According to a report from the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Audubon Texas College Station, Denton, Kerrville, San Marcos and Wimberley have joined the Bird City Texas flock, while Galveston has become its first High-flyer.
This three-year certification program, a partnership between Audubon Texas and TPWD, recognizes cities’ efforts to ensure birds, wildlife and people thrive in their communities.
Certified cities have displayed leadership as bird-friendly communities by excelling in three key categories: community engagement, habitat enhancement and creating safer spaces for birds. Local governments and nonprofit partners in these cities have implemented innovative strategies to enhance their natural spaces and support bird populations:
- College Station: Excelled at removing invasive species and planting native flora and fauna across communities with the most need for trees and natural resources.
- Denton: Commended for its outreach programs reaching thousands of people each year and the involvement of the University of North Texas Bird Campus Committee.
- Kerrville: With its location in the Texas Hill Country, local leaders have educated the public about natural resource protection and expanded bird amenities to the public.
- San Marcos: Recognized for its conservation of riparian habitats, avian expertise in the area, and expansive partnerships to protect green spaces in this ever-growing community.
- Wimberley: A champion of community-driven conservation, Wimberley has prioritized dark-sky initiatives and native plant restoration to support local and migratory birds.
Galveston is the first community to achieve the program’s High-Flyer status, a distinguished designation that recognizes a community’s deep continued commitment to bird and habitat conservation efforts by achieving over 27 actions related to habitat, threats, and education. Galveston first achieved Bird City Texas status in January 2021, making 2025 their fifth year in the program…