{"686380":{"#nid":"686380","#data":{"type":"news","title":"A 30-Year \u201cSnapshot\u201d of Pacific Northwestern Birds Shows Their Surprising Resilience","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EA 30-year \u201csnapshot study\u201d of birds in the Pacific Northwest is showing their surprising resilience in the face of climate change. The project started when School of Biological Sciences Assistant Professor\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/biosciences.gatech.edu\/people\/benjamin%20freeman\u0022\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBenjamin Freeman\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Efound\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022http:\/\/jem-online.org\/index.php\/jem\/article\/view\/232\u0022\u003Ea study by\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003ELouise Waterhouse\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/a\u003E detailing birds in the mountains near Vancouver three decades ago. What followed was an ecological scavenger hunt: Freeman revisited each of the old field sites, navigating using his local knowledge and Waterhouse\u2019s hand-drawn maps.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EFreeman, who grew up in Seattle, mainly studies the ecology of tropical birds \u2014 but the discovery of Waterhouse\u2019s paper made him curious about research closer to home. The results were surprising: over the last three decades, most of the bird populations in the region were stable and had been increasing in abundance at higher elevations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThe study, \u201c\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com\/doi\/full\/10.1002\/ecy.70193\u0022\u003EPacific Northwest birds have shifted their abundances upslope in response to 30\u2009years of warming temperatures\u003C\/a\u003E\u201d was published in the journal\u0026nbsp;\u003Cem\u003EEcology\u003C\/em\u003E this fall.\u0026nbsp;In addition to lead author Freeman, the team also included\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EHarold Eyster\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E(The Nature Conservancy),\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EJulian Heavyside\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E(University of British Columbia),\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EDaniel Yip\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E(Canadian Wildlife Service),\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EMonica Mather\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E(British Columbia Ministry of Water, Lands and Resource Stewardship), and Waterhouse\u003Cstrong\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003E(British Columbia Ministry of Forests, Coast Area Research).\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cIt is great news that most birds in the region are resilient, and by doing this work, we can focus on the species that do need help, like the Canada Jay, which is struggling in this region,\u201d Freeman says. \u201cStudies like this help us focus resources and effort.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ESongbirds and snow\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EConducting the fieldwork was a detective game, Freeman says. Each day, he would wake up at four in the morning to locate and visit the research areas \u2014 often navigating trails, open forest, and rough terrain on foot.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EThis area of the Pacific Northwest is punctuated with old-growth stands of trees \u2014 sections of forest that have never been logged or altered. \u201cThese areas feel like islands,\u201d Freeman shares. \u201cThey feel ancient and untouched, but even in pristine habitats, birds are still responding to climate change.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EMost of the work was conducted during the birds\u2019 breeding season, from late May into June. This is when the birds are most vocal, which is ideal for surveys, Freeman says. The downside? Even in June, there is often snow in the mountains. \u201cI was out at dawn, hiking through snow in the freezing cold, wondering why I didn\u2019t stay in bed,\u201d he recalls. \u201cBut then I\u2019d hear birds singing all around me and realize it was all worth it.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Ch3\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EUpward expansion \u2014 and resilience\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/h3\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EBy comparing the two \u201csnapshots,\u201d the team showed that while temperatures have increased over the last 30 years, most bird populations in the region haven\u2019t declined \u2014 but they have become more abundant at higher elevations. \u201cIt\u2019s encouraging,\u201d Freeman says. \u201cThirty years of warming has led to changes, but for the most part, these bird populations are mostly stable or improving.