Thanks to a collaboration between the Parks and Recreation Department, Travis Audubon, and other City departments and nonprofit organizations, Austin was designated an official Bird City in February 2023, by Texas Parks and Wildlife and Audubon Texas. This certification strengthens existing efforts and connects a new network of partners working toward this common goal.
"The Parks and Recreation Department will continue to collaborate with Travis Audubon and other partners on Bird City Texas implementation," said Parks and Recreation Department Director Kimberly McNeeley. "Implementation will include a website landing page and educational programing. The next big celebration of birds in Austin will be to celebrate World Migratory Bird Day event at Hornsby Bend on May 13."
The Austin City Council has continually supported bird-friendly initiatives, including the Lights Out Resolution enacted in 2021 and the World Migratory Bird Day Resolution enacted in 2022.
“I’m proud that Austin is now officially a Bird City,” said Council Member Alison Alter, who authored the resolution supporting pursuit of the Bird City Certification. “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.”
"The Bird City Designation is further proof that Austin is for the birds," said District 7 Council Member Leslie Pool. "Birds are vital to keeping our ecosystem healthy and connecting us to nature in our urban environment."
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. The connections between wild birds and humans are crucial in helping understand how to mitigate the biodiversity declines and climate change challenges.
"Austinites have a long tradition of caring about the environment, and birds have always been a big part of that," affirmed Travis Audubon Executive Director Nicole Netherton. "When we start paying attention to birds, we see how they are connected to everything else in the ecological system, including us. Travis Audubon is thrilled to continue this important work with our Bird City partners and to inspire even more people to participate in conservation through birding."
