City of Dripping Springs Named as a Bird City Texas Community

AUSTIN – Audubon Texas and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), partners in the Bird City Texas initiative, are proud to announce that the City of Dripping Springs has received certification recognizing their efforts to ensure birds, wildlife, and people thrive in their communities. Dripping Springs exhibited leadership in 3 categories: Community Engagement, Habitat Protection, and Threat Reduction. The 3-year Bird City Texas certification for the community lasts through 2024.

“Achieving our Bird City Texas designation is a badge of honor that reflects the incredible work the city and its aviary enthusiast partners are doing in the community to support bird conservation, education, and outreach,” said Kelly Schmidt, Parks & Community Services Director with the City of Dripping Springs. “Collectively, the Bird City collaborative body is beyond ecstatic at achieving this incredible honor and we are all looking forward to growing the field and moving the conservation meter while celebrating the birding world and community efforts for perpetuity!”

There have been 8 certified communities in the 3 years of the program. These communities help their residents by preserving green spaces beneficial to birds and people alike. The Bird City Texas communities are able to leverage this designation in attracting more of the 2.2 million bird watchers in Texas, a major driver in the $1.8 billion economic impact from Texan wildlife viewing.

“The Bird City Texas partners designed this program to be a rigorous commitment to conservation that engages people from all walks of life. As our state population grows, wildlife are going to need more attention and support from dedicated, passionate, and proactive people,” according to Yvette Stewart, Community Outreach Coordinator for Audubon Texas. “This is why we’re so proud of the work being done by Dripping Springs, and we’re thrilled to welcome them into the certified communities. From their community science and education opportunities to their proactive approach to transportation needs, Dripping Springs has enacted meaningful criteria that support birds and a variety of wildlife.”

“We are incredibly proud of Dripping Springs,” says Olivia Haun, Outreach Specialist for the Wildlife Diversity Program at TPWD. “They put an enormous amount of effort into this application and have shown true dedication to the future of their community. People and wildlife will continue to benefit from their proactive work for generations to come.”

In the coming months, certified communities will host a variety of events across the state in support of the annual spring migration of breeding birds back to their northern nesting territories and celebrating World Migratory Bird Day on May 14th. We encourage interested participants to visit each community’s Chamber of Commerce website, as well as TPWD and Audubon Texas’s websites for opportunities to celebrate and support birds by turning out your lights!

“Organizations such as the Dripping Springs Birding Club, Texas Master Naturalists, Wild Birds Unlimited, and Destination Dripping Springs work hand in hand with the city to offer and showcase all there is to do and support for the bird conservation movement in Dripping Springs.” shared Schmidt.

For communities interested in applying for certification, the 2022 Bird City Texas application cycle begins in early summer. Please visit www.birdcitytexas.org for more information on how to apply for certification.

About Texas Parks and Wildlife Department

The mission of the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department is to manage and conserve the natural and cultural resources of Texas and to provide hunting, fishing and outdoor recreation opportunities for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations.

About Audubon Texas

The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow, throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education and on-the-ground conservation. Audubon’s state programs, nature centers, chapters and partners have an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire and unite diverse communities in conservation action. Since 1905, Audubon’s vision has been a world in which people and wildlife thrive. Audubon is a nonprofit conservation organization. For more information and to find your local chapter visit https://tx.audubon.org/. You can also find us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.