DECATUR, Ill. (WAND) — Decatur has a new title to add to its resume, as the city is now officially recognized as a Bird City in Illinois.
The Audubon Council of Illinois awarded Decatur the designation for its sound practices and public education efforts in bird conservation.
To earn the designation, Decatur had to prove it could meet a set of requirements, including maintaining enough green spaces and implementing bird-friendly practices across the city.
Decatur Audubon Society Board Member Kristen Raguse said pulling everything together is what made it happen.
"There are a lot of different organizations out there doing really cool things," Raguse said. "I basically took all of that information and compiled it into the application."
Raguse said promoting community events and working on green initiatives played a big role in earning the certification.
"Promoting different events, getting the community engaged and working on green initiatives is what allowed us to become Bird City certified," Raguse said.
Decatur is home to dozens of bird species, and the city's parks, lakes and green spaces make it a natural fit for the designation.
The Decatur Audubon Society also works with local homeowners who maintain gardens that promote native plants, which support pollinators, butterflies and birds across the city.
"We work with local homeowners who have gardens that promote native plants, which also support pollinators, moths, butterflies and birds," Raguse said.
Raguse said the city could not have earned this title without the support of organizations across the community.
"Thank you to all the different organizations out there making a difference, creating green spaces, the Conservation District, the master naturalists. There are so many really great groups out there making a difference," Raguse said.
Decatur joins more than 80 other cities across Illinois that have earned the Bird City designation.
To learn more about the Decatur Audubon Society and how you can get involved, visit its website.
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