A program that supports city partners in conserving birds and their habitats and providing opportunities for community engagement in bird-related recreation, education, and conservation activities in urban and suburban areas.

What We Do

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Our Services

The Urban Bird Treaty program is a unique, collaborative effort between the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service and participating U.S. cities. Launched in 1999, the first treaty was signed with New Orleans and the second with Chicago in 2000. Since that time, an additional 28 cities have become Urban Bird Treaty cities, for a total of 31 spanning from Alaska to Alabama. Read about our Urban Bird Treaty cities.

The Urban Bird Treaty Program Guidebook provides a wealth of information and resources to support partners in existing Urban Bird Treaty cities and those interested in nominating their cities for Urban Bird Treaty City status.

Latest Stories and Topics

Stories
Geese flying above a pond
"Conservation Found Me"
Ollie Zanzonico didn’t go looking for a career in conservation. Their career in conservation found them — with a little help from a Townsend’s warbler.
Looking out from golden marshes toward a city skyline
Migratory Species
Bird Friendly Building Retrofitting and Design Makes a Difference: Case Studies from Philly
This project is a means to demonstrate to both locals and visitors the positive actions that people can take to make buildings bird safe—to show that it IS possible to make windows visible to birds and prevent collisions!
Foreground: USFWS Branded Helmet atop Hazard Cone. Background: Visitor Center of Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge
Modeling Sustainability: Rocky Mountain Arsenal Bird-Safe Glass Installation
Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge, Colorado - Nearly invisible to the naked eye, dotted patterns are applied to the glass of the Visitor Center at the Rocky Mountain Arsenal National Wildlife Refuge. While unassuming, these patterns are critical to the mission of the Refuge and the...
Graphic with a biodiverse wetland of plants and various bird species
Migratory Species
Shared Skies: Monarchs & Migratory Birds
What do monarchs and migratory birds have in common? They embark on epic migrations each fall — and face similar threats along the way. Discover how conservation efforts can benefit both groups and learn what you can do to help.
students learn to use binoculars with a guide
Migratory Species
2024 Urban Bird Treaty-funded Projects through NFWF's Five Star and Urban Waters Restoration Program
For the 2024 grant funding cycle, the Service’s Migratory Bird Program contributed funds supporting projects in Michigan, New York, Pennsylvania, New Mexico, Arizona and Connecticut.
blue bird sits in a meadow with purple and yellow flowers
Migratory Species
Spotlight on Detroit: Restoring Urban Meadows for Birds and People
Together Detroit partners—in collaboration with the community—are transforming underutilized parks into beautiful community greenspaces with meadow habitat, providing a haven for birds, insect pollinators, and visitors alike.
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Our Services

American Oystercatchers at dawn in Jamaica Bay
Urban Bird Treaty Grant

The Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds (Urban Bird Treaty) is a program working with cities and partners to conserve migratory birds through education, hazard reductions, community science, conservation actions, and conservation and habitat improvement strategies in urban/...

Projects and Research

Yuma Ridgway's rail standing in water
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Rio Reimagined Urban Bird Coalition
About the Coalition

In 2011, through the awarding of a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Challenge Grant to Audubon Southwest, Phoenix Arizona was designated as an Urban Bird Treaty City.  In 2022, in a show of continued support for urban bird conservation, the Urban Bird Treaty was signed by dignitaries from the City of Phoenix, Audubon Southwest, and the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service....

Rio Reimagined Urban Bird Coalition