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EOne reason for this resilience could be the stability that old growth forests provide, and Freeman suggests that conserving wide swaths of mountain habitat might help birds thrive as they continue to adapt, while still supporting populations at lower elevations. The study also helps identify which bird species need additional support, like the Canada Jay \u2014 a gray and white bird known for following hikers in pursuit of dropped snacks.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EIt\u2019s just one piece of Freeman\u2019s larger research goal \u2014 he aims to do this type of snapshot research in many different places to identify general patterns, especially differences in temperate versus tropical environments.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u201cIn the tropics, most bird species are vulnerable, with only a few resilient species. In the Pacific Northwest, we saw the opposite,\u201d he says. \u201cA pattern is emerging: temperate zones show more resilience, tropics more vulnerability.\u201d\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EFreeman is also conducting research with a group of students in Northern Georgia. \u201cWe predict that these Appalachian birds will be resilient as well,\u201d he says, \u201cbut we need to study and understand what\u2019s happening in nature \u2014 not just make predictions.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003EDOI:\u0026nbsp;\u003Ca href=\u0022https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/ecy.70193\u0022\u003Ehttps:\/\/doi.org\/10.1002\/ecy.70193\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp dir=\u0022ltr\u0022\u003E\u003Cem\u003EFunding: Packard Foundation\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":"","field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EAfter discovering a historic bird survey in the Pacific Northwest, Georgia Tech\u2019s\u0026nbsp;\u003Cstrong\u003EBen Freeman\u0026nbsp;\u003C\/strong\u003Elocated the original sites, repeating the surveys three decades later. Each day, he would wake up at four in the morning to locate and visit the research areas \u2014 often navigating trails, open forest, and rough terrain on foot.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"After discovering a historic bird survey in the Pacific Northwest, Georgia Tech\u2019s\u00a0Ben Freeman\u00a0located the original sites, repeating the surveys three decades later."}],"uid":"35599","created_gmt":"2025-11-12 14:22:25","changed_gmt":"2025-11-14 21:26:39","author":"sperrin6","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-11-12T00:00:00-05:00","iso_date":"2025-11-12T00:00:00-05:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678597":{"id":"678597","type":"image","title":"The Canada Jay is one of the birds struggling in the Pacific Northwest. (Credit: Mason Maron)","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Canada Jay is one of the birds struggling in the Pacific Northwest. (Credit: Mason Maron)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1762959555","gmt_created":"2025-11-12 14:59:15","changed":"1762959555","gmt_changed":"2025-11-12 14:59:15","alt":"The Canada Jay is one of the birds struggling in the Pacific Northwest. (Credit: Mason Maron)","file":{"fid":"262652","name":"Canada_Jay.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/12\/Canada_Jay.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/12\/Canada_Jay.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":11607706,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/12\/Canada_Jay.jpg?itok=-KvA6Vn1"}},"678599":{"id":"678599","type":"image","title":"A placard still standing from the original surveys conducted in the early 90\u0027s. Finding these original sites was a \u0022scavenger hunt,\u0022 Freeman says. (Credit: Benjamin Freeman)","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA placard still standing from the original surveys conducted in the early 90\u0027s. Finding these original sites was a \u0022scavenger hunt,\u0022 Freeman says. (Credit: Benjamin Freeman)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1762959555","gmt_created":"2025-11-12 14:59:15","changed":"1762959555","gmt_changed":"2025-11-12 14:59:15","alt":"A placard still standing from the original surveys conducted in the early 90\u0027s. Finding these original sites was a \u0022scavenger hunt,\u0022 Freeman says. (Credit: Benjamin Freeman)","file":{"fid":"262654","name":"placard_leftover_from_early90s_surveys.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/12\/placard_leftover_from_early90s_surveys.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/12\/placard_leftover_from_early90s_surveys.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":3900939,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/12\/placard_leftover_from_early90s_surveys.jpeg?itok=qHVcLO0k"}},"678598":{"id":"678598","type":"image","title":"A large downed cedar tree in one of the lowland old-growth forests that Freeman navigated. (Credit: Benjamin Freeman)","body":"\u003Cp\u003EA large downed cedar tree in one of the lowland old-growth forests that Freeman navigated. (Credit: Benjamin Freeman)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1762959555","gmt_created":"2025-11-12 14:59:15","changed":"1762959555","gmt_changed":"2025-11-12 14:59:15","alt":"A large downed cedar tree in one of the lowland old-growth forests that Freeman navigated. (Credit: Benjamin Freeman)","file":{"fid":"262653","name":"lowland_oldgrowth_massive_downed_cedar.