It’s official, y’all! Georgia has a certified ‘Bird City’ and it’s right here in Metro Atlanta. Decatur, Georgia makes history as the state’s first and only Bird City, due to its dedication to the protection of bird wildlife in the city. Keep scrolling for all the details about this cool new title!
First of all… what is a ‘Bird City’?
Great question. Being a Bird City is much more than just a title. To become a Bird City, cities have to apply for the certification and prove that they qualify.
Here’s what the official Bird City program says,
Bird City is a conservation program that brings people together to create healthier communities benefiting both people and birds. The program serves as a guide – individuals working together in the community learn about the problems birds face and about potential solutions. They view a list of specific, locally appropriate, bird-friendly actions and select a subset they want to complete or in many cases, are already in motion. Once a required number of actions are complete, the community can apply and be designated as a Bird City. Actions are focused on improving habitat, addressing threats, engaging people, and promoting sustainability. Participation is on-going – after initial designation, some form of renewal is required to maintain your Bird City status.
The Bird City conservation program began in 2009 in Wisconsin, and has since spread to over 200 communities across 4 different countries.
You can learn more about Bird City and their programing, goals and more, on their website, here!
Why is Decatur a Bird City?
A huge part of Decatur’s bid to become a Bird City is Legacy Park. The city has worked hard to create a safe space for birds (and people!) to enjoy the great outdoors in Legacy Park. According to WABE Atlanta,
Decatur has worked with partners like Trees Atlanta to pull invasive weeds out of the woods and plant native trees and shrubs. There’s a hill with tall grass and wildflowers. There’s beaver dams.
And it was all for a good reason too. In fact, over 120 different bird species have been spotted in Legacy Park. It’s a great spot to go birding, if you’re in the area!
So if you’re looking to get into birding, you love spotting new birds, or you just want to hang out in a nice spot with lots of chirping birds, you’re in luck, Atlanta! Head to Decatur, the state’s first official Bird City!