The need for robust bird monitoring programs is more significant than ever, given the alarming, large-scale declines in bird populations and the loss, fragmentation, and degradation of native ecosystems.
Monitoring is an essential component of biodiversity conservation science and wildlife management research. Efficient monitoring systems may identify at-risk species due to low or declining populations, provide an overview of how management activities impact ecosystems, determine habitat responses to environmental changes and climate change and provide necessary information on species distributions.
The bird monitoring programs at the National Field Research Center for Environmental Conservation assess birds` population status and trends across the country. There are also custom programs for specific species, including rare, colonial, and non-breeding species, to collect distribution, abundance, and trend information.