Gazette File Photo A peregrine falcon surveys the Portage Canal from its nest box on the Portage Lake Lift Bridge in this 2018 photo. The City of Houghton has recently be designated as the U.P. first "Bird City."

HOUGHTON – The city of Houghton has officially been given the designation of Bird City, becoming the first community in the Upper peninsula to earn the recognition from Michigan Audubon and the Bird City Network. Houghton is the northernmost Bird City in the state, and the only community in Michigan to achieve prestigious High Flyer status.

Houghton City Manager Erik Waara said the designation is important to the city.

“This area has a big birding culture and birding tourism is something that’s growing,” he said. “I was surprised, going through this process, to find out how many people are actually passionately into birds.”

According to birdcity.org, Bird City Michigan is a science-based program that recognizes cities, villages, counties, and campuses that adopt bird-friendly practices, including managing green spaces, educating the public, and reducing threats to birds such as window collisions and light pollution.

The designation places Houghton among a growing network of communities committed to bird conservation, habitat protection and sustainable practices. While several communities in Lower Michigan have earned Bird City status, Houghton is the first U.P. community to acquire the designation.

High Flyer status is awarded to communities that demonstrate exceptional leadership across multiple categories, including habitat protection, community engagement, threat reduction and sustainability planning. Houghton’s application highlighted a strong, existing foundation of collaboration between municipal leaders, conservation groups and local organizations.

At its Feb. 25 regular meeting, the City Council unanimously approved a resolution to seek the designation as a Bird City, which would represent the city’s commitment to long-term health of its local ecosystem and a strong move for the regional tourism economy.

“There was a lot of information that went into the application,” Waara said, “and one of the things we’re going to be doing like the Nara Nature Trail and the boardwalks, and the woods there, is one of the prime areas. You’ve got eagles, ducks, songbirds, grouse – you’ve got all these birds over there, so we’re going to installing signage and promoting that area as a birding area on our website.”

A statement from Visit Keweenaw says rather than launching a new initiative from scratch, the Bird City designation reflects years of ongoing work across the Keweenaw. Local organizations, volunteers and partners have long prioritized conservation, habitat restoration and environmental education–efforts that are now being formally recognized at the state and national level.

“What this recognition really shows is that Houghton has been doing the right things for a long time,” Brad Barnett, executive director of Visit Keweenaw, said in the statement. “We’re located in one of the most important migration corridors in the Great Lakes, so the work happening here–protecting habitat, improving access to nature, and engaging the community–has an impact far beyond our region. Earning Bird City and High Flyer status reinforces that the Keweenaw isn’t just a great place to visit, it’s a place that takes stewardship seriously.”

Located along a critical Great Lakes migration corridor, Houghton plays a vital role in the movement of bird species across North America. For migratory birds, the Keweenaw Peninsula serves as both a final stop heading north and a first refuge on the return south–making stewardship efforts in the region especially impactful.

“We’re thrilled to welcome Houghton as the first Bird City Michigan community in the U.P.,” Linda Smith, Michigan Audubon Director of Partnerships and Bird City Michigan Coordinator, said in a statement. “The collaboration among scientists, bird enthusiasts, conservation experts, and municipal leaders is truly exceptional. It’s evident that the leaders of Houghton are intentional in their protection of migratory birds as well as enhancing nature-friendly experiences for residents and tourists.”