the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission and the United States Coast Guard Auxiliary for Orange Water And Sewer Authority’s Community Open House at the Cane Creek Reservoir.

A 215-Acre Mountaintop Getaway Now Offers Space for Birds
Forest Landbird Legacy Program

A 215-Acre Mountaintop Getaway Now Offers Space for Birds

George and Carole Ford have created a friendly destination for visitors on their working farm, featuring rustic cottages, "pasture pals," and incredible hiking. Now, they have extended their welcome to birds too!

Restoring 200 Acres for Golden-winged Warblers
Forest Landbird Legacy Program

Restoring 200 Acres for Golden-winged Warblers

A 50 acre restoration project by these landowners could mean 10 new Golden-winged Warbler territories (and possibly 10 new nests annually!)

Help Golden-winged Warblers Win Farm Bill Funding
GWWA 101 - Working Lands

Help Golden-winged Warblers Win Farm Bill Funding

Want to help us find new GWWA locations and (hopefully) access more Farm Bill funding? Sign up to volunteer!

Small Changes in Forests Are Big for Birds
Working Lands

Small Changes in Hardwood Forests Are Big for Birds

55 species were surveyed at this bird conservation partnership site, including a priority species-- the Wood Thrush!

Lighting Fires for Birds and Land in North Carolina
Working Lands

Lighting Fires for Birds and Land in North Carolina

Fire has been used in a variety of ways throughout human history to benefit people-- we're using it to give life back to forests and birds.

Will 2018 Farm Bill Funding Continue to Benefit Golden-winged Warblers?
Working Lands

Will 2018 Farm Bill Funding Continue to Benefit Golden-winged Warblers?

Farm Bill-funded projects focus on declining species that can benefit from conservation on private lands.

The Sweet Smell of a Successful Forestry Project
GWWA Conservation - Working Lands

The Sweet Smell of a Successful Forestry Project

Nothing is wasted at this former Christmas-tree farm site, where Golden-winged Warblers are now breeding and an essential-oils company is brewing a Fraser Fir aromatic.

How you can help, right now