Golden-winged Warbler Conservation

Learn about our work to conserve Golden-winged Warblers.

Photo: Ed Buress

Golden-winged Warbler populations are on the decline in the United States. One way that Audubon North Carolina is impacting that decline is through mitigating and reversing habitat loss.

Considered a forest bird, the Golden-winged Warbler needs at least 70 percent of the surrounding landscape to be forested. Having access to ample shrubland is also critical for nest site locations.

The need to restore shrubland, or the earliest stage of forest growth, is becoming more important as land use changes for the Golden-winged Warbler breeding grounds in North Carolina. Biologists are working with farmers, forest managers and private landowners to steward sustainable practices that support suitable habitat. By connecting private and public forest managers with technical and financial resources, we are curtailing the population decline of this species.

Habitat loss also impacts the Golden-winged Warbler’s wintering grounds. Audubon NC is collaborating with our partners to further understand the full life cycle biology of this warbler, including conducting field research in Nicaragua.

Golden-winged Warbler
Priority Birds

Golden-winged Warbler

The rapid decline of the Golden-winged Warbler since the 1980s cannot be explained solely by habitat loss, and that mystery has attracted many scientists to study this beautiful warbler.

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Letting it Grow: How Landowners are Helping Birds by Mowing Less
Forest Legacy Landbird Project - Working Lands

Letting it Grow: How Landowners are Helping Birds by Mowing Less

Allison Bovée and Mary Vogel have changed their landscaping practices at BirdTown Cabins in western North Carolina to create new bird habitat.

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Golden-winged Warbler Tracking Report
Conserve Golden-Wings

Geolocation Tracking Golden-winged Warblers

Geolocation tracking migration routes is essential to the success of the Golden-winged Warbler.

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Neighbors Band Together for Golden-winged Warblers
Conservation

Neighbors Band Together for Golden-winged Warblers

In Mitchell County, landowners are turning a power line right-of-way into prime habitat for a declining warbler.

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Geolocators Flying North and South
Working Lands

Geolocators Flying North and South

Geolocator data will inform our work in Western North Carolina that protects the habitats Golden-winged Warblers need for their survival. Learn more!

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How to Conserve the Golden-winged Warbler
Conserve Golden-Wings

How to Conserve the Golden-winged Warbler

Golden-winged warbler populations are on the decline in the United States. One way that Audubon North Carolina is impacting that decline is through mitigating and reversing habitat loss.

Read more

Private Lands Protection
Landowners Protection - Working Lands

Private Lands Protection

Habitat on private lands plays a critical role in bird conservation in the southeastern U.S.

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Research in North Carolina
Research – Working Lands

Research in North Carolina

Audubon NC is involved in regional and international research in the quest to better understand bird ecology.

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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.

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Goats Help Restore Golden-wing Habitat
Forest Management - Working Lands

Goats Help Restore Golden-wing Habitat

Goats will munch the leaves, woody stems, and high vegetative growth that many grazing animals will not. They don’t like to eat grass. This makes them the perfect partner in Golden-winged Warbler habitat management.

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News & Updates

Audubon Signs Signify Specialized Habitat for Warblers
Working Lands

Audubon Signs Signify Specialized Habitat for Warblers

Audubon Signs Given to Private Landowners Signify Specialized Habitat for Golden-winged Warblers.

Geolocators Flying North and South
Working Lands

Geolocators Flying North and South

Geolocator data will inform our work in Western North Carolina that protects the habitats Golden-winged Warblers need for their survival. Learn more!

Advocating for Golden-winged Warbler Protections
Working Lands

Advocating for Golden-winged Warbler Protections

There’s so much you can do to contribute to the conservation of a priority species like the Golden-winged Warbler.

Understanding the Endangered Species List
Working Lands

Understanding the Endangered Species List

Audubon’s Efforts Protect the Golden-winged Warbler From Further Decline.

Volunteers at Work for Golden-wing Protection with Patrick Farrell
Working Lands

Volunteers at Work for Golden-wing Protection with Patrick Farrell

Meet Patrick Farrell, Audubon North Carolina partner and NC Wildlife Resources Commission professional biologist assisting Audubon landowners in habitat restoration efforts to benefit the imperiled Golden-winged Warbler.

Volunteers at Work for Golden-wing Protection with Russ Oates
Working Lands

Volunteers at Work for Golden-wing Protection with Russ Oates

Russ is an active volunteer in Audubon North Carolina’s Working Lands program. By participating in our volunteer training program in the mountains, he learned how to survey for and identify Golden-winged Warbler habitat to help ongoing restoration efforts for the priority species.

Volunteers at Work for Golden-wing Protection with Bob Repoley
Working Lands

Volunteers at Work for Golden-wing Protection with Bob Repoley

Our volunteers help lay the groundwork for Audubon NC to identify and engage private landowners in habitat restoration for priority species including the Golden-winged Warbler.

Help Unlock New Secrets – Become a Citizen Scientist
Working Lands

Help Unlock New Secrets – Become a Citizen Scientist

Citizen science data helps unlock new secrets every day about the birds we love making conservation success stories possible.

New Volunteer Team Meets in the Mountains
Working Lands

New Volunteer Team Meets in the Mountains

A group of 15 volunteers gathers in in Burnsville to learn more about how to help restore habitat for the Golden-winged Warbler.

Wintering with Warblers in Nicaragua
Working Lands

Wintering with Warblers in Nicaragua

Early this year, Curtis Smalling visited our partners in Nicaragua to continue work to study Golden-winged Warblers and protect their wintering habitats.

How you can help, right now