Long-term monitoring is essential to understand the effect of environmental change on bird populations. Ornithological field stations that have recorded detailed demographic data on bird populations over decades are well positioned to make important contributions to emerging research questions. On the basis of our experience at PRBO Conservation Science's Palomarin Field Station and a review of the literature, we assess the ability of field stations to use their long-term data to address current and future issues in conservation and management. We identify barriers to the application of data from field stations as well as some of the unique contributions made by these stations, and we present recommendations regarding the development, maintenance, and enhanced application of long-term data.