This article discusses the importance of protecting coastal ecosystems for climate resilience and bird populations, especially for the birds that live in the Long Island Sound area.
Students can learn about the benefits of natural ecosystems to support fish and bird populations, listen to the songs of three birds found in this area, and view a map of the high-priority locations for conservation near the sound.
Teaching Tips
Positives
This article features sound recordings of birds that live in the Long Island Sound area.
This article contains a link to the "Long Island Sound Area Conservation Strategy."
Additional Prerequisites
It may be helpful if students know how climate change is affecting biodiversity, extreme weather, or sea level rise.
Differentiation
The What New Yorkers Can Do resource pairs well with this article, because it goes into deeper detail about a type of "gray infrastructure" (i.e. seawalls).
Teachers can use this article as a conceptual introduction to "green infrastructure" and how it differs from "gray infrastructure."
This article can supplement a lesson on various climate change adaptation strategies, especially when paired with the Table of Solutions by Project Drawdown.
This article can enhance a classroom discussion where students consider their own experiences with local beaches, salt marshes, oyster beds, or other ecosystems.
Scientist Notes
This article outlines Audubon's conservation strategy for the Long Island Sound area, emphasizing the importance of resilient coastal ecosystems for both birds and communities facing climate change impacts. It highlights the collaboration between Audubon's conservation, policy, and science teams to identify priority coastal areas and implement nature-based strategies for habitat protection and restoration. The piece underscores the significance of green infrastructure in mitigating storm impacts and preserving biodiversity, with a focus on protecting vulnerable bird species like the Saltmarsh Sparrow. The data-driven approach, including the mapping of bird populations, habitat types, and threats, ensures targeted conservation efforts to safeguard coastal habitats and support resilient communities.
Standards
Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS)
LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience
MS-LS2-C.1. Ecosystems are dynamic in nature; their characteristics can vary over time. Disruptions to any physical or biological component of an ecosystem can lead to shifts in all its populations. (MS-LS2-4)
LS2: Ecosystems: Interactions, Energy, and Dynamics
MS-LS2-1 Analyze and interpret data to provide evidence for the effects of resource availability on organisms and populations of organisms in an ecosystem.
MS-LS2-5 Evaluate competing design solutions for maintaining biodiversity and ecosystem services.
