How Birds Help Us Understand the Health of Our Forests
Monitoring birdlife to guide wildfire resilience efforts across Sonoma County
Jenner Headlands Preserve / photo by Elba Mora
At The Wildlands Conservancy, protecting nature starts with paying close attention to it. That’s why we partnered with Sonoma Land Trust and Point Blue Conservation Science to listen closely — not just to the land, but to the birds. With grant funding awarded to Sonoma Land Trust by the Cornell Lab of Ornithology’s Land Trust Bird Conservation Initiative, Point Blue revisited a 2013 study on bird populations in the forests of Jenner Headlands and nearby protected lands. In 2023 and 2024, they began new surveys to monitor how bird species — especially those that are rare or sensitive — are responding to forest restoration efforts.
Forests throughout the West are under increasing threat from intense wildfires. In the last decade, Sonoma County has experienced a series of devastating fires — from the 2017 Tubbs Fire to the Walbridge and Meyers Fires of 2020 — reshaping landscapes and communities alike. To strengthen resilience and restore ecological balance, Wildlands, Sonoma Land Trust, and other partners have implemented science-based forest management: reducing excess vegetation to support forest health and old-growth characteristics, creating strategic fuel breaks in coordination with fire officials, and introducing beneficial fire under the right conditions to build long-term resilience.
This work is taking place across four locations: The Wildlands Conservancy’s Jenner Headlands Preserve and Sonoma Land Trust’s Pole Mountain, Little Black Mountain, and Bear Canyon Wildlands properties. These lands are at the heart of a broader effort to improve forest health and wildfire resilience. And birds are helping show us the way — if their populations are thriving, the forest is likely on the right track too.
Savannah sparrow / photo by Wikimedia Commons
Why Birds?
Birds are powerful indicators of forest health. They respond quickly to changes in their environment, occupy every layer of the forest, from ground-nesting species to canopy specialists, and are relatively easy to monitor using established scientific methods. By observing a wide range of bird species, scientists can gain meaningful insight into how well a forest is functioning.
In this study, researchers focused on a group of focal species — birds selected because they represent different parts of the forest and have specific habitat needs. Some are sensitive to changes in vegetation, others to forest structure or food availability. By tracking how these particular species respond, we can better understand whether restoration efforts are benefiting the broader ecosystem.
This important monitoring work was made possible by a grant awarded to Sonoma Land Trust from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology, which supported the bird surveys, data management, and reporting.
What We Found
The surveys revealed encouraging results:
● 65 species at Jenner Headlands, including 22 focal species
● 27 species at Pole Mountain, including 8 focal species
● 29 species at Little Black Mountain, including 13 focal species
● 39 species at Bear Canyon Wildlands, including 12 focal species
Among these were special-status species like the Olive-sided Flycatcher, Vaux’s Swift, and Purple Martin — birds that are rare, in decline, or highly sensitive to changes in habitat.
While different species responded in different ways, the big picture is clear: forest management practices did not appear to harm bird communities. Species that nest in the understory continued to thrive, and overall bird diversity remained strong.
Creating Healthier Habitat Through Fire Resilience
One important outcome of our forest management work was the creation of "edge habitat"— the transition zones between forest and open space. These areas are often rich in biodiversity, offering a wider range of food and shelter for birds and other wildlife.
We also found that most forest management areas were smaller than a typical bird territory, allowing birds to adjust their movements and continue using the habitat without disruption.
This study offers a valuable snapshot of how forests and wildlife respond to management efforts, but it’s just the beginning. Ongoing monitoring will help us refine our approach and adapt to changes over time.
Why This Matters
In fire-prone landscapes like Sonoma County, the need for thoughtful, science-informed forest stewardship is urgent. This project shows that wildfire resilience and wildlife conservation can go hand in hand, and that thoughtful, place-based forest management can strengthen entire ecosystems.
This work also reflects our mission at The Wildlands Conservancy: to protect the beauty and biodiversity of the Earth while making nature accessible for all.
We are grateful to Sonoma Land Trust and Point Blue Conservation Science for their deep commitment and expertise. It is partnerships like these that make high-impact conservation possible.
By paying close attention to birdlife, we are advancing land stewardship that reduces wildfire risk while protecting the biodiversity these ecosystems were meant to sustain.