As a year of celebrating ABC's 30th anniversary comes to a close, we're rounding up our 30 “North Stars” — species that have inspired our work, informed our research, and benefited from the conservation efforts of ABC and our many partners throughout the Western Hemisphere. Read the first part of this story here. 

Forest Jewels

Wood-warblers are not only some of the most sought-after species by birders. They also face a range of challenges brought about by humans, especially habitat loss. While ABC's work benefits dozens of warbler species, three that are special focal points are the Kirtland's, Cerulean, and Golden-winged. Through partnerships with state and federal agencies, landowners, farmers, other nonprofits, academia, and Joint Ventures, we are helping to increase the populations of the Americas' beloved and colorful warblers.

Golden-winged Warbler
Vermivora chrysoptera

Conservationists have their work cut out for them with the Golden-winged Warbler. The species has declined more than 61 percent since the 1960s. Its close relative, the Blue-winged Warbler, has been moving into the Golden-wing's range. This has led to hybridization between the species and declining numbers for the rarer Golden-wing. Most concerning is the loss of the early-successional forest habitat the Golden-wing needs for successful breeding. Thankfully, ABC and our partners throughout the bird's range are working on multiple fronts. Through forest management from Minnesota to North Carolina, we're restoring the bird's habitat. In the Appalachian region, the ABC-supported Appalachian Mountains Joint Venture is restoring forests on reclaimed mine sites. And we're working to improve and protect wintering habitat in several places in Latin America, including Nicaragua's El Jaguar Reserve, a family-run farm that produces shade-grown coffee, which supports Golden-wings and other birds.

• Population: 410,000
• IUCN Status: Near Threatened
• Trend: Decreasing
• Habitat: Breeds in forested landscapes interspersed with ample early successional habitats; winters in mid-elevation forests and edge

Kirtlandʼs Warbler
Setophaga kirtlandii

In 2019, nearly 50 years after the Kirtland's Warbler was listed under the Endangered Species Act, the federal government delisted it thanks to its healthy population and ongoing recovery. Now, the Kirtland's Warbler Conservation Team, which includes ABC, state and federal agencies, academics, and other groups, manages the bird for the long term. In the Bahamas, where the species winters, ABC and partners have been studying the bird's habitat needs. A new paper published this fall by researchers from the U.S. Forest Service, Antioch University New England, and ABC found that the warblers rely on areas rich in certain fruits. As the winter progresses and fruit-laden spots become depleted, the birds move around quite a bit in search of better feeding spots. The study has important lessons for conservation work in the warbler's wintering islands. This fall, ABC also hosted a webinar about the warbler, which is posted on our YouTube channel.

• Population: 4,500
• IUCN Status: Near Threatened
• Trend: Increasing
• Habitat: Breeds in dense stands of young Jack Pine; winters in scrubby Caribbean habitats

Cerulean Warbler
Setophaga cerulea

The beautiful Cerulean Warbler, named for its blue back and head, is among the most threatened migratory songbirds in North America. Its population has plummeted by about 70 percent in the last several decades, which has made recovery of the bird a top priority of ABC's for many years. The Central Hardwoods and Appalachian Mountain Joint Ventures, which include ABC, focus on science-based forest management practices to improve breeding habitat for Ceruleans and other birds. Surveys in the breeding range in the last decade show the population's decline has stabilized, and in some areas, especially in the Appalachians, increases are occurring. We also work in the bird's wintering region. In 2005, ABC and our Colombian partner Fundación ProAves created the Reinita Cielo Azul, covering about 250 forested acres on the western slope of the Eastern Andes. ProAves and ABC have together protected 42,985 acres of habitat at eight reserves in Colombia where Cerulean Warblers occur, and thousands of acres more at seven other reserves in Guatemala, Ecuador, and Peru.

