Category Archives: Uncategorized

No matter where you live, there are cool birds that need your help to better thrive in your yard.  Even the smallest balcony or urban yard can provide important habitat for birds looking for food, shelter, water, or shelter. Birds … Continue reading →

There are a lot of books out there on how to attract birds to your yard.  The basics of providing bird feeders and housing have been known for over 100 years. So what is to distinguish one bird-helping book from … Continue reading →

Now it is easier than ever to share urban bird conservation news and notices through a public Urban Birdscapes Facebook Group.  Join the group to be part of the movement to make cities and neighborhoods around the world better for … Continue reading →

Last week in Ottawa we were able to present our BirdLife International Survey on the Status of Urban Bird Conservation to Marco Lambertini, the CEO of BirdLife International, at the BirdLife International World Congress.  This survey provides a look into … Continue reading →

The first use of the term “birdscaping” that I can find is in the title of Birdscaping Your Yard, a 47 page pamphlet published by the State of Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection in 1972. The term “birdscaping” is not used … Continue reading →

I first heard about the Bird City Wisconsin program back in 2004 when I was teaching an Urban Bird Conservation course at the University of Texas-Austin.  When I went to work for Audubon later that year, this was one of the … Continue reading →

Audubon Pennsylvania has a great Bird Town program that helps local  municipalities improve the habitat value of their town, promote environmental stewardship, and recognize their efforts.  Among the criteria to become a Bird Town, a municipality must: 1) Complete a Bird Town … Continue reading →

Wish I were able to attend this recent conference in Egypt, and especially to see this interesting presentation by Nicole B. Hansen. Foul Fowl: Birds as Agricultural Pests Birds are often thought of by Egyptologists for their frequent appearance as … Continue reading →

Why should bird conservationists work with homeowners associations?  San Diego Audubon has a great workbook answering this question, and providing guidelines for creating and implementing sustainable, nature-friendly landscaping projects within planned communities administered by a homeowners association.  The 20 page guidebook also includes a … Continue reading →

In dense urban environments, were there isn’t a lot of open space for habitat, pioneering urban ecologists have been constructing green walls of vegetation to serve as habitat and improve the air quality and thermal properties of the city.  This … Continue reading →