Indiana Bird Town

In 2016, the City of Carmel gained the Indiana Bird Town certification. Carmel is committed to protecting environmentally sensitive areas and wildlife habitats to promote the quality of the natural ecosystem as well as for livability, environmental health, and economic development. One of Carmel’s many parks, Central Park, offers 161 acres of mixed hardwood forest, prairieland and wetland along with informational nesting bird signage.

• Bird Town Indiana pamphlet

“Cats Indoors” Program

Outdoor domestic cats are recognized as a threat to global biodiversity. The American Bird Conservancy estimates that cats have contributed to the extinction of 33 species and continue to adversely impact a wide variety of other species. The ecological dangers are so critical that the International Union for the Conservation of Nature lists domestic cats as one of the world’s worst non-native invasive species. A study released by The Wildlife Society and the American Bird Conservancy suggests that nearly one-third of free-roaming house cats are capturing and killing wildlife, reports the Wildlife Management Institute. The American Bird Conservancy estimates that domestic cats kill 2.4 billion birds a year in the United States alone.

For more information:

• Cats Indoors! Better for Cats, Better for Birds, Better for People (American Bird Conservancy)
• Trap, Neuter, Release (American Bird Conservancy)
• Trap, Neuter, and Release: Bad for Cats, Disaster for Birds - video (American Bird Conservancy)
• Outdoor Cats and Diseases (American Bird Conservancy)
• Indoor Cats vs. Outdoor Cats (American Humane Association)

Protecting Birds from Window Strikes

Up to one billion birds are killed each year from window collisions. The average home has two window strikes per year. There are many strategies a home owner can do to protect birds from window strikes.

• Make Your Windows Bird-Safe (Humane Society)

Creating Backyard Habitats for Birds

Creating a backyard habitat for birds is an important aspect of our local wildlife environment. Stanford University estimated that 10% of all bird species may be extinct by 2100, because of the many challenges birds face. There are a number of ways to attract birds to your backyard, including planting native plants to providing safe havens for them to eat, drink and nest. Providing water year-round with a birdbath is a great way to start a backyard habitat for birds.

• How to Create a Bird-Friendly Yard (Audubon)

Become a Birder

Learn more about the natural world around you with nature programs! Carmel Clay Parks & Recreation offers nature programs throughout the year. These programs are designed for all ages and touch on topics ranging from birds to pollinators to gardening.

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