Audubon Texas and Texas Parks and Wildlife announce that College Station, Denton, Kerrville, San Marcos and Wimberley have been awarded Bird City Texas status, a prestigious designation that highlights their commitment to bird conservation and sustainability. These five cities join a growing network of communities across the state that are leading the way in creating bird-friendly environments and fostering ecological resilience.

Additionally, Galveston has achieved High-Flyer status, a distinguished designation that recognizes a community’s deep continued commitment to bird and habitat conservation efforts. Galveston first achieved Bird City Texas status in January 2021, making 2025 their fifth year in the program.  Read the press release here.

By achieving Bird City and High-Flyer status, these communities have showcased their dedication to protecting birds and the natural resources that benefit both wildlife and people.

To find our more about the program, how to apply and visit our cities, please visit BirdCity.Org/Texas 

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Audubon Texas and Texas Parks and Wildlife started Bird City Texas, a community-focused certification program, to help Texans protect birds and their habitats where we live, work, and recreate. Since 2018, ten communities across Texas have been certified. The criteria required to attain certification are designed to be impactful and efficient against habitat loss and threats birds face resulting in their decline. The criteria also create healthful communities benefiting people. 

Where birds thrive, people prosper. Research shows that bird-friendly habitat increases property values, helps control insects, and generates tourism dollars. From urban centers to rural towns, each community can provide important habitat for birds that will also serve people. It is an honor to receive this recognition in your community. It also highlights your space welcoming to birders who contribute to the eco-tourism. In a recent report by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, over half of the U.S population enjoyed wildlife life viewing in 2022 with 96.3 million focused on birds! 

Bird City Texas is part of a larger network of over 200 communities dedicated to creating communities where both people and wildlife can coexsist.  To find our more about the program, how to apply and visit our cities, please visit BirdCity.Org/Texas 

We hope you visit a Bird City and experience the steps communities are taking to increase habitat, reduce threats, and educate the public about our feathered friends. These special places are few and far between, so we hope your community joins our honored 10.

For questions or concerns, please contact birdcitytexas@audubon.org

The Bird City Texas Gathering in October 2023 brought together over 60 participants from 19 different communities. Over two days, participants shared successes and learnings on how being a Bird City has elevated their community and recommendations for amplifying the program.

Read the full report here where you can also watch the recording of the first day.

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In 2018, Audubon Texas partnered with Texas Parks and Wildlife to launch Bird City Texas! This community-focused certification program has been created to help people protect birds and their habitats where we live, work, and recreate. Science-based bird conservation initiatives and community-centric action are the heart of this statewide initiative. 

Research shows that bird-friendly habitat increases property values,helps control insects, and generates tourism dollars. Where birds thrive, people prosper. From urban centers to rural towns, each community can provide important habitat for birds, and certified communities will receive recognition and community benefits of these efforts.

Science-based bird conservation initiatives and community-centric action will: 

• Enhance and restore habitats 
• Increase native plant coverage in Texas for the benefit of birds and people 
• Reduce population-level threats 
• Increase public awareness of the benefits and challenges of bird conservation 
• Promote environmental stewardship in Texas cities 

We now have 10 cities that have worked diligently to achieve Bird City Texas status. We encourage you to discover more about these bird cities below.

"Our community works very hard to create safe places for birds, to educate our residents and visitors on ways to help birds, and to provide trails and amenities for bird and wildlife viewing." Rae Mooney, Nature Preserve Manager City of Port Aransas 

If you are interested in learning more about the criteria and application, please visit our partner's website. 

View the press release announcing the new 2023 Bird City Texas Community here!