Alpena council back’s Alpena’s Bird City Michigan designation
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ALPENA – Alpena has been recognized as an official Bird City Michigan community, a designation celebrating its long-standing commitment to bird conservation and habitat protection after the Alpena Municipal Council approved a supporting resolution and officials worked closely with the local Thunder Bay Audubon Society.
Michigan Audubon announced the recognition this week, congratulating Alpena on joining the growing statewide network. The science-based program, launched by Michigan Audubon in January 2025 as part of the international Bird City Network, honors cities, villages, towns, counties and campuses that take concrete steps to create healthier environments for birds and people.
"Congrats to the City of Alpena for earning Bird City Michigan recognition," Michigan Audubon posted on X. "With support from founding partner Ford Motor Company, Bird City Michigan, empowers communities to create sustainable life both birds and people deserve."
According to information published by Michigan Audubon on June 10, the program requires communities to demonstrate progress in four key categories: habitat protection and restoration, reducing threats to birds, such as window collisions, plastic waste and outdoor cats, public engagement and education, and long-term sustainability. Designated communities gain visibility as bird-friendly destinations, supporting Michigan's growing ecotourism sector focused on birding and nature travel.
Alpena's designation builds on a deep local history with birds.
"Since its inception in 1963, Alpena has been an important and active birding area," city information shows. "The Bird City designation will complement Alpena's long-time designation as a Tree City and augment our plans to share our unique natural resources with others while maintaining our own rural/small town ambiance. The Alpena park system consists of approximately 19 parks on 100 acres of land with nearly 16.5 miles of bike path, and approximately 1.5 miles of Lake Huron shoreline."
Central to those resources is the Alpena Wildlife Sanctuary, which includes Duck Park and Island Park and features diverse ecosystems and shoreline along the Thunder Bay River. Local birding highlights also include nearby wetlands and preserves such as Birdsong Bay, known for migrating shorebirds, herons and bald eagles. The Thunder Bay Audubon Society has long promoted these sites through field trips, educational events and citizen science bird counts.
Thunder Bay Audubon Society, the local Michigan Audubon chapter, has been active for more than 65 years and a formal chapter for more than 50 years. It serves Alpena and Presque Isle counties with a mission to promote an interest in and conservation of native birds, wildlife and other natural resources. The chapter partnered with the city on the Bird City effort.
Michigan Audubon itself dates to 1904 (formally incorporated in 1905) and stewards about 4,000 acres of habitat across 20 bird sanctuaries statewide. It connects birds and people through conservation, education and research.
Ford Motor Company serves as the founding sponsor of Bird City Michigan, providing support that helps communities implement projects and raise their profiles as nature destinations. The program has expanded rapidly since its 2025 launch, with early designees including the Village of Roscommon, Sterling Heights, Ann Arbor, Iosco County, Big Rapids, Oakland County, Houghton (the first in the Upper Peninsula and a Highflyer for exceeding base criteria), and others. Campuses such as the University of Michigan-Dearborn have also joined.
Kathleen Mennillo, CEO of Michigan Audubon, has described the momentum as significant. In a related announcement earlier this year she said the growth shows how communities and partners can work together to create healthier habitats, stronger community engagement, and a greater appreciation for the role birds play in our everyday lives. She has projected that Michigan could become recognized as a national leader in connecting people to nature through birds within five years, while supporting eco-tourism.
The Bird City status reinforces Alpena's identity as a place where natural resources and community life intersect. The designation is expected to help promote the area's parks, riverfront habitats and birding opportunities to visitors while encouraging continued local actions such as native plantings, reduced hazards to birds and public education that benefit both wildlife and residents.
According to information published on its website, the Thunder Bay Audubon Society and city partners plan to continue field programs, counts and outreach. Residents and visitors can explore local hotspots, follow recommended social-media tagging guidelines when sharing Bird City content, and contact the organizations for ways to get involved. The recognition positions Alpena among Michigan communities actively stewarding habitat in a state that documents more than 460 bird species, many facing population pressures.