HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-321OCTOBER 12, 2010 10 -321 RESOLUTION
(CARRIED 6 -0 LOST LAID OVER WITHDRAWN )
PURPOSE: AUTHORIZE SUBMITTAL OF APPLICATION FOR BIRD CITY
WISCONSIN DESIGNATION; DESIGNATE INTERNATIONAL
MIGRATORY BIRD DAY ON OR ABOUT THE SECOND
SATURDAY OF EVERY MAY
INITIATED BY: DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT
SUSTAINABILITY ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDATION: Approved
WHEREAS, migratory birds are some of the most beautiful and easily observed
wildlife that share our communities, and
WHEREAS, these migrant species also play an important economic role in our
community, controlling insect pests and generating millions in recreational dollars
statewide, and
WHEREAS, migratory birds and their habitats are declining throughout America,
facing a growing number of threats on their migration routes and in both their summer
and winter homes, and
WHEREAS, public awareness and concern are crucial components of migratory
bird conservation, and
WHEREAS, citizens enthusiastic about birds, informed about the threats they
face, and empowered to help address those threats can directly contribute to
maintaining healthy bird populations, and
WHEREAS, since 1993 International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) has become a
primary vehicle for focusing public attention on the nearly 350 species that travel
between nesting habitats in our communities and throughout North America and their
wintering grounds in South and Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean, and the
southern U.S., and
WHEREAS, hundreds of thousands of people will observe IMBD, gathering in
town squares, community centers, schools, parks, nature centers, and wildlife refuges
to learn about birds, take action to conserve them, and simply to have fun, and
OCTOBER 12, 2010 10 -321 RESOLUTION
CONTD
WHEREAS, while IMBD officially is held each year on the second Saturday in
May, its observance is not limited to a single day, and planners are encouraged to
schedule activities on the dates best suited to the presence of both migrants and
celebrants, and
WHEREAS, the City desires to become a member of `Bird City Wisconsin', a new
community recognition program to implement sound bird conservation practices, which
is modeled on the successful nationwide program Tree City USA, of which the City is a
member.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Common Council of the City of
Oshkosh that the proper City officials are hereby authorized and directed to submit an
application for membership in `Bird City Wisconsin' and to execute any and all
documents necessary for purposes of same.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that should the City's application to Bird City
Wisconsin be approved, the City hereby designates International Migratory Bird Day on
or about the second Saturday of every May.
O
OlHKOlH
ON THE WATER
TO: Honorable Mayor and Members of the Common Council
FROM: Darryn Buricl
Planning Director
DATE: October 5, 2010
RE: Authorize Submittal of Application for Bird City Wisconsin Designation; Designate
International Migratory Bird Day on or About Second Saturday of Every May
Background
Bird City Wisconsin seeks to encourage communities to implement sound bird conservation practices by
offering high visibility public recognition to those that succeed in doing so. Benefits of such a
designation are in line with the community's desire to create a sustainable future for the city of Oshkosh.
Additional Benefits
A Bird City Wisconsin designation would also provide the following benefits to the community:
• Make a strong contribution to community pride and present the kind of image that most
citizens want to have for the place they live or conduct business.
• Promote and grow our community's environmental reputation through a program that
provides guidance, resources, and recognition.
• Sustain healthy, functioning natural systems in our community.
• Improve the local environment. New wildlife habitat areas can offer aesthetic, social,
economic, and environmental benefits.
A complete list of benefits can be found at the Bird City Wisconsin webpage at
http : / /www.birdcitywisconsin.org or
http• / /www birdciWyyisconsin org/ PDF/ ADozenReasonsBecomeBirdCiiy.pdf
Analysis
In order to achieve initial annual certification, a community must demonstrate in a written application
that they have met at least 7 of 22 criteria in the following five categories:
1. Creation and Protection of Habitat (must meet 3 of 9 criteria).
2. Participation in Programs Promoting Effective Community Forest Management (must meet 1 of
2 criteria).
3. Limiting or Removing Hazards to Birds (must meet 1 of 3 criteria).
4. Public Education (must meet 1 of 7 criteria).
5. International Migratory Bird Day (must meet 1 of 1 criterion).
Bird City Designation Memo
Planning staff has analyzed the requirements for initial designation as a Bird City, and has determined
that Oshkosh currently meets or exceeds the necessary criteria for the following categories:
Category 1: Creation and Protection of Habitat
1. The community is in compliance with Wisconsin's "Smart Growth" law for land use planning
and resource management. Chapter 8 of the City's Comprehensive Plan illustrates the long -term
vision for the community with regard to natural resources such as shorelines and shore lands,
wetlands, woodlands and trees, and environmentally sensitive areas.
2. Park planning seeks to provide additional bird habitat. The master plan for Menominee Park and
Zoo indicates the intent to establish a sanctuary for rescued bald eagles by creating a spacious
grassy enclosure which includes carefully placed natural trees or dead head for nesting habitat.
3. The community contains a segment of the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail or an IBA
(Important Bird Area). The Oshkosh - Larsen Trail Prairies is a series of three low prairie
remnants along a 4 -mile segment of the State WIOUWASH Trail, which begins in Oshkosh and
travels 22 miles north to Hortonville. The prairies segment totals 32 acres and contain a diverse
variety of native prairie species.
