Cerulean warbler

State Bird Populations Declining, Loss of Habitat Due to MTR A Factor

Charleston Gazette, Oct. 25, 2004

Nearly 30 percent of North American bird species today are suffering "significant declines," according to a study just released by the National Audubon Society.

… "When birds are in trouble, people are next," (John Flicker, president of the Audubon Society) Flicker said.

…The new Audubon study found several species in West Virginia are particularly hard hit, including the Eastern meadowlark, Vesper sparrow, Brown thrasher, Cooper’s hawk, Appalachian Bewick’s wren, Cerulean warbler, Golden-winged warbler and Field sparrow.

...Greg Butcher, Audubon’s director of bird

conservation, said last week, "In West Virginia, one of the things we are especially concerned about is the effect of mountaintop removal mining on forest birds.

"West Virginia is an important environment for the cerulean warbler, a bird that likes a varied forest, including canopy trees. Warblers are pretty susceptible to fragmentation of their habitat. Kentucky warblers and Black and White warblers are also declining."

"West Virginia is also an important state for bird migration. A lot of people come to the state to enjoy birds in their natural habitat. So there are economic benefits from tourists," Butcher said.