Denton, Texas—In recognition of its commitment to avian conservation, Denton has been awarded the Bird City Texas certification, a testament to the community’s ongoing environmental efforts, particularly at the University of North Texas (UNT). The accolade, granted by Audubon Texas and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, highlights urban areas that excel in bird conservation, healthy habitat creation, and community engagement.
The UNT Bird Campus Committee has been instrumental in securing this certification. Founded in 2021, the committee is part of the We Mean Green Fund initiative and is devoted to educating students on the ecological significance of birds. Over the past several semesters, its members have been dedicatedly working before dawn to foster a bird-friendly environment, contributing significantly to Denton’s recognition.
‘It’s a continuous effort since our inception,’ said Jaime Baxter-Slye, the faculty advisor and a clinical assistant professor of ecology at UNT. ‘This certification is a milestone reached after three years of collaboration with the city. We aim to further build on our work, extending our gratitude to everyone involved in our journey—from facilities staff to grounds crew.’
Key projects like the study on bird-window collisions, which involved tracking bird strikes around buildings, played a crucial role in highlighting the city’s preventative measures. Additionally, initiatives like native landscaping encapsulated in the Parking Lot Preserve and the Pecan Creek Pollinative Prairie have shown UNT’s dedication to fostering native plant species and robust bird habitats.
Located at Discovery Park, the Pecan Creek Pollinative Prairie spans four acres, offering the largest native planting area at UNT. Here, the Bird Campus Committee records bird activities and has documented 77 species, including the Harris’s Sparrow and Eastern Meadowlark, noted as near-threatened.
Celebrating the Bird City Texas designation, the committee hosted an event at UNT’s Environmental Education, Science & Technology Building. Attractions included research showcases, bird-themed trivia, and informational displays from various organizations such as the Texas Conservation Alliance. ‘It’s fulfilling to witness this acknowledgment for all the hard work we’ve put in,’ shared Madison Rutherford, a master’s student in environmental science at UNT, referring to the culmination of two years of persistent dedication and collaborative efforts.