According to a report from the "Bird Town Summit," it's important to encourage residents to landscape with native plants.

"The most important takeaway is to try to encourage people to do stuff, rather than legislate or try to acquire land, which is very expensive," said Salisbury Township Environmental Advisory Council Chair Kreg Ulery.

Ulery attended the Jan. 18 summit in Audubon, Montgomery County. There are 22 "Bird Towns" in Pennsylvania. There are four in the Lehigh Valley. These, in addition to Salisbury, include Lower Macungie, Allentown and Bethlehem.

"Bird Town" is a designation awarded by the Audubon Society.

One of the new "Bird Town" programs is the "Healthy Yard Pledge," whereby homeowners and garden centers are encouraged to use native plants.

Ulery also reported on the Lehigh Valley Bird Town Coalition meeting Jan. 22 at the Allentown Parks Department headquarters. The main topic was the value of proper landscaping.

LVBTC is holding a Healthy Yard recognition program.

A workshop on rare native plants will be held May 3, sponsored by LVBTC, at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the Lehigh Valley, 424 Center St., Bethlehem.

The STEAC plans a "Bird Town" display for the lobby of the Salisbury Township Municipal Building, 2900 S. Pike Avenue. The wall display is to include the "Bird Town" designation plaque and Audubon information and pamphlets.

Planning, publicity and advertising for the second annual Earth Fair, 10 a.m. to noon April 26 at Lindberg Park, was discussed.

STEAC projects were discussed. These include Riparian Buffer Restoration, Backyard and Township Parks Habitat Design and Green Corridor Stewardship. There is also a move to retrofit existing stormwater management basins to natural low maintenance facilities.

Salisbury Township Director of Planning and Zoning Cynthia Sopka recommended a study of Trout Creek remediation once a Laubach Park Master Plan is in place.