30-year snapshot shows many Pacific Northwest birds resilient ^{CEFR B2}

A thirty-year snapshot resurvey in the mountains near Vancouver compared current bird communities with those recorded by Louise Waterhouse three decades earlier. Benjamin Freeman of Georgia Tech used Waterhouse’s hand-drawn maps and his local knowledge to relocate the original field sites, often hiking there on foot, starting very early in the morning and working in the birds’ breeding season from late May into June. Fieldwork sometimes involved hiking through snow and very cold conditions.

Although regional temperatures have risen over 30 years, most bird populations studied did not decline. Instead, many species remained stable or increased in abundance at higher elevations. Freeman noted exceptions: some species need targeted help, and he identified the Canada Jay as one that is struggling in this region. One possible reason for the overall resilience is the presence of old-growth stands of trees, which may provide stable habitat. Freeman suggests that conserving wide swaths of mountain habitat could allow birds to continue adapting while still supporting populations at lower elevations.

The study also helped identify species that need focused conservation action. Freeman plans to expand snapshot research to other regions to seek broader patterns; he reports an emerging contrast with the tropics, where most species appear vulnerable and only a few are resilient. He is working with students on similar research in Northern Georgia and expects Appalachian birds may be resilient, but he emphasizes the need to study and understand changes rather than only predict them. The project included researchers from several institutions and was funded by the Packard Foundation; the source is Georgia Tech.