Expanding Bird Conservation Across the Americas
The many challenges that birds face throughout the Americas have reduced breeding bird populations by 3 billion birds since 1970. Bringing the birds back requires sound science, effective planning, and a dedicated network of local conservationists working together across the landscapes upon which birds rely.
To help build this conservation force, American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and Environment for the Americas (EFTA) have created the Bird City Network (BCN). This Network unites Bird City Programs across the Americas to foster innovation and connections that lead to on-the-ground advances for bird conservation while making communities healthier and more beautiful places for people to live.
Core Partnerships
Major support for the Bird City Network has been provided by a key partner, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS), in particular the Urban Bird Treaty Program and USFWS Region 3.
ABC, EFTA, and USFWS are working together to ensure that the Bird City Network maximizes its impact while also seeking synergies with existing conservation programs like USFWS's Urban Bird Treaty Program, EFTA's World Migratory Bird Day, and ABC's Cats Indoors!
The Bird City Network is a flexible, widely distributed, and cost-effective model for delivering on-the-ground conservation actions for birds. The program engages partner organizations and provides tools, systems, and guidance for them to create and run their own Bird City programs. Those programs support people at the local level to take bird-friendly action that makes communities healthier for birds and for people.
Bird City America “Franchises”
Program teams that join the Bird City Network own and manage their programs and benefit from resources, training, and support from a centralized Bird City Network administered by ABC and EFTA. Collectively, these efforts will multiply existing capacity to improve habitats and reduce threats to birds across the hemisphere. Bird City programs recognize communities that document specific conservation actions across four categories:
- Improving bird habitat
- Addressing threats to birds
- Engaging people in birding & conservation
- Encouraging sustainable practices
Background
The Bird City idea began in the Midwest of the United States, where Bird City Wisconsin has been recognizing Bird City communities since 2010 in partnership with local governments, bird clubs, Audubon chapters, elected officials, nonprofits, educators, nature centers, and a variety of other partners that lead local projects.
Bird City Wisconsin's success has resulted in the organic spread of the program to several other states, including Colorado, Maryland, and Texas, and even outside the U.S. to Mexico and Colombia. This growth has made clear the need for a larger and more encompassing program to coordinate future expansion, provide difficult-to-obtain resources to the network, and facilitate the transmission of ideas between communities and programs.
Next Steps
With the official public launch in June 2023, the Bird City Network moves into an exciting new phase. We are actively promoting existing programs and working to get new programs started — please visit the Bird City Network website for more information and news!
