By Anna Siegel, Volunteer
Boreal forests are integral to Maine’s identity. Vast expanses of conifers earn us the moniker “Pine Tree State” and contribute to our economy with rough wood and paper on our top ten list of exports. Our commercial forest, where these exports originate from, is the largest contiguous tract of undeveloped forest east of the Mississippi. The words “undeveloped” and “commercial” do not mean that it is empty, however. This 10-million acre forest boasts a wide variety of habitats that provide a home and resources for bears, moose, and dozens of bird species.
These birds range from boreal specialists, such as the fierce Northern Goshawk, to the Neotropical migrants, like the stunning Blackburnian Warbler. However, these species and many more are declining due to the climate crisis and other anthropogenic factors. In 2019, it was reported that North American breeding bird populations have declined by an estimated three billion individuals since 1970. This trend was observed as early as 1991 when ecologist John Hagan partnered with Maine’s timber industry to study how logging affects breeding bird populations in critical habitats right in our state. Thirty years later the study is being repeated. The goal is to see how changes in both forestry practices and the climate have influenced the diversity and abundance of Maine’s boreal birds.
The study, formally called the “30 Year Bird Project,” is currently in the second field season of its modern rendition. It is hard to resist getting ahead of ourselves by looking forward. The results have the potential to spark the creation of a new Maine Boreal Birding Trail, inform commercial logging practices, and provide insights into how bird species are responding to climate change. Perhaps most importantly, graduate students and high schoolers are involved in the data collection, publicity, and processing of the project. As breeding bird populations decline, a new generation of ornithologists and conservationists are emerging to protect them.
To receive occasional dispatches and updates from the field team this summer, sign up for the 30 Year Bird Project newsletter here.