Trails Through the Sky: Protecting Mountain Birds | Albany News

In the fragile highlands of the Catskills, rare birds like the magnolia warbler and Bicknell’s thrush are vanishing — not just from habitat loss, but from the growing chaos of unofficial “herd paths” that disrupt their breeding grounds. Now, state officials are taking action, partnering with hiking apps to scrub these trails from maps and funnel visitors onto a few carefully chosen official routes. Scientists confirm that even official trails harm these high-elevation species, and with breeding season underway, every step counts. Using real-time hiking data, the state is crafting a smarter trail system — one that protects these vanishing birds and preserves the mountain’s delicate balance. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/4f1d8b219ff380f5