ANN ARBOR, MI — The City of Ann Arbor has been officially recognized as a Bird City Michigan community, a statewide program led by Michigan Audubon that promotes bird conservation through habitat protection, reducing threats to birds, community engagement, and long-term environmental sustainability.

This designation reflects a collaborative effort between the City’s Natural Area Preservation (NAP) program and the Washtenaw Bird & Nature Alliance (WBNA), a nonprofit that has supported bird conservation and nature education in Washtenaw County for decades.

WBNA contributed to the application through key efforts in bird habitat monitoring, public education, and collaborative programming:

• Community Science & Monitoring: WBNA organizes the Washtenaw May Count and World Migratory Bird Day mobilizing volunteers to document bird populations across all 20 county townships. These data contribute to global bird databases and regional conservation planning.

• Education & Public Engagement: WBNA hosts scores of spring and fall bird walks, outreach programs, and public events that highlight local birding hotspots and support bird awareness throughout the community.

• Partnership Events: WBNA partners with the City to co-lead Swift Nights Out and participates in events like the Christmas Bird Count, further supporting public involvement in bird monitoring and education.

“Ann Arbor’s Bird City designation reflects a community-wide commitment to conservation and education,” said Matt Spoor, President of WBNA. “We’re proud to work alongside the City to support science-based stewardship and expand opportunities for people to learn about and protect local bird populations.”

Learn more:
Washtenaw Bird & Nature Alliance – washtenawbna.org
City of Ann Arbor bird programs – a2gov.org/NAPBirds
Bird City Michigan – michiganaudubon.org/bird-city-michigan