Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Environment Conservation Birds topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Westminster named Carroll County's first Bird City Maryland community
Summary
Bird City Maryland presented a certificate to the City of Westminster at the Aug. 25 council meeting, recognizing the city for bird-friendly actions including habitat work, education and a planned planting of 6,000 native trees at Wakefield Valley Park.
Pamela Pellet, coordinator for Bird City Maryland, presented a certificate recognizing Westminster as Carroll County's first Bird City Maryland community during the Aug. 25 meeting of the mayor and common council.
The Bird City designation requires communities to complete at least 10 action points across four categories: habitat, threats to birds, education and engagement, and sustainability, Pellet said. She told the council the city's application highlighted 35 years of Tree City recognition, community citizen-science bird monitoring with the Carroll County Bird Club, and a plan to plant 6,000 native trees at Wakefield Valley Park, which contains about 3.1 miles of hiking trails.
The program also asks communities to commit to an annual celebration of World Migratory Bird Day. "I am pleased to announce that the bird for the city of Westminster is the eastern bluebird," Pellet said as she presented the certificate to Mayor Becker.
Why it matters: The designation connects Westminster to a broader conservation network that Bird City Maryland said joins the National Bird City Network, an initiative of the American Bird Conservancy and Environment for the Americas. Pellet said the city had already passed a resolution committing to Bird City actions before the presentation.
Local partners: The Carroll County Bird Club was cited in the application for offering bird walks, ongoing conservation activities and support for citizen science monitoring. The transcript named Andrea Gerhard (senior planner) and Maggie Ponce from the Carroll County Bird Club as contributors to the city's application.
Ending: A certificate and a road sign will be provided to the city; city staff and volunteers will continue habitat and education efforts in coordination with local partners and the Bird City network.
