Richland Township was named Pennsylvania’s 100th Bird Town during the March 18 supervisors meeting.
The conservation program works in conjunction with the Audubon Society of Western Pennsylvania and the township’s Bird Town Committee. Bird Town is a grassroots conservation program with designated municipalities across the state since 2011.
During the meeting, Richland Manager Brian O’Malley introduced Nick Stahlman, a Bird Town representative and community conservation coordinator for the Audubon Society.
Stahlman explained how Bird Towns work and how Richland came to be recognized as the latest Bird Town in Pennsylvania.
“Kathleen (Sullivan), one of the residents of Richland, reached out to me with an interest in becoming a Bird Town. It’s been a fun process, and I’m really excited to be here tonight. You guys will be the 100th Bird Town, which is a cool milestone for Bird Town Pennsylvania,” Stahlman said before presenting the board with the official certification and Bird Town street signs.
According to weconservepa.org, Richland’s designation makes Bird Town Pennsylvania the largest program in the Bird City Network. The network includes 16 programs across the U.S., South America and Mexico. Pennsylvania has Bird Towns in 17 of its 67 counties.
All Bird Towns start with a designated green status. To move up through the ranks to bronze, silver and gold, communities must accomplish their established environmental conservation goals.
“Our role with ASWP is to find ways to facilitate any of the ideas Richland has for the community,” Stahlman said. “The Bird Town committee here has already come up with some fantastic ones, and I’m excited to see where this goes.”
