[TN-Bird] New Urban Bird Treaty Participants

From: "Aborn, David" <David-Aborn@xxxxxxx>
To: "tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx" <tn-bird@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 15 Jul 2011 17:50:42 +0000
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service announced today that 10 U.S. cities will 
receive $650,000 in funding as part of the Urban Conservation Treaty for 
Migratory Birds (Urban Bird Treaty) grant program.

The Urban Bird Treaty program, administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 
Service (Service), brings together private citizens, as well as federal, state, 
and municipal agencies and non-governmental organizations to conserve migratory 
birds through education programs, participation in citizen science, 
conservation and habitat improvement strategies, and reducing hazards to birds 
in urban/suburban areas.

"For the vast majority of people, birds represent their most frequent contact 
with wildlife. Birds are a valuable resource, contributing aesthetically, 
culturally, scientifically, and economically to America's citizens. By taking 
steps to conserve birds and their habitat, we can also make our communities 
better places to live," said Service Director Dan Ashe. "This program not only 
promotes actions that connect people and nature, but it also increases 
awareness and encourages youth to get involved in learning about birds and the 
role they play in our environment and urban settings."

The cities of Phoenix, Arizona; Kennedale, Texas; Minneapolis/St. Paul, 
Minnesota; Indianapolis, Indiana; Opelika, Alabama; Hartford, Connecticut; 
Ogden, Utah; Lewistown, Montana; San Francisco, California; and Washington D.C. 
have been named new Urban Bird Treaty Cities. These cities each will receive a 
challenge grant of up to a $70,000 from the Service.  In addition, each 
existing Urban Bird Treaty city (Chicago, Illinois; Houston, Texas; Portland, 
Oregon; St. Louis, Missouri; Nashville Tennessee; Anchorage, Alaska; 
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; and New York, New York) will receive a grant of 
$10,000.00.

The Urban Bird Treaty cities and their partners develop and implement bird 
conservation projects and provide matching dollars and in-kind support. The 
Service provides the challenge grants and technical assistance. The cities and 
their partners also work to increase awareness of the value of migratory birds 
and their habitats, especially for their intrinsic, ecological, recreational, 
and economic significance. The wide variety of native birds thriving in urban 
areas underscores the importance of these urban/suburban habitats to the 
survival of many bird populations.

"Birds are a critical component of every ecosystem and serve as an excellent 
indicator of the overall health of the environment," said Jerome Ford, the 
Service's Assistant Director for Migratory Birds. "Creating green space in 
urban environments, landscaping with native plants in backyards and parks, 
adopting architecture and lighting systems that reduce collisions and keeping 
pets indoors can provide great benefits to birds, while also creating more 
livable communities."

The Urban Conservation Treaty Program started in 1999 when New Orleans became 
the first city to establish an Urban Conservation Treaty. New Urban Bird Treaty 
cities are joining a program with already more than 200 partners in nine cities 
committed to conserving, protecting and restoring habitat, and educating urban 
residents on the importance of migratory birds.
[TN-Bird] New Urban Bird Treaty Participants

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