Efforts across the Commonwealth
Virginia is home to a rich variety of birds and habitats, from coastal wetlands and tidal marshes to mountain forests and grasslands, making conservation efforts vital for maintaining biodiversity. Organizations like the Virginia Department of Wildlife Resources and local land trusts work to protect critical habitats through land preservation, wetland restoration, and the management of migratory bird stopover sites along the Atlantic Flyway. These efforts support threatened and endangered species such as the Piping Plover (Charadrius melodus) and Red-cockaded Woodpecker (Leuconotopicus borealis), while also benefiting pollinators, fish, and other wildlife that depend on healthy ecosystems. Conserving these habitats ensures that ecological systems remain resilient, support natural pest control and pollination, and maintain the balance needed for both wildlife and human communities to thrive.
Species of Greatest Conservation Need
Avian Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are priority bird species in the 2025 Virginia Wildlife Action Plan. As such, they require conservation attention in order to persist in the Commonwealth. Of all the species documented as breeders by the Second Atlas, 69 are classified as a SGCN.
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