Freeport, Fox Chapel become Bird Towns; Tarentum to consider joining
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A nationwide loss of more than 3 billion birds since the 1970s has spurred an effort to make Pittsburgh and its suburbs a better place to roost.
Bird Town, a statewide grassroots program, is partnering with the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania to restore habitat and bring people together for ecological good.
“There’s an old adage about a canary in the coal mine,” said Jim Bonner, executive director of Audubon, which is headquartered in Fox Chapel.
“When the bird drops over, that’s your signal to get out.”
With the smog long gone from Pittsburgh’s skyline, now is the perfect time to rejuvenate habitat and bring back the birds, organizers said.
Bird Town costs nothing to taxpayers. It supports municipalities in seeking volunteers to plant native gardens, erect chimney swift towers or participate in other ways to boost bird populations.
“Birds are natural indicators of ecological health,” said Heidi Shiver, manager of Bird Town Pennsylvania. “Small steps in a backyard can increase the diversity of birds and, at the same time, create a healthier living environment for people and pets.”
Municipalities can get plaques, proclamations and other recognitions for their efforts to help birds and their environment as part of the four-tiered level certification program.
Fox Chapel joined the effort in June as one of the first in Allegheny County.
Council President Andrew Bennett said the borough is a nature conservancy and Bird Town is “in perfect alignment” with other Fox Chapel initiatives.
“It’s a wonderful program by the Audubon Society,” Bennett said. “It seemed very obvious to want to get on board as part of our initiatives.”
Freeport, Clinton, Millvale, Swissvale and Avalon also are on board.
Millvale Manager Eddie Figas said borough officials were immediately interested in the program after hearing a presentation at the annual Allegheny League of Municipalities Conference this spring.
“Several council persons attended the meeting and wanted to pursue membership based on other similar nature-based programs that the borough is involved in,” Figas said. “These programs include the Gardens of Millvale, Native Pollinators and Green Infrastructure.”
Tarentum Council is expected to vote on a resolution during its meeting Tuesday.
Mini grants of up to $14,000 will be available for municipalities to implement projects, similar to the native plant garden recently constructed at the Freeport post office.
Audubon staff also will lend time to discuss ways to educate residents and boost civic-minded projects that include reducing pesticides and cleaning waterways.
There will be speaker events and plant sales and swaps.
“If we can take care of the birds, we can take care of ourselves,” Bonner said.
Building bird populations also can be a boon to the economy.
A 2022 study by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service reported 96 million people — 30% of the country — who observe, feed or photograph birds, visit parks to view birds or plant natural areas at home to benefit birds.
More than six out of every 10 dollars spent in 2022 on wildlife-related recreation — which includes hunting and fishing — came from bird-watching, according to audubon.org.
Last year, more than $250 billion was spent on the hobby, including purchases of binoculars, cameras and bird food.
“It is second only to gardening as the biggest pastime in the country,” Bonner said. “It crosses age, gender, race and socio-economics.”
The first Bird Town was established 12 years ago in Upper Moreland Township in Montgomery County. Now there are about 50 Bird Towns in the eastern part of the state and the movement is migrating west.
“I think that just reinforces the power of birds,” Bonner said.
Fox Chapel Mayor Alex Scott said the program aligns perfectly with the borough’s mission of being a nature preserve, along with the continued desire to expand green space and protect wildlife.
Carrie Casey, chair of the borough’s Bird Town committee, said members are looking forward to partnering with Audubon, other conservation groups, schools and community volunteers “to help our community become even more beautiful and environmentally friendly for both people and birds.”
Casey was at Fox Chapel’s June meeting and was pleased to see council get on board.
“Our committee will create a long-term plan to help us achieve high levels of success with certification,” Casey said. “The more goals we can meet the better chance our birds have at surviving.
“We are thrilled to join this worthy partnership. One of our long-term goals is to work with other local municipalities and expand the participation. If one person can make a difference, imagine how much impact there will be if numerous municipalities participate in this program.”
To learn more, visit aswp.org.