Editorial: Long-term research on avian conservation ecology in the age of global change and citizen science

Birds are among the most effective indicators of environmental change, and long-term avian research provides critical insights into biodiversity dynamics in the Anthropocene.Centuries of ornithological research combined with citizen science have produced some of the most comprehensive ecological trait datasets for any taxon, enabling detailed ecological and conservation assessments (Kittelberger et al., 2021a), including population trends and at-risk functional groups (Figure 1). Databases such as BIRDBASE (Şekercioğlu et al., 2025), combined with over two billion eBird records (Sullivan et al., 2009) now support global-scale analyses, including in historically understudied regions (Kittelberger et al., 2023). richest, yet monitoring is most limited. Integrated projects combining systematic monitoring, citizen science, education, and local engagement remain rare, even as global bird declines accelerate (Şekercioğlu et al., 2023). Many biodiversity hotspots also overlap with areas of frequent armed conflict (Hanson et al., 2009), creating additional barriers to sustaining research in regions of high endemism (e.g. Kittelberger et al., 2021b). This research topic synthesizes ten studies spanning tropical and temperate regions, urban and forested landscapes, and employing diverse methodologies from mist-netting and citizen science to molecular ecology. Collectively, these contributions underscore the importance of sustained avian monitoring and inclusive conservation strategies. We organize their findings under five overarching themes: trait-based vulnerability, demographic and physiological responses, climate impacts, landscape transformation, and integrative conservation approaches. Barrie et al. (2025) compared bird communities in primary versus logged forests in Equatorial Guinea, revealing a 47% reduction in individuals and the losses of ant-followers, mixed-species flock participants, and terrestrial insectivores in secondary forests. These guildspecific declines highlight the sensitivity of forest specialists to habitat degradation and reinforce the need for intact habitats, strengthening trait-based vulnerability frameworks widely applied under climate and land-use change (Cazalis et al., 2021;Jiguet et al., 2010). Nikolaou et al. (2025) extended this work by examining demographic and physiological traits of ant-following birds, uncovering demographic bottlenecks and variable body condition despite similar breeding status and stress hormone (fCORT) levels. These nuanced responses align with broader evidence that insectivores and forest specialists are particularly vulnerable to anthropogenic disturbance (Şekercioğlu 2002;Powell et al., 2015).Long-term datasets provide critical insights into population dynamics and community stability. Targeted management, such as clear-cuts and the removal of non-native conifer plantations, aided some declining species, illustrating the complex interplay of climate, habitat, and conservation actions.Colombia's Chocó hotspot. Using eBird data and climate projections, they modeled distributions for 27 species and found nearly universal losses of climate-suitable areas, driving upslope shifts and reductions in species richness. Scarlet-and-white Tanager and Chocó Warbler face the steepest losses-84% and 60%, respectively-threatening ecological services such as seed dispersal and insect control. These results emphasize the urgency of expanding protected areas, promoting reforestation, and enhancing habitat connectivity to match shifting climatic niches (Tingley et al., 2009). Integrating citizen science with ecological modeling offers a powerful framework for community-engaged conservation. Complementing these findings, Gale et al. (2024) demonstrated how precipitation patterns shape breeding phenology in Thailand's dry forests: extended droughts delayed egg-laying, while reduced rainfall postponed fledging, highlighting precipitation as a key driver of reproductive timing. The ten papers in this research topic highlight key strategies for avian conservation: long-term monitoring to detect subtle ecological changes, trait-based approaches for identifying vulnerable species, tracking climate change impacts, leveraging citizen science and community engagement, and applying interdisciplinary methods from molecular ecology to spatial modeling. A common theme is the indispensability of long-term, locally grounded research for detecting ecological change and guiding conservation. Whether through mist-netting, citizen science, or molecular tools, these studies exemplify best practices. Birds remain vital indicators of ecosystem health; integrating ecological data, community knowledge, and interdisciplinary approaches is essential as global pressures intensify.

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