Media Borough is embracing its new designation “Bird Town,” ‘given to it in a resolution adopted last fall by Media Borough Council, writes Kenny Cooper for WHYY.

The resolution establishes Media’s commitment to protect avian species within its borders.

Area birds are struggling, and officials need to address issues like window collisions, habitat loss, and the impact of pesticides on bird food, said Julie Smith, an ad-hoc member of Media’s Environmental Advisory Committee.

“I feel like the world has just become disconnected from nature, and the more resources we have, the better,” Smith said.

To honor the new designation, there’s an “All About Owls” event on Sunday, Feb. 25, from 1 to 3 PM, in the Media Community Center.  The public will hear from Marcy Engleman of the National Audubon Society. A live owl ambassador will be on hand. 

The event is co-hosted by fellow “Bird Town” chapters in Nether Providence, Swarthmore, and Springfield.

Media Borough bird enthusiasts are building programs around the new “Bird Town” designation, hoping to get residents thinking differently about the winged neighbors all around them.

For those who want to get involved right away, there’s the 27^th annual Great Backyard Bird Count already underway through Feb. 19. 

Find out what led up to Media’s “Bird Town” designation at WHYY.