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

Survey finds diverse species at bird-friendly forestry site
Forest Landbird Legacy Program

Survey finds diverse species at bird-friendly forestry site

Climate-threatened birds and more were discovered at the Cherokee Scout Reservation this year.

Foresters Gather for Training to Learn Bird-Friendly Techniques
Forestry Trainings

Foresters Gather for Training to Learn Bird-Friendly Techniques

At our highly successful “Foresters for the Birds” workshop, foresters received hands-on training to help them achieve forest health while also benefitting birds!

Local Farmers Use Horses to Restore GWWA Habitat
GWWA Conservation - Working Lands

Local Farmers Use Horses to Restore GWWA Habitat

Allie and Louis employed tree removal using horses, and created gaps in the forest canopy, to encourage continued growth of the vegetation cover GWWAs need to breed.

Surveying the Presence of the Declining Golden-winged Warbler
GWWA Conservation - Working Lands

Surveying the Presence of the Declining Golden-winged Warbler

A secretive bird, Golden-winged Warblers tend to go undetected in standard point count surveys, so we use a method that can detect their presence more accurately.

OWASA Recognized for Bird-friendly Forestry Plan
Forest Landbird Legacy Program

OWASA Recognized for Bird-friendly Forestry Plan

Audubon North Carolina and Orange Water and Sewer Authority encourage bird-friendly management practices in Cane Creek Reservoir.

Highland Biological Students Focus on Golden-wings
Working Lands

Highland Biological Students Focus on Golden-wings

Budding young scientists are working to protect the Golden-winged Warblers we love.

Published Work on Golden-winged Warbler Conservation and Biology
Working Lands

Published Work on Golden-winged Warbler Conservation and Biology

Review recent peer reviewed and thesis papers done by Audubon staff, our academic partners at Appalachian and elsewhere.

Audubon North Carolina Hosts Yale University’s Sustainable Family Forest Initiative Trainers for Two-Day Workshop
Working Lands

Audubon North Carolina Hosts Yale University’s Sustainable Family Forest Initiative Trainers for Two-Day Workshop

Yale University's Sustaining Family Forests Initiative strategizes on how to connect with forestland owners during conference.

Audubon Signs Designate Specialized Habitat
Working Lands

Audubon Signs Designate Specialized Habitat

Private Landowners Contribute to Successful Habitat Restoration and Management to benefit the Golden-winged Warbler.

How you can help, right now