City of Raleigh addresses concerns about painted bunting birds at Dix Park

Dix Park in Raleigh is a special place for birdwatchers. It is also a special place for birds, and one, in particular -- the beautiful multicolored painted bunting.

2026-06-17

Birdwatchers have found these birds in Dix Park perched on brush piles not far from the park’s famous Sunflower Field. 

People concerned about the buntings have questioned a decision to remove brush piles where birds are commonly spotted, worried about the impact changes could have on the birds and the surrounding habitat.

On Tuesday, Hilary Sheaves was able to get a stunning photo of the painted bunting.

Mike Parler wrote to WRAL News saying, “Over the past several weeks, the brush pile has become an important habitat feature supporting a variety of wildlife during the height of nesting season. It appears to be providing valuable cover, nesting habitat, and protection for birds and other small animals at one of the most sensitive times of the year.”

Susana Mateos wrote in saying, “Many people across the state and beyond have been documenting the painted bunting and many other beautiful birds at the wood pile behind the Sunflower Field for a couple of weeks … I went to the wood pile yesterday and it was being mulched.”

City of Raleigh officials said the debris pile near where the painted buntings and other birds have been spotted at Dix Park is not being used for nesting. The area serves as a staging area for park operations. The city said clearing the pile is necessary because large amounts of dry debris can become a wildfire risk during ongoing drought conditions.

"While we have seen the buntings perching on the debris pile, there are not birds nesting there," a city spokesperson said in a statement.

The city also said it is exploring alternative perching locations for the birds and plans to consider seasonal wildlife use in the area to minimize impacts on visitors and wildlife in the future.

With the painted buntings continuing to draw birdwatchers to Dix Park, some hope the city can find ways to balance park maintenance with protecting wildlife habitat.