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

Success Stories of the Coastal Sanctuaries
Coast

Success Stories of the Coastal Sanctuaries

Across the 20 islands and beaches that make up the Sanctuary system, Audubon’s conservation efforts have led to real change for the species that frequent our coastline.

Sanctuaries of the Cape Fear River: Part 1
Coast

Sanctuaries of the Cape Fear River: Part 1

Along the Cape Fear River, Audubon North Carolina manages seven coastal sanctuaries that protect essential habitats for waterbirds and shorebirds.

Sanctuaries of the Cape Fear River: Part 2
Coast

Sanctuaries of the Cape Fear River: Part 2

Along the Cape Fear River, Audubon North Carolina manages seven coastal sanctuaries that protect essential habitats for waterbirds and shorebirds.

Mapping Wood Thrush Habitat for Conservation
Climate

Mapping Wood Thrush Habitat for Conservation

Audubon staff will use maps to highlight our work, our process of conservation priority setting, or other topics that are supported by these visuals.

Issues and Policy
Climate

Issues and Policy

Read Audubon NC’s stance on developing policies to see how the organization will use these issues to develop conservation efforts that benefit birds.

115 Years and Counting, Volunteers Get Ready for Audubon Christmas Bird Count
News

115 Years and Counting, Volunteers Get Ready for Audubon Christmas Bird Count

— Data Collected During the Citizen Science event helped Shape Audubon’s Landmark Study on Climate Change
Talking Turkey on Turkey Day
Climate

Talking Turkey on Turkey Day

Along with baking pumpkin pie, catching up with your relatives, and maybe watching some football—there’s another to-do this holiday season: bring up birds and climate change!

Saving North Carolina's Climate Threatened Birds
Climate

Saving North Carolina's Climate Threatened Birds

Learn about 13 climate-threatened species in North Carolina, and see how we are working to help them survive and thrive.

The Greatest Threat to Our Birds is Here
Climate

The Greatest Threat to Our Birds is Here

he National Audubon Society released its landmark study on climate change and birds, and the results are alarming.

How you can help, right now