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/12\/lowland_oldgrowth_massive_downed_cedar.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/12\/lowland_oldgrowth_massive_downed_cedar.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":5162509,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/12\/lowland_oldgrowth_massive_downed_cedar.jpeg?itok=qsBpKQgV"}},"678600":{"id":"678600","type":"image","title":"Townsend\u0027s Warbler, a small songbird that lives in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. (Credit: Melissa Hafting, @bcbirdergirl)","body":"\u003Cp\u003ETownsend\u0027s Warbler, a small songbird that lives in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. (Credit: Melissa Hafting, @bcbirdergirl)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1762959555","gmt_created":"2025-11-12 14:59:15","changed":"1762959555","gmt_changed":"2025-11-12 14:59:15","alt":"Townsend\u0027s Warbler, a small songbird that lives in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. (Credit: Melissa Hafting, @bcbirdergirl)","file":{"fid":"262655","name":"Townsend-s_Warbler.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/12\/Townsend-s_Warbler.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/12\/Townsend-s_Warbler.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":6682884,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/12\/Townsend-s_Warbler.jpeg?itok=tZA3VVj5"}},"678596":{"id":"678596","type":"image","title":"While locating the field sites, Freeman spotted this bear on an old road. (Credit: Benjamin Freeman)","body":"\u003Cp\u003EWhile locating the field sites, Freeman spotted this bear on an old road. (Credit: Benjamin Freeman)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1762959555","gmt_created":"2025-11-12 14:59:15","changed":"1762959555","gmt_changed":"2025-11-12 14:59:15","alt":"While locating the field sites, Freeman spotted this bear on an old road. (Credit: Benjamin Freeman)","file":{"fid":"262651","name":"bear_on_road.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/12\/bear_on_road.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/12\/bear_on_road.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":4431217,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/12\/bear_on_road.jpeg?itok=9jCCrqlU"}},"678595":{"id":"678595","type":"image","title":"An overgrown and abandoned road that Freeman traversed. (Credit: Benjamin Freeman)","body":"\u003Cp\u003EAn overgrown and abandoned road that Freeman traversed. (Credit: Benjamin Freeman)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1762959555","gmt_created":"2025-11-12 14:59:15","changed":"1762960403","gmt_changed":"2025-11-12 15:13:23","alt":"An overgrown and abandoned road that Freeman traversed. (Credit: Benjamin Freeman)","file":{"fid":"262650","name":"abandoned_road_difficult_to_walk_on.jpeg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/12\/abandoned_road_difficult_to_walk_on.jpeg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/12\/abandoned_road_difficult_to_walk_on.jpeg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":5305167,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/12\/abandoned_road_difficult_to_walk_on.jpeg?itok=5imBlQae"}},"678601":{"id":"678601","type":"image","title":"The Varied Thrush is another bird common in the Pacific Northwest. (Credit: Melissa Hafting, @bcbirdergirl)","body":"\u003Cp\u003EThe Varied Thrush is another bird common in the Pacific Northwest. (Credit: Melissa Hafting, @bcbirdergirl)\u003C\/p\u003E","created":"1762959555","gmt_created":"2025-11-12 14:59:15","changed":"1762959555","gmt_changed":"2025-11-12 14:59:15","alt":"The Varied Thrush is another bird common in the Pacific Northwest. (Credit: Melissa Hafting, @bcbirdergirl)","file":{"fid":"262656","name":"Varied_Thrush.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/12\/Varied_Thrush.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/11\/12\/Varied_Thrush.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":6078901,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/11\/12\/Varied_Thrush.jpg?itok=Qz8fEy9T"}}},"media_ids":["678597","678599","678598","678600","678596","678595","678601"],"groups":[{"id":"1188","name":"Research Horizons"}],"categories":[{"id":"154","name":"Environment"},{"id":"146","name":"Life Sciences and Biology"},{"id":"135","name":"Research"},{"id":"134","name":"Student and Faculty"},{"id":"194836","name":"Sustainability"}],"keywords":[{"id":"187915","name":"go-researchnews"},{"id":"194631","name":"cos-georgia"},{"id":"192254","name":"cos-climate"},{"id":"166890","name":"sustainability"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"39441","name":"Bioengineering and Bioscience"},{"id":"193653","name":"Georgia Tech Research Institute"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EWritten by \u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:sperrin6@gatech.edu\u0022\u003ESelena Langner\u003C\/a\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":[],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}