Conservation & Advocacy
Responsible Rat Management
DC Bird Alliance is a proud member of the DC Responsible Rat Management Coalition and encourages residents, property owners and our local government to abstain from using rodenticide as a method for rodent-control. When ingested by rodents, the poison disorients and slows them down, making them easy prey for local raptors. This poison then spreads up the food chain and often leads to the bird of prey’s death. In 2024, 80% of DC raptors admitted into rehabilitation tested positive for rodenticide poisoning. To mitigate the need for rodenticide, we first need to reduce our rat population.
Prevention, not poison.
- Reduce food waste by composting.
- Seal garbage lids and prevent rats from entering.
- Call 311 to replace broken trash containers.
- Take out trash as close to the pick-up date as possible.
Lights Out DC
Every spring and every fall millions of birds fly over DC at night. Relying on the stars — either as a map or to activate their ability to use Earth’s magnetic field — they navigate hundreds to thousands of miles. Put simply: the night is a sacred time for migrating birds. However, our city lights can disorient birds and pull them off their intended course. Introducing them to dangers they otherwise would not encounter (windows, cars, house cats, etc.).
DC Bird Alliance is a proud founding member of Lights Out DC, a coalition with City Wildlife and DarkSky DC to reduce our city’s light pollution. To learn more, click the link attached to the image below.
How Can you help?
- Turn off any non-essential lights at night.
- Dim, cover, or shade essential lights.
- Point lights down instead of up.
- Use timers or sensors for exterior lighting.
Rock Creek Songbirds
Rock Creek Songbirds, one of DC Bird Alliance’s first partnerships restores habitat for migratory birds by planting and managing native tree species in Rock Creek Park. Planting over 600 trees, wildflowers and shrubs, these native species provide food and shelter for many birds.
For a more in-depth explanation of this project, click the link below and watch the “Songbird Journeys” film (on the right).