The Zoo is helping native birds in the following ways:

• Providing funding from the Round Up for Conservation Fund to the Sutton Avian Research Center to conduct breeding bird surveys across Oklahoma for the Breeding Bird Atlas Vol. II. These data are needed to guide management and protection efforts for birds in Oklahoma and across the US.
• Zoo staff have been helping Sutton Avian Research Center conduct breeding bird surveys since 2020. Zoo staff also helped the Sutton Center with a bird survey this month at the Tallgrass Prairie Preserve.
• OKC Zoo is a North American Songbird SAFE partner, helping to promote key actions people can take to help native birds: plant native plants and don’t use chemicals; buy Bird Friendly Coffee, which is sold in our gift shop; keep cats indoors; and reduce collisions using bird safe products. The Zoo is not perfect at preventing collisions, but we are tracking it and getting better.
• Zoo staff have been conducting the Great Backyard Bird Count at the Zoo since 2018, contributing data to the global eBird database
• Reducing plastic pollution through cleanup events and the Plastic Free EcoChallenge
• The Zoo’s conservation work and messaging around pollinators also benefits native birds

Here’s how you can help:

• Read this Washington Post article to learn more and see what’s happening to your favorite birds
• Join the Great Backyard Bird Count every February. You can join the count at the Zoo (date and details coming soon) or complete the count on your own https://www.birdcount.org/
• Join Citizen science by searching for a local bird surveys
• Plant native plants and don’t use chemicals on your yard
• Keep your cats indoors
• Make your glass bird safe
• Buy Bird Friendly coffee
• Help with a cleanup event at the Zoo or with OKC Beautiful
• Join the Zoo’s Plastic Free EcoChallenge in July