Birds of Connecticut

What is an indicator species?

When we say that birds are an "indicator" species, it means their presence—or absence—tells us about the health of an ecosystem.

Audubon worked with a couple who own and manage 117 acres of forest. Their woodlands have a wonderful variety of mature tree species, such as maples, beech, birches, eastern hemlock, oaks, and some large shagbark hickory. But only when a tree was felled and left on the forest floor did a Ruffed Grouse appear and make a nest in the remains! This bird’s population drastic decline in the northeast is largely due to loss of quality habitat. When the right habitat was recreated, they were able to return.

Here in Connecticut, we hone in on the places birds need across coastal, forest, wetland, and other habitats, and advance projects that aim to reverse their declines.

Meet some of the indicator species that guide our work.