Climate Strongholds

Blue Ridge Mountains Photo: Mary Anne Baker/Flickr CC

Changes in weather patterns and seasons affect where birds can survive and thrive. Audubon’s climate strongholds represent regions of North Carolina where birds are expected to seek sanctuary from the effects of our changing climate. These areas can offer the right mix of temperature and precipitation needed to support a wide diversity of birds now and in the future, as long as sufficient suitable habitat remains available. With your help, we can conserve natural areas within these climate strongholds, manage our forests in a bird-friendly way and grow native plants in order to protect our most climate-threatened birds.

Coastal Mountains Capital-Piedmont Roanoke and Chowan Rivers Bottomlands Southern Coastal Plain

Hover over the map and click the location you'd like to explore.

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 effects 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.

Explore All of North Carolina's Strongholds

Mountain Climate Stronghold
Mountain Climate Stronghold

Mountains Climate Stronghold

Protecting land in the mountains, ensuring forests are managed in a bird-friendly way and growing native plants in mountain towns and cities, are key priorities for Audubon in this area.

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Capital-Piedmont Climate Stronghold
Capital-Piedmont Climate Stronghold

Capital-Piedmont Climate Stronghold

With the greater Piedmont region of North Carolina expected to become hotter and drier in the future, an area centered around the state capital – Raleigh – may offer refuge from these changes.

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Southern Coastal Plain Climate Stronghold
Southern Coastal Plain Climate Stronghold

Southern Coastal Plain Climate Stronghold

Combined with its proximity to the Atlantic Ocean, this area’s many water bodies can provide refuge in a changing climate.

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Roanoke and Chowan Rivers Bottomlands Climate Stronghold
Roanoke and Chowan Rivers Bottomlands Climate Stronghold

Roanoke and Chowan Rivers Bottomlands Climate Stronghold

This area offers some of the most extensive forested wetlands in the United States that can support a large number of climate threatened birds, especially deciduous forest bird species.

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Coastal Stronghold
Coastal Stronghold

Coastal Stronghold

The Coastal Stronghold includes portions of existing Important Bird Areas likely to be impacted by sea-level rise in the next 30 years.

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Climate Strongholds: FAQ
Climate Strongholds - FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

Learn more about climate strongholds and the methodology behind Audubon North Carolina’s climate stronghold mapping project.

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News & Updates

Best of 2021: Top Wins for Birds
News

Best of 2021: Top Wins for Birds

Audubon and our flock of advocates took action for birds at levels we’ve never seen before in North Carolina.

Audubon Leaders Find Inspiration at Chapter Day
Advocacy

Audubon Leaders Find Inspiration at Chapter Day

Chapters from towns and campuses across the state gathered to celebrate wins for birds.

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.

NC Senate Budget Gives Major Boost to Conservation Funding
News

NC Senate Budget Gives Major Boost to Conservation Funding

Birds and people win in new budget proposal that supports parks, trails, and gamelands.

Big Progress on Native Plants, Family Land Protections at the Legislature
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Big Progress on Native Plants, Family Land Protections at the Legislature

We still have a long way to go, but Audubon advocates helped notch early wins for birds.

Protecting Birds and Family Landowners
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Protecting Birds and Family Landowners

New bill would help “heirs property” landowners access conservation funding and keep their farms, forests, and habitat intact.

Local Leaders Lead the Way at Virtual Advocacy Day
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Local Leaders Lead the Way at Virtual Advocacy Day

Chapter members and volunteers in North Carolina led the Audubon flock at their second-ever virtual advocacy day.

Audubon Flock Rallies at Virtual Advocacy Day
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Audubon Flock Rallies at Virtual Advocacy Day

Early Advocacy Day sets the stage for North Carolina legislative session.

How you can help, right now