• Population: 570,000
• IUCN Status: Near Threatened
• Trend: Decreasing
• Habitat: Breeds in mature deciduous forest, often close to water; winters in moist montane forests

Stars of Marsh and Sea

The birds of oceans, rivers, wetlands, lakes, and streams capture our attention not so much for showy plumage but for their mystery and elusiveness. Observing them often takes time, skill, patience, and luck; that's especially true of the three species featured here, which are all Endangered. They're found in different habitats and regions, but they all receive attention from ABC and our partners. We advocate for habitat that they need, work on scientific projects to learn more about their conservation requirements, and work with other organizations to secure better futures for each species.

Black Rail
Laterallus jamaicensis

Like most rail species, Black Rails are more likely to be heard than seen. Encountering the skulking marsh birds is a delight, but the sad reality is that they are far less common today, and their range, especially along the U.S. Atlantic coast, has constricted significantly. Development in coastal areas has destroyed much Black Rail habitat. Cats, rats, and other mammals prey on the birds while invasive Phragmites reeds overtakes native marsh plants, further reducing habitat. And to make matters worse, the climate crisis is flooding the tidal marshes where the birds live. Much of ABC's focus on the bird comes through our partnership in the Atlantic Coast Joint Venture. In 2020, it published the Black Rail Conservation Plan, which specifies habitat protection and improvement needs for the bird, as well as policy goals. In short, the Joint Venture is restoring the Atlantic Coast population of the Eastern Black Rail in core breeding areas and protecting places where rails can thrive.

• Population: 25,000
• IUCN Status: Endangered
• Trend: Decreasing
• Habitat: Fresh, brackish, and salt marshes and wet meadows

Marbled Murrelet
Brachyramphus marmoratus

Among seabirds, the Marbled Murrelet's choice of nesting site is one of the most unusual. In the southern part of its range, it flies as far as 50 miles inland to nest in forests, high in tall trees. (In northern treeless areas, it nests on the ground.) Its rainforest breeding range, however, put it at risk when loggers began cutting trees in the late 1800s, leading to decades of decline. At sea, the murrelet is imperiled by oil spills and unsustainable fishing practices, and more recently, researchers identified another threat: predation of the murrelet's eggs and nestlings by jays, crows, and ravens. The corvids are adept at finding garbage left by people visiting parks; sloppy picnic- and campsites attract the birds and lead to population increases, which then can increase predation on nearby murrelet nests. The problem can be reduced with cleaner camping and picnic areas, and in 2013, California launched “Crumb Clean,” a program to promote camper education and better ways to dispose of waste. The program has worked well, and in 2022, ABC expanded it into public forests in Oregon. We plan to roll it out soon in Washington as well.

• Population: 240,000-280,000
• IUCN Status: Endangered
• Trend: Decreasing
• Habitat: Breeds in old-growth coniferous forests or on the ground; winters at sea

Black-capped Petrel
Pterodroma hasitata

The mountains on the Caribbean island of Hispaniola, which Haiti and the Dominican Republic share, are the only known nesting place of the Black-capped Petrel (Diablotín). Conservationists think the species may breed on one or more other islands, including Dominica, Guadeloupe, Cuba, or Jamaica, but no one yet has found a nest away from Hispaniola. The species, one of the rarest seabirds of the North Atlantic, has been a conservation focus for years. Threats include habitat loss in nesting areas, disorienting lights, invasive predators, and offshore wind turbines. For more than a decade, ABC has been working with partners, primarily Environmental Protection in the Caribbean and Grupo Jaragua, to find, study, and protect petrel nests on Hispaniola. In late 2021, ABC coauthored an updated Conservation Action Plan summarizing the current knowledge of the species and laying out nine key actions required to save it. In addition, ABC has been involved in tracking projects that tagged petrels with lightweight transmitters to learn more about their movements. And we're working with Desecheo National Wildlife Refuge and other partners to try to attract the birds to potentially nest on Desecheo Island, about 12 miles west of Puerto Rico. Stay tuned.

