Save the date! 

City of Austin - Bird City Minnesota Celebration - October 5, 2019 

We are excited to announce that the City of Austin is now a Bird City! On October 5, we will be celebrating with the community on their well-earned achievement. Katie Burns, Audubon Minnesota's Bird City program coordinator, will thank Austin for their hard work and dedication to making the world a better place for birds and people. 

10 am - Bird City recognition and presentation 

Jay C. Hormel Nature Center, 1304 21st St NE, Austin, MN 55912

The recognition event will take place at 10 am, during Austin's International Migratory Bird Day. The day will be filled with exciting events from 9 am to 5 pm. Event schedule is below.  

Bird City Minnesota 

Audubon Minnesota’s Bird City program works to increase wildlife habitat, reduce threats, and engage citizens by recognizing cities that create great places for birds to feed, live, and nest.

Official Bird Cities enact bird-friendly solutions and, by recognizing their actions, Audubon Minnesota is identifying solutions that can be implemented elsewhere. In short, we give birds a chance to thrive alongside their human neighbors.

Migratory birds are a key focus of this program because birds don’t focus on city or state boundary lines. Healthy habitat in cities and towns provides crucial resources for birds, especially as they migrate in spring and fall.

Migratory birds like Belted Kingfishers are almost constantly on the move and they survive by finding the food, water, and shelter they need. Scientific research has shown that birds are in great need of support as they face a host of challenges from a loss of habitat to extreme weather events. Communities can make a difference by becoming Bird Cities and seeing positive change in their own backyards. 

International Migratory Bird Day Event Schedule:

9 am - Seed sale begins (sponsor Jim and Merlene Stiles of Super Fresh)

9:15 am - How to Feed Birds 

9:30 am -  How to Talk Like an Owl and a Black-capped Chickadee 

10 am - Austin Bird City Declaration by Audubon Minnesota 

10:45 am - Al Batt Storyteller (Bird stories for Seniors and Family) 

11: 45 am - How to Feed Birds 

1:15 pm - How to Talk Like an Owl and a Black-capped Chickadee 

1:45 pm - Al Batt Storyteller (Bird stories for Family and Youth)

2:30 pm - Bird Survival Game and Self Learning Station Bird Hike for Family and 5th grades

4:45 pm - Prizes for completion of Survival Game and Bird Hike

5 pm - Seed Sale concludes

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