Decatur is georgia's first certified bird city

Decatur Mayor Pro Tem Tony Powers, Birds Georgia Interim Co-Executive Director Adam Betuel, and Decatur Urban Naturalist Allison Ericson at the dedication ceremony for Bird City Decatur on October 17, 2025, at Legacy Park in the city of Decatur, GA.

The Bird City Network is excited to announce the launch of Bird City Georgia with Bird City Decatur. The City of Decatur is the first community to receive certification as a Bird City in Georgia. The City of Decatur submitted an impressive application, far surpassing the 12 requirements from the program's comprehensive Action List to secure the High Flyer level of recognition. The designation was approved at a meeting of the Decatur City Council on September 15, 2025. The City of Decatur was officially recognized as Bird City Decatur at a ceremony on Friday, October 17, at Legacy Park, with Decatur Mayor Pro Tem Tony Powers in attendance. 


A collaborative effort between the City of Decatur and the Bird City Network, the Bird City Initiative promotes bird conservation and creates healthier communities for both people and birds across Georgia. Bird City Georgia is led by Birds Georgia, with support from the Georgia Native Plant Society and Georgia Ornithological Society.


“Birds Georgia is thrilled to recognize the City of Decatur as the first city to receive the Bird City designation in the state,” says Birds Georgia Interim Co-Executive Director Adam Betuel. “Where birds thrive, people thrive, and the City of Decatur has committed to implement a variety of initiatives that support thriving bird populations and, thus, their residents.”


Located in DeKalb County, the City of Decatur is known as a vibrant and walkable community located roughly six miles east of Atlanta. The city has undertaken a range of initiatives to support bird populations, including: 

• Habitat Creation and Restoration: The City's Environmental Sustainability Board has created a Hometown Habitat award for residents. This program recognizes residential properties that promote ecological health, resilience, and community engagement. The City of Decatur is working with partners at Legacy Decatur, Trees Atlanta, Woods Keeper, and Intown Chapter of Georgia Native Plant Society to remove invasive plant species and plant more than 400 native plants at Legacy Park.
  

• Reducing Threats to Birds: This includes implementing measures to minimize light pollution, window strikes, and pesticide use. Project Safe Flight Decatur monitors buildings during the spring and fall migration periods for bird/building collision victims. The City of Decatur has also inventoried all street lighting for Dark Sky compliance and is currently transitioning existing fixtures to dark-sky approved fixtures. 
  
• Promoting Public Awareness: The City of Decatur is committed to educating the community about the importance of bird conservation and engaging citizens in birdwatching and monitoring activities. The City of Decatur and Birds Georgia partner for weekly bird walks at Legacy Park.
  
• Supporting Research and Monitoring: Decatur’s many birders collaborate with scientists to study bird populations and inform conservation efforts through community science and monitoring projects.
  
• Organizing and Promoting Events for World Migratory Bird Day: By joining the global celebration of migratory birds, Decatur is raising awareness about their long-distance journeys and conservation needs. 
  ​
  
  

The Bird City Network is a collaboration between the American Bird Conservancy (ABC) and Environment for the Americas (EFTA). The Network unites independent Bird City programs like Bird City Georgia, providing a platform for communities to collaborate and be recognized for implementing bird-friendly actions. The goals of the Bird City program include:

• Creating Healthier Communities for Birds and People: Working to make cities and towns healthier for birds by promoting habitat conservation, tackling threats, and getting people involved and interested in bird conservation efforts.
  
• Promoting Sustainable Community Planning: Encouraging communities to incorporate bird-friendly design principles into their urban planning and development.
  
• Raising Awareness about Bird Conservation: Increasing public understanding of the importance of birds and conservation through education and outreach programs.
  
• Encouraging Collaboration: Connecting community members through shared goals and projects while also learning from experts and other community teams across the Network.
  

Bird City Georgia invites communities across the state to join the initiative and work together to protect and conserve bird populations. By participating in Bird City Georgia, communities can contribute to a larger effort to promote sustainability and biodiversity.
For more information about Bird City Georgia and the other collaborating programs in the Bird City Network map, visit https://birdcity.org/georgia