Communities are eligible for initial recognition as a Bird City when they fulfill at least 8 criteria: 7 of 18 Best Practices across 3 categories and 1 required action. 

Required of all Bird City communities (complete 1 of 1)

Adopt an official resolution and hold a celebration recognizing International Migratory Bird Day with a birding event. The details of the event are customized the needs and capacity of the community. 

Category I: Educate and engage people in birding and conservation (complete at least 2 of 5)

• Increase awareness of birds in your community
• Involve residents in conservation and stewardship projects
• Educate and engage youth audiences
• Promote citizen science monitoring and research
• Ensure access to nature

Category II: Protect, restore and enhance bird habitat (complete at least 3 of 7)

• Practice conservation planning
• Create and protect habitat
• Promote use of native and beneficial plant species
• Control invasive and detrimental species
• Create, protect and maintain nesting opportunities
• Ensure best management of urban forests
• Ensure clean water in natural waterways

Category III: Reduce threats to birds (complete at least 2 of 6)

• Reduce collisions with windows
• Reduce other man-made threats
• Reduce light pollution
• Reduce disturbance and predation by free-roaming pets
• Reduce the threat of pesticides and other toxins
• Reduce climate impacts

TOTAL:  Cities must meet follow at least 7 of 18 Best Practices (plus 1 required action) 

Please email Rob Schultz about getting a Bird City Minnesota application. 

Funding for this project is provided by the Minnesota Environment and Natural Resources Trust Fund as recommended by the Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources (LCCMR).