4. The community has an ordinance that permits private nature areas through special permission of
the Parks Director.
The community has a park system with habitat for birds of a number of species. This is
demonstrated by bird monitoring results and /or other data obtained from researchers or local
volunteers. Counts of nesting colonial water birds have been conducted since 1993 at the pre-
treatment basin in Miller's Bay, adjacent to Menominee Park. Additionally, habitat management
to encourage herons and egrets to nest has been conducted since 2003 at the same location.
Category 2: Participation in Programs Promoting Effective Community Forest Management
1. The City participates in the "Tree City, USA" program and is actually one of the oldest in the
state with over 26 years of participation.
2. The City currently participates in three tree programs: Re -Leaf Oshkosh Terrace Tree Program,
Taking Root Program, and Memorial Tree Program.
Category 3: Limiting or Removing Hazards to Birds
1. A link to the Bird City website will be provided on the Sustainable Oshkosh web page regarding
the "Cats Indoors!" program.
2. As well as information on protecting birds from window strikes.
Category 4: Public Education
1. The community is represented in at least one bird monitoring program such as the Christmas Bird
Count, the Great Backyard Bird Count, or Swift Night Out. Oshkosh has participated in the Great
Backyard Bird Count since as early as 1998. Documentation is available from 2010 for
submission with the City's application.
2. Oshkosh currently holds an annual Conservation Carnival at the Menominee Park Zoo, with the
most recent carnival having been held on August 7 & 8, 2010. This event featured many
conservation- related activities for children and adults including building bird feeders and
planting trees.
Bird City Designation Memo
3. The Oshkosh Bird Club was founded on May 4, 1970 in order to stimulate interest in and
promote the preservation of birds. Club members are actively involved each year in field trips,
bird counts, and local bird projects. In May 2010, the club conducted a bird count. Written data is
available for submission with the City's Bird City Wisconsin application.
Category 5: International Migratory Bird Day
1. The community adopts an official resolution and holds a celebration marking International
Migratory Bird Day (IMBD), celebrated on the second Saturday in May or sometime in the week
before or after that date. If approved by Council, staff will begin to plan a public celebration for
May, 2011.
Application
Once all criteria have been met, the City must submit an application as well as provide any necessary
accompanying documentation requested by Bird City Wisconsin. The deadline for application
submission is November 1, 2010.
Upon achieving initial annual certification as a Bird City, Oshkosh will receive the following items to
publicly celebrate its recognition:
• Two 24" x 30" street signs with the Bird City Wisconsin emblem
• A 3' x 5' all- weather Bird City flag
• A recognition plaque
• A prominent announcement on the BirdCityWisconsin.org website
• An electronic Bird City Wisconsin logo /emblem that can be used on appropriate municipal
websites and printed materials, as well as the websites of partner organizations and local
businesses
• A sample press release
To achieve yearly recertification as a Bird City, Oshkosh will need to demonstrate that it continues to
meet at least 7 of the above criteria, including recognizing IMBD.
Fiscal Impact
None anticipated.
Recommendation
The Sustainability Advisory Board approved applying for the Bird City Wisconsin designation and
requests Council's support of this application and designation.
Approved,
City Manager
Bird City Designation Memo
Bird City Wisconsin - Short History of Bird City Wisconsin
Page 1 of 1
About Us Bird City Basics You Can Help Enjoying Protecting slog News Credits Home
Short History of Bird City Wisconsin 777
In March 2002, leading bird conservation organizations in Wisconsin created a cooperative partnership
called the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative (WBCI), which is part of the National Bird Conservation
Initiative. The goal of this coalition is to work in close coordination to deliver the full spectrum of bird
conservation statewide, emphasizing voluntary stewardship.
To date, 167 organizations -- from the statewide Audubon Council to local bird clubs and bird - related
businesses -- have endorsed WBCI's principles in support of bird conservation. These include:
• Coordinate the efforts of private and public landowners and institutions, and all
citizens who care for birds
• Focus on the full array of wild bird species
• Promote voluntary partnerships
• Promote conservation based on the best available scientific information
• Take an ecological landscape approach
• Share knowledge to encourage voluntary stewardship and bird -based recreation.
WBCI's Urban Committee introduced the concept for Bird City Wisconsin early on, based on the success of
the Arbor Day Foundation's Tree City USA program. They wanted a program that could do for communities
and their bird life what Tree City USA has managed to accomplish in the field of urban forestry.
In 2009, WBCI members received a planning grant for Bird City Wisconsin through the TogetherGreen
program, a unique alliance between the National Audubon Society and Toyota. During this initial phase of
the program, the Milwaukee Audubon Society is serving as the program's fiscal agent and the Schlitz
Audubon Center is its home base.
Hiid (.'itv Wisconsin I3ro�n Deer Road - Bayside, %V1 53217 - Phone (4 14) 416 -:3272 - Email Us
http:// www. birdcitywisconsin .org /History.htm 10/7/2010