• Population: 2,000-4,000
• IUCN Status: Endangered
• Trend: Decreasing
• Habitat: Nests in natural crevices or burrows, often on steep slopes in montane forest; spends the rest of its life at sea

Beloved Singers

In the 1960s, Rachel Carson drew America's attention to declining songbird populations with her seminal book, Silent Spring. The book helped spark the environmental movement and had an enormous cultural impact. One such effect is that organizations like ABC work to prevent the next silent spring by conserving songbird populations. The birds featured here, for example, benefit from our Collisions program, our work with Joint Ventures, and our Cats Indoors and BirdsPlus programs. Even now, six decades later, Carson's voice inspires us to act.

Black-capped Vireo
Vireo atricapilla

The Black-capped Vireo, a bird of Mexico, Texas, and Oklahoma, is one of the major success stories of the Endangered Species Act. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service listed the vireo as Endangered in 1987 after its population had fallen to about 350 individuals. Habitat loss, fire suppression, and cowbird parasitism of vireo nests led to the bird's brush with extinction. Decades of conservation work, however, produced a rebound, and in 2018, the bird was delisted with a population of about 14,000. And by 2023, surveys indicated the population had surpassed 22,000. The species remains a focus of government agencies, ABC, and other conservationists. In recent years, ABC and our partners in the Oaks and Prairies Joint Venture have conducted systematic surveys for the bird, most recently at several Texas state parks and natural areas. And for private lands, the Joint Venture encourages habitat improvements through its Grassland Restoration Incentive Program. ABC also assists with preserving thorn-scrub areas in the bird's Mexican wintering range.

• Population: 22,000
• IUCN Status: Near Threatened
• Trend: Increasing 
• Habitat: Breeds in fire-maintained scrub-oak habitats; winters in dry scrub

White-throated Sparrow
Zonotrichia albicollis

The White-throated Sparrow is one of the most familiar and widespread songbirds in North America. Who doesn't enjoy seeing the cute birds with striped crowns in their yards or hearing their Oh, Sweet Canada, Canada, Canada song in a spring forest? While the population is estimated at 160 million, the sparrow is not immune to the dangers that other species with smaller populations face. The conservation consortium Partners in Flight reported a 29 percent decline for the sparrow between 1970 and 2014. This songbird is one of the most frequent victims of window collisions, according to urban bird-monitoring programs around the U.S. ABC's Glass Collisions program is working to raise awareness of the problem and offer solutions that will keep even our most common birds safer.

• Population: 160 million
• IUCN Status: Least Concern
• Trend: Decreasing
• Habitat: Forests and edges; in winter, thickets, overgrown fields, parks, and wooded suburbs

Wood Thrush
Hylocichla mustelina

The ethereal song of the Wood Thrush was once a familiar summer sound in eastern U.S. forests, but now its flute-like song is less common. ABC and several of our partner organizations have been working for years to bring the thrush back. More than a decade ago, Partners in Flight (PIF) called attention to the species when it was added to PIF's Yellow Watch List of declining birds, noting a 60-percent drop in population between 1970 and 2014. As with most songbirds, cats and glass are major threats; ABC tackles both through our Cats Indoors and Glass Collisions programs. Our partners in the Appalachian Mountains, Central Hardwoods, and other Joint Ventures manage thousands of acres of forests for the thrush's benefit. And ABC recently launched the BirdsPlus program that helps farmers and ranchers in Latin America implement conservation practices to restore and maintain habitat for Wood Thrush and other migratory songsters.

• Population: 12 million
• IUCN Status: Least Concern
• Trend: Decreasing
• Habitat: Breeds in mature deciduous and mixed forests; winters in tropical lowland and foothill forests

Shoreline Sentinels

Around the world, about 235 species of sandpipers, plovers, oystercatchers, and other shorebirds roam beaches, sandbars, grasslands, freshwater wetlands, and other habitats. Their bills range from short and stubby to long and curved, reflecting the variety of prey they rely on: insects, mollusks, and other small animals of marine and intertidal areas. The Americas are home to more than 85 shorebird species for at least part of their lifecycle, and we profile three here. ABC and our many conservation partners advocate for protecting shorebird habitats in priority BirdScapes, for cleaning up plastics and other litter, and many other shorebird-friendly projects and policies.

