Sep 17, 2025

Join us in supporting bird-friendly design in Austin! In response to City Council Resolution 20241121-073, which focuses on promoting bird-friendly architecture, the City of Austin’s Watershed Protection Department has developed a list of recommendations to reduce bird collisions around the city.

Travis Audubon, in recognition of the high rate of birds killed by striking buildings, has asked the City of Austin to consider enacting a “bird friendly” ordinance that would encourage the design and construction of buildings less likely to kill birds. City staff has been working on a draft ordinance for several months, which will be publicly presented to the city’s commissions over the next month. The schedule is below. You are invited to attend these meetings either in person or online (the Agenda for each meeting gives instructions on how to view online).

In support of this ordinance, Travis Audubon asks members to email their city council member to inform them of the commission meetings and more importantly, to let them know that you would like to see passage of this ordinance.

You can find out who your city council member is by first learning what district you live in. Go to https://www.austintexas.gov/government to type in your address.

Your email should say something like-

Dear CM (Name) –

I am your constituent, and I would like to let you know that I care deeply about the survival of birds in our city. I understand that city staff will be presenting a bird friendly draft ordinance to various city commissions over the next few weeks. In addition, there will be a Zoom meeting ( https://zoom.us/j/99787760709) for the general public on Monday, September 22, at 12 noon, where city staff will present this information and attendees can ask questions.

I hope you can listen in on a presentation to learn more about this effort.

I very much support the passage of this ordinance, and I hope you can too.

Sincerely,

(Your name)

Schedule of Presentations to Commissions

Leslie Lilly will be presenting WPD’s recommendations at a number of boards and commissions, included below. Our attendance is a valuable tool to demonstrate support for these important policies! We invite you to join these presentations to ensure that the City of Austin makes the necessary changes to effectively promote Bird-Friendly Design.

For information on attending and providing public comment at the hearings, view the links below.

September 17 at 6PM — Environmental Commission
September 22 at 6PM — Design Commission
October 13  at 6PM — Animal Advisory Committee
October 15  at 5:30PM — Downtown Commission
October 22 at 6PM — Joint Sustainability Commission
October 28 at 6PM — Planning Commission

WPD will also be hosting a Zoom webinar at 12PM on September 22 to present Bird-Friendly Design staff recommendations. Join using this link.

To learn more about Bird-friendly Design and the WPD’s recommendations, click here. To read the full draft of their report, including Staff Recommendations on page 29, click here.