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Where birds thrive, people prosper.

Birds inhabit every part of North Carolina, from coastal marshes to mountain peaks and the cities and towns in between. That’s why ̽����ѡ launched the Bird-friendly Communities program more than a decade ago: to help birds thrive where most people live.

A decade later, birds are better off. Native plants are thriving in cities and towns, night skies are darker and safer during migration, and thousands of nest boxes and towers provide safe places for nuthatches and Chimney Swifts. Just as importantly, more people across the state are aware of their backyard birds, connected to local chapters, and empowered to take action.

Plants for Birds in North Carolina

By simply choosing native plants for our yards and public spaces, we can restore vital habitats for birds and help them adapt in the face of climate change.

Our chapters are deeply engaged in this work, from lobbying for better native plants regulations to creating bird-friendly landscape manuals and yard certification programs. Recent state-wide victories include legislation passed by the NC General Assembly that requires native plants be used in landscaping at all state parks, roads, and historic sites.

Resources:

• ̽����ѡ's native plants database, searchable by zip code.
• North Carolina-specific list of 700 bird-friendly plants
• created by New Hope Bird Alliance

Bird-friendly Buildings and Lights Out

Research shows more than 1 billion birds may be killed each year in the U.S. due to window collisions. Birds strike buildings day and night: at night, migrating birds are drawn to bright city lights; during the day, reflections and confusing glass cause deadly impacts.

̽����ѡ chapters are taking action by advocating for bird-friendly building standards and Lights Out policies, which encourage building owners to turn off nonessential lighting during migration.

Resources:

• ̽����ѡ's Lights Out guide, including sample letters to elected officials and building owners
• ̽����ѡ resources on bird-safe building standards
• What to do if you find a bird that crashed into a window

Thanks to chapter advocacy, cities and towns across the state now have Lights Out programs, including Asheville, Cary, Chapel Hill, Durham, Charlotte, Cumberland County, Greensboro, Matthews, Raleigh, and Winston-Salem.

Chimney Swift Outreach and Conservation

Tiny, acrobatic, and highly adapted to live alongside humans, Chimney Swifts are one of North America’s most distinctive birds. After spending the daylight hours flying and feeding on insects,  swifts use chimneys to nest and, during fall migration, roost in huge number.

These adaptations now puts them at risk, as chimneys are often capped, closed, or built with modern, slick surfaces that disrupt nesting and roosting.

In North Carolina, ̽����ѡ chapters lead conservation and education efforts for Chimney Swifts, including awareness campaigns and building nesting towers.

How you can help:

• Keep your chimney open. Older, brick-lined chimneys are vital nesting sites, so leave them open or uncap them before swifts return in spring.
• Become a community scientist. Report Chimney Swift nesting and roosting activity to eBird or your local chapter to help identify and protect key sites.
• Build a Chimney Swift tower. Swift towers provide safe nesting habitat in neighborhoods, parks, and schoolyards.
• Protect existing roost towers. Work with schools and building managers to prevent the removal of chimneys used by swifts.

10,000 Nest Boxes for Brown-headed Nuthatches

The Brown-headed Nuthatch is a quirky southern bird and wholly dependent on pinewoods for nesting and breeding. Widespread loss of these forests have led to sharp population declines, making the species a high conservation priority in North Carolina’s Piedmont and coastal plain.

̽����ѡ North Carolina responded by engaging communities to protect habitat and build nest boxes. Through the course of this program, thousands of boxes were installed and awareness grew statewide of this special bird and its habitats.

These efforts have helped support Brown-headed Nuthatches and keep this squeeky southern bird a familiar presence across much of the state.

How you can help:

• Build your own nuthatch box using these instructions or find one at a local retailer
• You can also retrofit a bluebird box for for Brown-headed Nuthatches by making the opening smaller - ideally 1 1/8” in diameter. Bird stores sell metal excluders that you can attach over the 1 1/2" hole on a standard bluebird box to make it ready for nuthatches.
• Check out this Brown-headed Nuthatch factsheet from Forsyth ̽����ѡ