Capping off four years of incredible growth, Pennsylvania’s Bird Town Program now includes 100 municipalities across the state after Richland Township in Allegheny County was designated this month. That makes Bird Town Pennsylvania the largest program in the Bird City Network, an assembly of sixteen programs across the country as well as South America and Mexico. In Pennsylvania, the program is administered by the non-profit Pennsylvania Audubon Council and can now be found in municipalities spanning 17 counties across the Commonwealth.
The idea is simple; Bird Town Pennsylvania works with municipalities to provide a framework for engagement and education centered around birds and their dependence on healthy habitats. The result of creating cleaner environments for birds on residential and other properties is the realization of a vibrant, ecological backyard that supports birds, wildlife and people and provides a front seat to the show that nature provides. The program is adopted by a municipality’s Environmental Advisory Council (EAC), parks board, municipal leaders or a group of passionate community members and accepted by passing a Bird Town Resolution. “Municipalities must also form a 3-person committee and complete an application,” said Heidi Shiver, the organization’s president. “They are asked to list accomplishments or plans on topics including creating and protecting habitat, addressing threats to birds, education and engagement, and sustainability. And we are there every step of the way!”
More growth is expected as neighboring municipalities “join the flock” to create what is known programmatically as “clutches” in which multiple communities work together to improve contiguous geographic areas and their constituents. Everything from bird walks to habitat restoration become Bird Town initiatives and the public is encouraged to participate. With Richland Township’s designation, the program has doubled in just two years.
Visit https://birdtownpa.org/bird-towns/ to view a map and list of current bird towns.
About Bird Town Pennsylvania
Bird Town Pennsylvania works in partnership with local municipalities and like-minded organizations to promote community-based conservation actions to create a healthier, more sustainable environment for birds, wildlife, and people.
For more information, contact:
Heidi Shiver, President
2805 Old Post Road, Suite 120, Harrisburg
pabirdtown@gmail.com
215.262.7294
