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Representatives Debbie Dingell (D-MI) and Ben Cline (R-VA) today reintroduced the bipartisan Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act to establish a federal grant program to support conservation of birds and habitats in urban areas.

“Birds play an important role in our ecosystems and our everyday lives, and we all have an opportunity and a responsibility to make our communities safer places for birds and people to live together,” Dingell said. “Unfortunately, we have lost nearly 3 billion birds in the last 50 years, and we need to take serious action to address this crisis. The Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act will provide federal funding to cities, community organizations, and other groups doing important work to restore bird habitat, and most importantly, educate communities about the small steps we can all take to protect bird populations for generations to come.” 

“Birds play an important role in our environment, and responsible conservation efforts can help preserve migratory patterns and reduce the risk of avian illnesses," Cline said. "These efforts should be led locally by individuals and municipalities who understand the needs of their communities. As we codify existing partnerships through the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, we must ensure that any federal support remains targeted, transparent, and accountable to the taxpayer.”

In North America, one in four breeding birds has been lost since 1970. The widespread loss and degradation of habitat is the biggest driver of bird population decline. Restoring bird habitat in urban areas can make a significant difference in conserving bird populations.

The Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act would make $1,000,000 available annually through a competitive grant program to eligible entities, including Tribal, State, or municipal agencies, nongovernmental organizations, community groups, and academic institutions, to promote urban bird conservation. Specifically, the grant program aims to:

• protect, restore, or enhance urban habitats for birds, including through the control of invasive species and the restoration of native plant species;
• reduce urban hazards to birds; and
• educate and engage communities in scientific activities involving the monitoring of birds and the habitats of such birds in urban areas

The bill is endorsed by the National Audubon Society, the National Wildlife Federation, the American Bird Conservancy, and Ducks Unlimited.

“Every spring, billions of birds migrate across the United States, sometimes as many as 500 million in a single night. For them to safely complete their journeys, our communities must not only offer safe passage but also provide critical places to rest, nest, and feed along the way,” said Felice Stadler, vice president of government affairs at the National Audubon Society. “With bird populations down 30 percent since 1970, it’s essential that legislation like the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act becomes law and give communities the tools we need to create healthy bird habitat in our neighborhoods. Thank you to Reps. Dingell and Cline for your leadership and commitment to protecting our nation’s birds. We look forward to seeing this important bill move forward in Congress.”

“As wildlife habitats shrink across the country, it is increasingly important to protect and expand existing habitat and ensure safe passage for birds,” said Abby Tinsley, vice president for conservation policy at the National Wildlife Federation. “For migrating birds, rural and urban parks and greenways offer places to feed and rest on their journeys, and many species rely on them year-round.  This bill will empower communities to conserve and restore these essential habitats, benefitting the birds and people who share these spaces. We are grateful to Representatives Dingell and Cline for their leadership.”

“Thriving communities include birds,” said Steve Holmer, vice president of policy at American Bird Conservancy. “Thanks to Representatives Debbie Dingell and Ben Cline for introducing the Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act, which will improve bird habitat, reduced hazards to birds, and engage communities in bird conservation. As birds face unprecedented declines and bird watching participation grows, conserving birds is more important now than ever before.”

“Waterfowl and other birds are important to ecosystems in both rural and urban areas,” said Kellis Moss, Ducks Unlimited Managing Director of Federal Affairs. “The Local Communities & Bird Habitat Stewardship Act will help cities and local organizations invest in habitats that benefit the long-term conservation of bird populations. We thank Rep. Dingell and Rep. Cline for their leadership on this issue.”