Siler City became a songbird sanctuary on February 23, 1939, by proclamation of Mayor O. B. Reitzel. It was the third town in the South to be so designated, coming after Hendersonville, NC and Milledgeville, GA. The bird sanctuary distinction for Siler City was instigated by Mrs. Henry Pike of the Siler City Garden Club.

The Siler City Garden Club was awarded first place in the state for bird work during the year 1947. Under Mrs. Pike's guidance, school children had built 345 bird houses that year and thirty-six species of birds had been identified.

From Hadley, The Town of Siler City: 1887-1987.

Thanks to Mark Ellington for the photo!

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