Long-billed Curlew
Numenius americanus

Market hunting in the 1800s led to the demise of the Eskimo Curlew, and it nearly took its cousin, the Long-billed Curlew, as well. While our largest North American shorebird survived that era, it now confronts habitat loss and pesticide use as major threats. Thankfully, ABC and our partners have been focused on preserving the curlew and its grassland habitats for many years. Through our BirdScapes approach, 12 focal areas were identified on the North American breeding grounds, where ABC promotes best management practices for the birds. For the last four years, we worked with Pheasants Forever, USDA-Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS), and private land managers to enhance grassland habitat for curlews in northwestern South Dakota. In 2022, we began a tracking project with North Dakota Game and Fish and Intermountain Bird Observatory to tag nine curlews on ranches in North and South Dakota. This gave us insights to their migratory routes and wintering areas in Texas and Mexico. We also lead work in the curlew's winter range, including a land-management project through the Oaks and Prairie Joint Venture's Grassland Restoration Incentive Program, and in protecting and enhancing 140,000 acres of grasslands in Mexico's Chihuahuan Desert with local partner Pronatura Noreste.

• Population: 140,000
• IUCN Status: Least Concern
• Trend: Decreasing
• Habitat: Breeds in open grasslands; winters in estuaries, wetlands, and grasslands

Snowy Plover
Charadrius nivosus

The diminutive Snowy Plover is found on coastal beaches, salt flats, and the shores of inland alkaline lakes in North America, South America, and the Caribbean. The pale-colored shorebird is threatened by habitat loss along coasts, off-road vehicles, and predation by cats, dogs, and other mammals. Non-native vegetation and sea-level rise caused by climate change also put plovers at risk. Several states list the species as endangered or threatened, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service considers the Western Snowy Plover to be threatened. ABC's Gulf Coast program focuses on protecting Snowy Plovers and other vulnerable beach-nesting birds. Along with the Houston Audubon Society and the Coastal Bend Bays & Estuary Program, we monitor plover populations across the upper and central Texas coast. We educate the public each year about the need to give beach-nesting birds plenty of space. And to address the significant trash problem on Texas beaches and its negative impact on wildlife, we recently partnered with the Gulf Coast Bird Observatory and Black Cat GIS to form Stopping Plastics and Litter Along Shorelines (SPLASh), which is creating a cleaner environment in the Houston-Galveston region.

• Population: 38,000
• IUCN Status: Near Threatened
• Trend: Decreasing
• Habitat: Sandy beaches, salt flats, river sandbars

Red Knot
Calidris canutus rufa

The rufous-breasted Red Knot flies more than 9,000 miles from south to north every spring from wintering grounds in southern South America to breeding grounds in the high Arctic before reversing the trip in the autumn. Sadly, the bird's numbers declined about 75 percent from the 1980s to the 2000s, leading to widespread concern. The overharvest of Horseshoe Crabs, which lay eggs on the beaches that Red Knots and other shorebirds feast on, has been a major factor in the bird's decline. Coastal development and sea-level rise are other worries. A decade ago, ABC and other conservation groups scored a victory for the knot when our advocacy convinced the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to list the rufa subspecies as threatened under the Endangered Species Act. And in 2023, the agency designated more than 680,000 acres as critical habitat for the subspecies. For decades, ABC and our partners in the Horseshoe Crab Recovery Coalition have called for Horseshoe Crab harvest restrictions in Mid-Atlantic states. And this summer, we celebrated the news that the biomedical industry is adopting an alternative to Horseshoe Crab blood in bacterial endotoxin testing; the move, which will alleviate harvest pressures and conserve Horseshoe Crabs, holds the promise of assisting bird conservation and human health.

• Population: 139,000 (all North American subspecies); 1 million (worldwide)
• IUCN Status: Near Threatened
• Trend: Decreasing
• Habitat: Breeds on tundra, islands, and along coastlines in Arctic regions. Winters on tidal flats, rocky shores, and beaches.

