The Pennsylvania
Audubon Society’s
Bird Town Program
The PA Bird Town Program:
Partnership between the
PA Audubon Society and
municipalities throughout
the state …
… to promote conservation
an community-based actions
to create a healthier, more
sustainable environment
for both birds and people.
“A Culture of Conservation …”
A Bird Town makes efforts to create a culture
of conservation where everyone is a potential
steward of nature in their own backyard.
PA Bird Town Goals:
• Create healthier yards, parks,
and schools.
• Restore natural systems and
native plant communities for
birds, butterflies, and other
wildlife.
• Track and measure environmental impacts individually
and town-wide.
Bird Town PA Goals (cont.)
• Enhance community pride
and awareness.
• Reduce storm water runoff.
• Save money through creation
of sustainable habitat.
• Encourage nature just beyond
the back door.
of
Benefits to Being a Bird Town
• Improved, more sustainable,
and healthier environment.
• Community pride & cohesion.
• Increased marketability.
• A safer, more rewarding place
to live, work, and play.
• Economic development and
increased property values.
• Cooperation between community
officials, residents, & businesses.
New Britain is Now a Bird Town
• Pennsylvania’s 23rd
Bird Town.
• 8th in Bucks County:
 Newtown Township
 Lower Makefield
 Doylestown Borough
 Doylestown Township
 Solebury Township
 Falls Township
 Springfield Township
 New Britain Borough
Our Borough’s Qualifying Criteria:
• Adoption of Bird Town
resolution (August 2013)
• Existing park system with
natural habitat for birds.
• Park planning seeks to
improve bird habitat.
• Regular planting of new
native trees in parks and
public lands.
•Planting of demonstration
garden on public property.
The Borough’s Basic Commitment:
• Application and annual fee
($450).
• Fee includes:
Five Bird Town street signs.
Plaque for town hall.
250 brochures.
Quarterly newsletter content.
Usage of Audubon Bird Town
logo.
Basic Commitment (cont.)
• Promote Bird Town status:
“Welcome to Bird Town”
article in local newsletter.
 Bird Town web page on
borough website.
 Five Bird Town street signs.
 Outreach materials available
to public.
• Demonstration of annual
growth and participation to
retain Bird Town status.
Our Initial Goals:
• Promote the Borough’s Bird
Town status.
• Form Bird Town Committee.
• Educate residents about the
Bird Town program.
• Encourage residents to take
the “Healthy Yard” Pledge.
• Encourage residents to register
in the Bird Habitat Recognition
Program.
The “Healthy Yard” Pledge
The power of Bird Town comes from residents
taking actions on their own landscape.
The “Healthy Yard” Pledge
Yes, I want a healthy yard! I pledge to:
• Consider using native plants
in the landscape.
• Remove invasive plant species.
• Aim to reduce stormwater
runoff.
• Eliminate the use of pesticides
on the property.
• Provide for birds and protect
those that show up!
How to Provide for Birds…
• Plant diversity of native
plants for food, cover,
and nesting sites.
• Remove alien, invasive
plant species.
• Stop using pesticides.
• Install nest boxes and
bird feeders.
• Provide fresh water.
Audubon at Home
Bird Habitat Recognition Program
• Property owners (Homes,
schools, businesses, parks, or
public land) who create bird
habitat are encouraged to
register their properties with
the PA Audubon Society ($20
annual fee).
• Yard signs and discount cards
for businesses around the
state provided by Audubon.
Bird Habitat Recognition Program
“ Audubon Pennsylvania
recognizes that the
people who care for this
property pledge to
provide healthy habitat
that supports birds,
butterflies, and other
wildlife. “
Our Long-term Goals:
• Improvement of bird
habitat in all the Borough’s
open space and parks.
• Workshops and educational
programs for residents.
• Planting of demonstration
garden on public property.
• Possible adoption of native
plant ordinance.
Native Plant Ordinance:
• Pioneered by Lower Makefield.
Also adopted by Warrington.
• New commercial development
is required to use native plants
for landscape plantings.
• Does not apply to homeowners.
Red Maple
• Developers provided with plant
list.
• No issues with developers.
Community Effort & Coordination
• Borough Council
• Bird Town Committee
• Nature Preserve
• Civic Association
• Parks & Recreation
• Orchard Park
• Planning Commission
• Businesses
• Scouts and schools
• Borough Residents
For more information:
http://pa.audubon.org/bird-town