Bird-Friendly Spaces

Saturday, October 18, 2025 | 9 am - 1 pm

“Did you know that Texas has an officially recognized week dedicated to Native Plant Gardening from October 19th to the 25th? To celebrate, Houston Audubon will be hosting a self-guided tour event called Plants for Pollinators: a Native Garden Tour.

Participants are invited to visit a number of gardens and learn about the endless possibilities of gardening using plants native to the Houston area. Each garden will have a garden host who can answer your questions about their garden process. Additionally, an information table will be present at each garden where you can learn more about Houston Audubon, get native seed packets, and talk with Audubon staff and volunteers.

Join us as we celebrate Texas Native Garden Week by touring these incredible gardens. Registration details coming soon

The Bird-Friendly Spaces Program

The Bird-Friendly Spaces Program recognizes community members and organizations who are actively supporting birds and wildlife in their personal spaces. The program was developed by Houston Audubon's 2021 Young Professionals Advisory Council to be inclusive of people with all different types of spaces.

Steps to Have your Bird-Friendly Space Certified

1. Make a Plan

What does your space look like? Can you plant native plants in the ground, display potted plants, or do you have an indoor space only? Are you able to substitute your coffee, rice, and beer for bird-friendly alternatives? Do you have time to join an urban bird survey near you? Start small - even one bird-friendly action like picking up trash on your way to work can make a big difference!

2. Design Your Space

Check out our space-specific guides for inspiration on how to design your own bird-friendly space. If you are planning to provide native plants in your space, Houston Audubon's Native Nursery staff and volunteers can help you select the best plants for your space. Design your space in a way that incorporates bird-friendly actions throughout your space and the spaces you occupy to have the biggest impact!

3. Complete Bird-Friendly Actions

To apply to the program, you must complete at least 3 different actions that fall under at least 2 of the 3 different categories:

• Create Inviting Habitat
• Connect with Others
• Limit Threats to Birds

For example, you might "volunteer at a native planting event," "keep cats indoors," and "limit plastic use" which fall in the categories Create Inviting Habitat and Limit Threats to Birds.

Bird-Friendly Community Partners

This designation is intended to formally recognize the partners directly supporting Houston Audubon’s Bird-Friendly Communities mission via habitat creation, community engagement, and threat reduction. Bird-Friendly Community Partners are businesses, organizations, institutions, or the like that achieve at least one goal from a list of six criteria.