Audubon Texas is calling 2024 a year for the birds! Partners, community organizations, businesses, and residents across the state are taking intentional steps to protect birds and their habitats for today and tomorrow. Read on to see what’s happening in your area: 

• Earth Day is April 22nd! See how you can support birds and the local community this Saturday – and all year long. Birds Tell Us it’s time to act on climate. Take the  pledge today to support birds, wildlife, and people. There are many events across Texas, find an Earth Day event near you. Show your bird style with Audubon’s statement apparel, tote bags, and more!
• The film, Lights Out Texas, produced by Daniel Sheire of the Cornell Lab of Ornithology Center for Conservation Media in partnership with the Lights Out Texas collaborative, will air in select PBS markets this spring. The documentary captures the awe-inspiring phenomenon of spring bird migration over Texas, showcasing the breathtaking spectacle against the night sky. It also sheds light on the challenges birds face due to light pollution, which disrupts their natural navigational cues and leads to fatal collisions with buildings. Moreover, the film highlights the innovative use of radar technology to predict bird migration, offering valuable insights into one of the largest and most extraordinary migrations in the Western Hemisphere. The documentary builds a case to take a simple yet impactful action: turning off nonessential lighting from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. nightly, providing a safe passage for migrating birds. The film is scheduled to air locally on PBS North Texas (KERA) and PBS Austin (KLRU) on April 28th, at 6:00 p.m. and 5:00 p.m., respectively.
• Trees for Houston recently consulted Houston Audubon on how to prevent bird collisions at their new headquarters facility. The organization has pledged to go Lights Out for Birds and equipped their windows with fritted film, which is nearly invisible to the human eye, but has an embedded pattern that is visible to birds and can protect them in-flight.
• In Cedar Hill, Texas, staff at Dogwood Canyon Audubon Center met with architects and city planners to inform bird-friendly design for the new Cedar Hill Library, opening later this month! In addition to including all native plants and trees, the facility itself will contain approximately 70% bird friendly glass using low-e, SB70 VT Clear, etched with Walker BirdGlass. The grand opening is planned for April 27th.
• In Dallas, Texas, the Texas Conservation Alliance (TCA) has partnered with Greenhill School to promote the Lights Out, Texas campaign. Greenhill School has constructed a new science building with bird-friendly window design, and TCA is currently working with the school’s teachers to develop Lights Out, Texas curriculum
• KPRC Houston featured Lights Out, Texas! on April 9th! Audubon Texas Director of Conservation Director, Dr. Richard Gibbons, and Engagement Manager, Chloe Crumley, were interviewed to share the short- and long-term goals of collaboration and how Texans can get involved. Continued media coverage of Lights Out, Texas! helps increase engagement and elevate awareness statewide. Thank you to the local work from partners and communities across the state.
• The Eastern Bluebird is the official bird of Fort Worth, Texas! Fort Worth ISD developed curriculum to inspire elementary students to connect with the natural environment and help pick an official bird for the city. The Fort Worth Audubon Society presented to nearly 18 different schools, educating an estimated 275 students on the topic of birds in their backyard. The schools then prepared a 15-minute presentation for Fort Worth City Council and residents voted on the best presentation and bird!  Enjoy the presentations online.
• Texas Architect Association’s recent spring magazine featured biophilic design – an approach in architecture that seeks to connect building occupants more closely to nature. Audubon Texas’s Engagement Manager and National Audubon Society’s Bird Friendly Community Director were featured in the article, “Designing for Biodiversity” focusing on bird friendly designs.
• World Migratory Bird Day is May 11th! – This year’s theme is insects…an essential source of food for many of the migrating and resident species.