Bird Town Pennsylvania, a statewide program administered by the Pennsylvania Audubon Council, has awarded  Jenkintown Borough Gold Certification status based on the activity of its program.

Each year, Bird Towns submit an annual report which is evaluated based on suggested actions to engage officials, students and residents of the community and to improve habitat. Those actions include municipal, school and youth, community engagement, organization, collaborations and partnerships, and advocacy.

As a result of Bird Town Jenkintown completing actions in all 5 strategies and achieving over 25 points, it received Gold Certification status. “It’s not a competition between Bird Towns, rather a framework that provides a path of inspiration for doing more,” said Heidi Shiver, President of Bird Town Pennsylvania. There are currently 102 Bird Towns in Pennsylvania most of which work with conservation partners such as Audubon chapters and land trusts. Color rankings in ascending order are; green, bronze, silver, gold.

Bird Towns such as Jenkintown create programming for people to learn about and experience the wonders of birds and nature, often in their very own backyard. Native plants and habitat enhancement play a role in this experience and contribute to an improved ecological “footprint” that yields more birds and butterflies and healthier places for people and pets. For more information on the Bird Town program, see www.birdtownpa.org.