Southern Coastal Plain Climate Stronghold

Photo: Connie Pinson

The Southern Coastal Plain climate stronghold includes numerous river systems, estuaries, bogs and cypress swamps that will help support coniferous forest (pine-dominated) birds. Combined with its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, this area’s many water bodies can provide refuge in a changing climate. Protecting land in the southern coastal plain, ensuring forests are managed in a bird-friendly way and growing native plants in coastal towns and cities are key priorities for Audubon in this area.

Southern Coastal Plain Climate Stronghold

Key climate-threatened birds and habitat “guilds”

Climate-threatened birds can be grouped according to the type of habitat that they prefer.  This climate stronghold is likely to include suitable habitat and climate conditions for many birds threatened by climate change, including key birds listed below.

Coniferous forest species:

Key Conservation Partners

Government: Natural Resources Conservation Service, North Carolina State Parks, North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission, North Carolina Forest Service, North Carolina Division of Soil & Water Conservation

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

Local Land Trusts: North Carolina Coastal Land Trust

Blue Ridge Mountains_akshay_flickr_CC

Blue Ridge Mountains Photo: Akshay/Flickr CC

How you can help climate-threatened 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 climate 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. Grow native plants. Your yard and the plants in it can make a big difference for wildlife. Growing native plants provides critical food and shelter for birds to survive and thrive in the face of climate change.
  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's Cape Fear River Is a ‘Forever Chemical’ Hotspot—What Does That Mean for Its Birds and People?
Coastal Islands Sanctuary Program

North Carolina's Cape Fear River Is a ‘Forever Chemical’ Hotspot—What Does That Mean for Its Birds and People?

Amid mounting global health concerns about PFAS, communities living along the waterway must grapple with how contamination is affecting life on the river. Yet as hard as it is to conduct health studies on humans, it’s even harder with wild animals.

Audubon Statement: NC Bill Would be Setback for Bipartisan Emissions Goals
Media Releases

Audubon Statement: NC Bill Would be Setback for Bipartisan Emissions Goals

Senate Bill 261 eliminates key carbon reduction goal for North Carolina.

Rolling out the Welcome Mat for Black Rails at Pine Island
Donal O'Brien Jr.  Sanctuary And Audubon Center

Rolling out the Welcome Mat for Black Rails at Pine Island

Create habitat and they will come. That’s the hope as we develop the perfect breeding ground for Black Rails at our Outer Banks sanctuary.

After Hurricane Helene, Mountain Chapters Work for Normalcy and Recovery
Chapters

After Hurricane Helene, Mountain Chapters Work for Normalcy and Recovery

“It’s been heart breaking and heartwarming at the same time.”

$3M National Grant will Fund Audubon’s Marsh Restoration in Currituck Sound
Coast

$3M National Grant will Fund Audubon’s Marsh Restoration in Currituck Sound

— Pilot projects will test innovative, nature-based restoration techniques at Audubon’s Pine Island Sanctuary.
Pine Island Year in Review: Marsh Research, Wildlife Surveys, and More
Donal O'Brien Jr.  Sanctuary And Audubon Center

Pine Island Year in Review: Marsh Research, Wildlife Surveys, and More

We launched new research and advanced restoration projects at our Outer Banks sanctuary, with the help of new partnerships, staff, and volunteers.

The Next Phase of Responsible Offshore Wind Energy
Climate

The Next Phase of Responsible Offshore Wind Energy

Audubon and our partners are advocating for responsible offshore wind energy in BOEM’s latest planning phase for the central Atlantic Coast.

Coastal Nesting Recap: Piping Plover Fledglings, Poop Research, Coyotes, and More
Coast

Coastal Nesting Recap: Piping Plover Fledglings, Poop Research, Coyotes, and More

Birds at Audubon’s coastal sanctuaries faced a number of challenges this year—some of which were too much to overcome.

Endangered Celebrity Shorebird Arrives in NC for the Winter
Coast

Endangered Celebrity Shorebird Arrives in NC for the Winter

A hand-reared Piping Plover from Lake Michigan has returned to NC for her second winter, with help from Audubon on both sides of her migration journey.

‘Tis the Season for Baby Birds
Coast

‘Tis the Season for Baby Birds

It’s already time for our mid-season coastal nesting update from the Cape Fear River and beyond.

How you can help, right now