Austin gets ‘Bird City’ recog­nition for being bird-friendly habitat

Published: Mon, 04/24/23

Austin gets ‘Bird City’ recog­nition for being bird-friendly habitat


File photo of a cardinal resting on the branch of a tree.
(Pixabay)

Spectrum News 1
BY CHRISTINE SANCHEZ TEXAS
PUBLISHED 5:41 AM CT APR. 24, 2023

AUSTIN, Texas — We know Austin is the Bat City, but now it's also a Bird City.

Bird City Texas is an environmental protection program that was created in 2018 to recognize communities across the state that work to protect birds and create an environment where they can thrive. Audubon Texas and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) teamed up to start the program back in 2018.

According to TPWD, being a bird-friendly habitat can help increase property values, control insects and generate tourism revenue.

Austin is known in part for its abundance of greenery and multitude of parks enjoyed by people and wildlife alike. It's something Austin City Council member Alison Alter recognizes. Alter authored the resolution to support Austin becoming a Bird City.

“Austinites value our parks and greenspaces. This partnership between Austin Parks and Recreation and Travis Audubon further solidifies our commitment to protecting our urban habitats and providing wildlife education," Alter said.

The city has enacted several bird-friendly practices in recent years, including Lights Out Austin. It's a program encouraging residents to turn off lights at night in unused spaces to protect birds that migrate at night and need natural light to guide their migration paths. The city also passed a resolution last year for World Migratory Bird Day, which raises awareness of bird conservation efforts. 

"The Austin community cares deeply about wildlife and habitat conservation and is already doing much to protect the unique habitats and promote bird-friendly practices," reads a statement from the City of Austin. "The connections between wild birds and humans are crucial in helping understand how to mitigate the biodiversity declines and climate change challenges."

Nine other Texas cities have also been recognized as designated bird cities, including Bastrop, Cedar Hill, Dallas, Dripping Springs, Galveston, Houston, Port Aransas, San Antonio and Surfside Beach.

Here are some popular spots to bird watch in the Austin area:

 


2131 N Collins Ste 433-721
Arlington TX 76011
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