This bill creates the Urban Bird Treaty Program run by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. The program is voluntary. It will work with federal, tribal, state, and local agencies, nongovernmental organizations, community groups, and academic institutions to protect, restore, and improve bird habitat in urban areas. Key activities include controlling invasive species, restoring native plants, reducing hazards to birds, community bird monitoring, public education, and sharing best practices. The bill also creates a competitive grant program to fund research, planning, habitat work, monitoring, training, and related projects. The Director will enter an agreement with the National Fish and Wildlife Foundation to administer the grants.
If you are part of a tribal, state, or local agency, a nonprofit, a community group, or an academic institution, you may be eligible to apply for competitive grants to do urban bird habitat projects. Participation is voluntary. The program will offer technical and financial help, training, and opportunities to work with others on habitat restoration, bird monitoring, and public education in cities.
The bill authorizes $1,000,000 to be appropriated to carry out the program for each of fiscal years 2026 through 2032. No publicly available information on additional costs, budget details, or estimated federal outlays beyond that authorization.
The bill cites recent bird population declines and says conserving urban bird habitat has benefits such as healthier lands, cleaner water, and more resilient landscapes. It notes large public interest in birdwatching (about 96 million Americans) and reported economic activity from birding (findings list $279,000,000,000 in annual economic output, $108,000,000,000 spent on trips and equipment, and 1.4 million jobs). Supporters also say urban habitat work can reduce disease transmission risks between wild birds and domestic poultry and help detect and respond to wildlife disease earlier.
No publicly available information.