A sustainable forest is like a giant nest that protects the birds that live in it. Among forest wildlife, birds are especially important because they serve as early indicators of forest health, water quality, air quality, and climate change. Think of the bird in the forest as the canary in the coal mine. A recent study focused on how well sustainable forests protect these five species of birds in the Southeastern United States:  Swallow-tailed Kite, Brown-headed Nuthatch, Wood Thrush, Swainson’s Warbler and Prairie Warbler. The study was led by the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) with funding from a Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) conservation grant. …Findings from the ABC study confirmed that sustainably managed forests provide healthy habitat and make a significant contribution to the preservation of the five species of birds studied.