Cities, Towns, and Parks

Transforming our communities into places where birds flourish.

Where birds thrive, people prosper.

From urban centers to rural towns, each community can provide important habitat for birds. In turn, birds offer us a richer, more beautiful, and healthful place to live.

The Threat

Over the past century, urbanization has taken, fragmented, and transformed ecologically productive land with sterile lawns and exotic ornamental plants. We’ve introduced walls of glass, toxic pesticides, and domestic predators. The human-dominated landscape no longer supports functioning ecosystems or provides healthy places for birds.

The Solution

̽»¨¾«Ñ¡â€™s Bird-friendly Communities strives to provide food, shelter, safe passage, and places for birds to raise their young, through our Plants for Birds and Bird-friendly Buildings programs. As we work to create healthy habitats, we also work to ensure safe spaces for our feathered friends. Check out some here and read on to learn more.

Plants for Birds

By simply choosing native plants for our yards and public spaces, we can restore vital habitats for birds in our communities and help them adapt and survive in the face of climate change. ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡â€™s Plants for Birds program is designed to enable anyone to have a positive impact by planting for birds, right where they live. 

Bring more birds to your home with native plants! Visit the native plants database to create a customized list of plants native to your area, get connected to your local ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ and native plant nurseries, and help us get 1 million plants in the ground for birds. 

Enter your zip code here!

Bird-Friendly Community News

A spider web made of pipe cleaners with fake spiders adorns the inside of a window, looking out on pumpkins on a picnic table.
How to Have a Bird-Friendly Halloween
October 18, 2024 — Follow these tips to ensure your spooky celebrations don't create a scary situation for birds.
Proposed Legislation Would Support Bird Conservation and Partnerships in Cities and Towns
October 12, 2024 — The Urban Bird Treaty Act will support habitat conservation, hazard reduction, and community engagement.
A small dead bird lying on its back on the pavement.
Window Strikes Are Even Deadlier for Birds Than We Thought
August 14, 2024 — A new study suggests the true avian toll of building collisions in the United States reaches well over 1 billion deaths annually.
̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ Florida Assembly. Photo: Luke Franke/̽»¨¾«Ñ¡
Proclamations, Resolutions, and Ordinances

Protecting birds and providing them with abundant habitat and safe passage is achievable with PROs – Proclamation, Resolutions and Ordinances. Connect with your local ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ chapter, center, or sanctuary, to learn more about PROs for native plants and bird-friendly buildings or reach out to bfc@audubon.org.

Our Team

Marlene Pantin

Senior Program Manager, Plants for Birds

Connie Sanchez

Bird-friendly Buildings Program Manager

̽»¨¾«Ñ¡ in Communities