Dripping Springs achieves Bird City Texas designation

DRIPPING SPRINGS, TEXAS – The City of Dripping Springs has been designated as a Bird City by the Texas Audubon Texas and Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD), partners in the Bird City Texas initiative. The City of Dripping Springs received the certification recognizing its efforts to ensure birds, wildlife, and people thrive in its community.

Bird City Texas is a community-focused certification program that was created to help people protect birds and their habitats where they live, work, and recreate. The criteria required to attain certification are designed to be impactful and efficient against habitat loss and other harmful factors impacting birds.

Dripping Springs designation was due to all the hard work from its partnering organizations in the community such as the Dripping Springs Birding Club, Texas Master Naturalists, Wild Birds Unlimited, and Destination Dripping Springs. The city and its partners work hand in hand throughout the year to offer and showcase all there is to do and support for the bird conservation movement in Dripping Springs.

“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, Dripping Springs Parks & Community Services Director. “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!”

In receiving the designation, 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.

According to Texas Audubon Texas, there have been 8 certified communities in the 3 years of the program. The 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.”

Dripping Springs holds a variety of events, activities, and initiatives throughout the year to help protect birds and their habitats, including its bi-annual Lights Out Dripping Springs campaign and more. One event coming up soon will be its Festival of Flight event that celebrates World Migratory Bird Day, taking place on May 14.

For questions on the Bird City designation or for more information, please the Communications department at communications@cityofdrippingsprings.com or call the City at 512-858-4725.