Roseburg City Council Backs Effort to Become a Bird Friendly Community

ROSEBURG, Ore. - Roseburg is moving forward with an effort to become recognized through the Bird City Oregon program after the City Council approved Resolution No. 2026-20 Monday night.

The resolution gives formal City Council support to a coalition led by Umpqua Bird Alliance, Umpqua Watersheds and Friends of Ford's Pond as the groups pursue designation of Roseburg as a Bird Friendly Community.

The approval does not mean Roseburg has already received the designation. Instead, it provides one of the pieces needed for the local coalition to move ahead with the application process.

Bird City Oregon is part of the national Bird City Network, which recognizes communities for work involving bird conservation, habitat protection, public education and sustainability.

According to information provided to the council, the local organizations hope Roseburg will serve as a pilot Oregon community participating in the Bird City Network.

What the Resolution Does

Resolution No. 2026-20 formally states the City Council's support for Roseburg seeking Bird City Oregon designation.

It also encourages Umpqua Bird Alliance, Umpqua Watersheds and Friends of Ford's Pond to establish a local coalition and complete the activities necessary to obtain and maintain the designation.

The resolution took effect immediately upon its adoption Aug. 24.

The council's approval does not commit the city to spending money or providing other city resources for the Bird City program.

That limitation is specifically included in the resolution, which states that adoption does not obligate the city to provide financial support or other resources for the designation or associated activities.

What Roseburg Would Have to Do

Becoming a Bird City involves more than receiving a resolution from the City Council.

According to application materials included with the council packet, a new community must document at least 10 qualifying actions spread across four areas:

• Habitat
• Threats to birds
• Education and engagement
• Sustainability

A local Bird Friendly Community Coalition is mandatory, and communities must complete at least two additional habitat-related actions.

The education and engagement category also requires participation in World Migratory Bird Day and a municipal resolution supporting the Bird City application. Roseburg's newly adopted Resolution No. 2026-20 fulfills the resolution portion of that requirement.
At least one qualifying action, beyond adoption of the resolution, must be carried out wholly or largely by the municipality itself.

The application fee for a new community is listed at $100, with applications reviewed on a rolling basis.

What Counts as a Bird Friendly Action?

The program provides communities with a lengthy list of possible activities rather than requiring every community to follow exactly the same plan.

Habitat-related actions can include restoring bird habitat, establishing native plant demonstration gardens, increasing the use of native plants in public spaces, controlling invasive species and protecting nesting areas.

Communities can also receive credit for efforts addressing threats to birds.

Examples include educating residents about keeping cats indoors, reducing bird collisions with glass, addressing light pollution, reducing plastic pollution and educating the public about the effects of pesticides, rodenticides, and herbicides on bird populations.
Education is another major part of the program.

Possible activities include bird-related presentations, bird outings and field trips, promoting local birding areas, supporting wildlife rehabilitation programs, offering conservation programs for children and families, creating birding kits through public libraries and participating in community bird-monitoring programs such as the Christmas Bird Count or Great Backyard Bird Count.
The application materials also require a World Migratory Bird Day event designed to increase awareness of migratory birds and the challenges they face.

Why Birds?

The city's resolution notes that nearly 500 species of wild birds use Oregon during some portion of their annual life cycles, including for migration, breeding, and stopover habitat.

It also states that urban and suburban communities can play a role in creating and protecting habitat, reducing threats to birds and providing opportunities for public education.

The Bird City designation is intended to recognize communities that can demonstrate work in those areas rather than simply adopting a name or proclamation.

For Roseburg, Monday's council vote represents the city's formal support for beginning that process.

Umpqua Bird Alliance, Umpqua Watersheds, and Friends of Ford's Pond will now be able to continue forming the local coalition, documenting qualifying activities and preparing an application for Bird City Oregon designation.

If the application is ultimately approved, Roseburg would receive the Bird Friendly Community designation through the Bird City Oregon program.