Dr. Dustin Partridge • Creating Bird Habitat Through Green Infrastructure in Urban Areas • Dec 2025

From a bird’s-eye view, New York City is a landscape of concrete and glass and a space dominated by impervious surfaces that offer little value to wildlife. Yet, up to 25 million birds migrate through the city each year. When thoughtfully designed, green infrastructure like green roofs and bioswales can serve as vital habitat patches in a densely built environment. This talk will explore which bird and bat species are using small urban green spaces, how to design green infrastructure for conservation impact, and present case studies that demonstrate its potential to support biodiversity in cities.

Dr. Dustin Partridge, the Director of Conservation and Science at NYC Bird Alliance, is a pioneering scientist in urban green space conservation research in North America. His work, focused on wildlife conservation in New York City, has driven cities to reconsider the ecological value of small green spaces. Dr. Partridge’s published research has reshaped the national conversation on the role of cities in conservation and led to significant policy changes in New York City. These include the passage of Local Laws 92 and 94, which mandate green roof and solar installations on new buildings, and the Green Roof Tax Abatement, which offers substantial financial incentives for green roof installations in high-need areas. An adjunct professor at Columbia University and a sought-after speaker in media and public forums, Dr. Partridge is a scientist whose approach to conservation is based in using science to drive solutions that benefit both wildlife and people.