Bird City

In 2023, the Parks and Recreation Department, in partnership with the Conservation Advisory Group, launched the Bird City initiative. College Station was officially certified as a Bird City by Texas Parks and Wildlife and Audubon Texas on January 9, 2025. Community science birding, bird-friendly education programs, and College Station’s Lights Out for Birds programs are among the many efforts College Station made to help earn this designation.

In early 2024, “Bird City, Texas” became part of Bird City Networks as a partnership between the American Bird Conservancy, Environment for the Americas, and U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services to help bring together over 200 international bird-safe communities. These community-focused certification programs were created to protect birds and their habitats.

This active community supports a wide variety of initiatives in addition to Bird City, the Conservation Advisory Group assists with the Mayors Monarch Pledge, Tree City USA, Cooling College Station Urban Heat Island Planting Projects and much more.

Conservation Advisory Group

In November 2022, the City of College Station Parks and Recreation Department created the Conservation Advisory Group. This group is made up of passionate, conservation-minded citizens and organizations that promote wildlife conservation efforts and embrace wildlife and wild places to foster a healthier and happier city.

Who is the Conservation Advisory Group?

And many more! Interested in learning more about how you can help give back to nature? Contact Laurie L Brown at Lbrown@cstx.gov

Conservation Advisory Group Students Society Support

Come Birding College Station

Our fantastic community parks, greenways, and natural areas includes many different birding hot spots accessible to the community. The City of College Station’s Lick Creek Park, Bryson Park, Gabard Park, Bee Creek Park, Brothers Pond Park, and John Crompton Park have seen over 150 bird species. To learn more, download our Birds of the Brazos Valley Checklist.

To look for more information on the copious number of parks and birding spots in College Station and the surrounding areas, visit Birding Hot Spots.Org to find local birding hot spots.

In February 2024, the City of College Station opened two unique bird blinds at Lick Creek Park, one accessible from the parking lot via a paved walkway. Forgot your binoculars? No problem—we have extras in the Gary Halter Nature Center.

Feel free to come borrow them from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and 1-6 p.m. Sunday. Please plan to bring your own chair or borrow one from the nature center.

Threats to Birds

Cities can pose many threats to birds; below are ways to learn more about how to help.

Cats: Did you know the leading threat to birds is our feral felines and loose pet cats? Keeping your cats indoors or in a contained area is safer for your cat and better for birds and other wildlife. Learn More

Windows: Windows, mirrors, glass structures, and reflective surfaces can harm birds and other wildlife when they collide with them or try to escape a predator. Most of the time, these collisions are fatal. Learn More

Pesticides: Pesticides harm insects and birds that eat them. Reducing or eliminating your pesticide use can help the birds in your neighborhood. Learn More

Feeding Waterfowl: Feeding leftover bread, crackers, and popcorn harms ducks, geese, and other waterfowl and teaches them harmful behavior, such as delaying their migration tendencies or becoming aggressive nuisance birds. Learn More

Feeding Healthy Snacks: Healthier alternatives to bread exist. If you are interested in what to feed migrating waterfowls or domestic park ducks, click here to get a comprehensive list.

Plant Native Plants

The College Station community has many ways to learn about and obtain native plants for your home. To learn more about native plants, please check out our Native Plant List. Native Plants for a Texas-Friendly Landscape.

Native Plant Sales and Seed Give Aways:

Rooted In Garden plant Sale each Spring and Fall
The Post Oak Chapter of the Native Plant Society of Texas Native Plant Society Plant Sale
The Brazos Valley Chapter of the Texas Master Naturalist Fall Plant Sale
Pick up free wildflower seeds at Lick Creek Park’s Gary Halter Nature Center.
Visit Local Plant Nursery Fish on Aquatic Plants at https://www.fishonaquaticplants.com/

Need more Native Plant Lists?

To learn more about Texas Native Plants and Gardening for Birds and Wildlife?

Protect Our Night Sky

The City of College Station is dedicated to protecting and studying our Texas night skies to benefit our community and wildlife. Here’s how you can help:

The City of College Station Lights Out for Birds initiative. Did you know that most bird migration happens at night? Migrating birds are often confused by lights whose reflection and glare can obscure windows, making them appear safe places to pass through. Other birds get lost and fly around until dawn, wasting much-needed energy to continue migration. The City of College Station turns the Lights off during Lights Out Migration Times in all non-essential buildings.

You can also learn more about the Lights Out Program from Audubon Texas.

Texas Dark Skies: Want to know how to reduce light pollution and preserve our beautiful Texas night skies? Check out how the community, businesses, and local government can help save our Texas Dark Skies. Learn More

Bat Conservation: During our Park in the Dark and Night Hike events, you can join our Bat Conservation International volunteers to learn more about the acoustic calls of bats and other wildlife. To learn more about how you can help, visit the Gary Halter Nature Center and Bat Conservation International.

Join our Community Science Initiative

The Conservation Advisory Group members have a host of community science and research.

For ten years, we have hosted an annual Bioblitz at Gary Halter Nature Center Lick Creek Park in the spring. Check out our seasonal guide for upcoming events.

I-Naturalist has become a staple for researchers and the community to learn more about our wildlife and how they use the parks. You can help by recording your observations in the free I-Naturalist app.

Once you have made a profile, please free to join the following I-Naturalist projects.

Comprehensive College Station Biota

Community Science

The Conservation Advisory Group participates in species monitoring through the City Nature Challenge, I-Naturalist species inventory, The Christmas Bird Count, The Big Sit, Project Feeder Watch, and many others.

Are you looking for ways to get involved? Connect with our local Rio Brazos Audubon Chapter or join the I-Naturalist community to document wildlife in College Station.

Habitat

Wild places are important, and the City of College Station has made many commitments to protect and repair habitat for our water and wildlife. In 2023, we planted hundreds of native plants and trees, spread 30 lbs. of native wildflower seeds, and pulled hundreds of pounds of invasive plants. In addition to these actions, we educate the community on native plants and trees through our community demonstration gardens at Lick Creek Park and Brison Park.

Threats to Birds

The City of College Station wants to make the city safer for birds and other wildlife. To do this, we are spreading awareness about keeping cats indoors, the importance of planting native plants, and promoting College Station's Lights Out for Birds program and the Dark Sky initiative. .

Education

Learn about birds with us! College Station Parks and Recreation hosts an annual Migratory Bird Day Festival on the second Saturday in May at Lick Creek Park. In partnership with the Rio Brazos Audubon, Parks and Recreation has hosted monthly birding 101 classes for over ten years at Lick Creek Park. Want to learn more? Click the tabs below to connect with many great resources and learn more about our birds, native plants, and nature in College Station and the surrounding areas.

Parks & Recreation Department

1000 Krenek Tap Road
College Station, TX 77840
(8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays)
979.764.3486
parks@cstx.gov