Hawaiian Hopefuls

Hawai‘i holds the sad distinction of being the avian extinction capital of the world. More than 90 native bird species have been lost in the islands since the arrival of humans centuries ago, but hope remains for those that are still with us. ABC and our partners in the 50th state are focused on preserving native honeycreepers, like the ‘I‘iwi; seabirds that breed on the islands, like the Laysan Albatross (Mōlī); and unique endemics found nowhere else in the world, like the Millerbird (Ulūlu).

Laysan Albatross
Phoebastria immutabilis

The Laysan Albatross (Mōlī) has a large population and inhabits an enormous swath of the Pacific Ocean. Most Laysans breed in the Hawaiian archipelago, mainly on Midway Atoll and Laysan Island, and a small number nest off Japan and the west coast of Mexico. Despite its numbers and its adaptability over Earth's largest ocean, the species faces many threats. Laysans consume discarded plastic, and on some of their nesting islands, introduced mammals prey on the birds and their eggs. Like other seabirds, they are caught on the hooks of fishing vessels, and as climate change causes the seas to rise, low-lying islands that albatrosses nest on are at risk of being flooded or even lost. One threat that they no longer face is lead poisoning, thanks in part to the advocacy of ABC's Marine program. For decades, lead paint had been peeling from the World War II-era buildings on Midway, contaminating the soil and sand — and the young birds that ate the paint chips. In late 2017, after a years-long cleanup project, the island was lead-free. Most recently, the Marine program and its partners built a fenced-in predator-free nesting area on high ground on Moloka‘i Island; as noted in our Summer 2024 issue, Laysans have already been spotted checking out the new preserve.

• Population: 2.5 million
• IUCN Status: Near Threatened
• Trend: Stable
• Habitat: Nests on sandy islands, winters over open ocean

‘I‘iwi
Drepanis coccinea

The stunning ‘I‘iwi (pronounced “ee-EE-vee”), once one of the Hawaiian Islands' most common forest birds, now hangs on in higher-altitude forests (4,300 to 6,200 feet) on Maui and Hawai‘i, with only occasional detections on Kaua‘i. Its decline (like those of other Hawaiian songbirds, many of which are extinct) is due to habitat loss; mosquito-borne disease; a dieback of ‘ōhi‘a trees, which are important food sources for ‘I‘iwi; and nonnative predators, including cats, rats, and mongooses. ABC's Hawai‘i program has worked for years with partner organizations in the state to protect and manage habitats, plant trees, control predators, and more. Most recently, we've joined forces with 14 state, federal, private, and nonprofit partners on the Birds, Not Mosquitoes project. It's aimed at reducing Hawai‘i's mosquito population in hopes of decreasing the major threat of avian malaria.

• Population: 350,000
• IUCN Status: Vulnerable
• Trend: Decreasing
• Habitat: Wet montane forests

Millerbird
Acrocephalus familiaris

The story of the Millerbird (Ulūlu) is one of ABC's great successes. Until about 100 years ago, the small, drab Old World reed warbler was found only on the islands of Laysan and Nihoa in the remote Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. Around 1923, it went extinct on Laysan. Then in 2007, several organizations, including ABC, began to work on a plan to return the then-Critically Endangered species to Laysan. The idea was to move some Millerbirds to Laysan, about 650 miles northwest of Nihoa. After a few years of planning, ABC and our partners in government agencies, academia, and other conservation groups moved a total of 50 birds in 2011 and 2012. At last count, the populations on both islands are doing well: about 1,200 on Nihoa and about 600 on Laysan. Last year, the bird was downlisted to Endangered. Read the Millerbird's full story in an article from our Spring 2024 issue.

• Population: 1,800
• IUCN Status: Endangered
• Trend: Stable
• Habitat: Dense, shrubby cover near the ground

We are deeply grateful to all of the many supporters who have ensured a future for these 30 special bird species. We couldn't have done it without you!

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2024 issue of Bird Conservation, the Member magazine of American Bird Conservancy. Learn more about the benefits of becoming an ABC Member and join today.

About the Author

Matt Mendenhall is the Managing Editor of Bird Conservation.