Williamsport accepted into Pennsylvania Bird Town program, Audubon leaders outline next steps

Williamsport has been accepted as a Pennsylvania Bird Town, city officials were told during the Jan. 8 council meeting.

Heidi Shiver, director of Bird Town, Pennsylvania, told council the program works with municipalities to promote community-based conservation actions for birds, wildlife and people. She said Bird Town has grown to 97 programs across the state and noted Williamsport joins other cities in the network. Bruce Buckle, the local Bird Town Advisory Committee chair, introduced committee members and said the Lycoming Audubon chapter pledged $1,000 to support Williamsport’s efforts.

Shiver summarized threats to bird populations cited in the 2025 State of the Birds report — habitat loss, domestic and feral cats, window collisions, pesticides, climate change and plastics — and described steps municipalities can adopt, from native-plant demonstration gardens to measures that reduce window strikes. She said the Bird Town program offers a four-tier certification (green, bronze, silver, gold), annual reporting (due Jan. 31), training, networking and resources. Shiver also said she had applied for a DCNR C2P2 grant approaching $70,000 and, if awarded, the program would offer mini-grants to participating towns.

Council members asked practical questions about how residents can reduce bird-window collisions. Shiver recommended screens, lowering indoor lights during migration, and applying small dots to windows; she noted many effective, low-cost options.

Council accepted the presentation, received a certificate and applauded the committee; no formal fiscal commitment by the city was announced at the meeting.