Making our communities healthy for birds... and people
A. Comply with Wisconsin's "Smart Growth" law for land use planning and resource management. This criterion is an option only for applications submitted before July 1, 2017.
The Village of De Soto adopted a comprehensive plan on Dec. 28, 2009 and renewed the comprehensive plan on December 17, 2020. Beginning on Jan. 1, 2010, any community that makes land‐use decisions is required to base those decisions on its adopted comprehensive plan.
C. Provide evidence (e.g., official designation of natural areas, easements, etc.) that existing bird habitat within community limits has legal protection. (Exclusions: Leash laws; prohibitions against disturbing nests and wildlife; areas consisting primarily of mowed grass)
The Village of De Soto is part of Pool 9 of the Upper Mississippi Wildlife and Fish Refuge. The refuge lies within the Mississippi Flyway, a migration pathway for birds. The refuge was established in 1924 as a refuge for fish, wildlife, and plants and a breeding place for migratory birds. The refuge is designated as a Wetland of International Importance and a Globally Important Bird Area.
The Mississippi Valley Conservancy has land within the Village of De Soto. They have a help save falcon and eagle habitat program. They focus their conservation efforts on permanently protecting the scenic bluff land of the Upper Mississippi River Valley habitat for the Peregrine Falcon and the Bald Eagle. The conservancy has saved more than 14,000 acres of critical raptor habitat in North America’s major migratory flyway from destruction.
E. Describe your community’s ordinance demonstrating that your community does not restrict natural/native landscaping that emphasizes native plants and non-turf lawns.
The Village of De Soto has Ordinance #34 Lawn and Yard Maintenance, Section 2(F): Maintenance of Natural Landscaping which states: A landowner may choose to develop natural landscaping subject to the following regulations.
G. Document that there is a segment of the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail or a designated Important Bird Area within or adjacent to your community.
The Village of De Soto is part of the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail.
The Village of De Soto straddles both Vernon and Crawford Counties. Two GWBNT areas are located nearby: Genoa National Fish Hatchery lies to the North and Rush Creek State Natural Area to the South. These two areas feature shoreland birds such as the Solitary Sandpiper and songbirds such as the Kentucky Warbler.
F. OTHER: Demonstrate in a narrative.
The Mississippi Valley Conservancy has 14 acres within the Village of De Soto. The conservancy is a regional, non‐profit land trust based in La Crosse that has permanently conserved more than 15,000 acres of bluff lands, prairies, wetlands, and streams in southwestern Wisconsin since its founding in 1997.
MVC works with private landowners and local communities on voluntary conservation projects in nine counties along or near the Mississippi River: Buffalo, Trempealeau, Jackson, La Crosse, Monroe, Vernon, Crawford, Richland and Grant Counties. The Conservancy uses voluntary tools such as conservation easements, land acquisitions, and a landowner registry program to protect lands for their ecology, scenic beauty, outdoor recreation potential, and prime agricultural soils.
MVC works hard to restore native natural communities by removing invasive species and conducting prescribed burns. Additionally, the Conservancy provides hand‐on learning experiences in the outdoors for thousands of young people and works to foster a conservation ethic.
MVC works cooperatively with individuals, businesses, conservation groups, local units of government and state and federal agencies to protect the most precious places on our landscape. More than a million visitors to the area each year enjoy the scenic beauty of MVC nature preserves.
A. Describe your community’s educational program to control free-roaming cats and/or the manner in which you actively publicize the Cats Indoors! initiative.
The Village distributed ABC’s Cats Indoors! brochure from the De Soto Village office year round. The brochure is also handed out at our annual World Migratory Bird Day.. There is a link on De Soto's Bird City web page that contains An Overview of Caring for Free Roaming Cats also.
B. Demonstrate that your community provides property owners with information on how to protect birds from window strikes (e.g., online links, brochures).
Several brochures are available year round and also at our World Migratory Bird Day (Invasive Plants of the Future, River and Wetland Invasive Plants, Managing Invasive Plants and Regulated Terrestrial Invasive Plants In WI). Bird silhouettes are handed out at the World Migratoyr Bird Day to put in the property owners windows.
E. Document a program that effectively reduces feral cat populations (Note: See 3F for enforced ordinances). (Exclusions: Trap, neuter, release/return programs)
We have a program to control free-roaming cats with a neuter/spade initiative called Homeless Animal Fund. Funds were raised with rummage and book sales. The program finds homes for the cats so they aren't roaming the neighborhood anymore.
L. OTHER: Demonstrate in a narrative.
The Village of De Soto has several members in The Friends of Pool 9. The Friends of Pool 9 is a community based, grassroots, non‐profit organization comprised of individual, family, and business members who share a common mission to conserve the natural and cultural resources within Pool 9 of the Upper Mississippi River National Wildlife and Fish Refuge, and to foster wise use and enjoyment of the Refuge and the Upper Mississippi River. Their goals are to:
The Board of Directors of the Friends of Pool 9 encourages all of their members to adopt the Leave No Trace philosophy whenever visiting the River. The guiding principles of Leave No Trace should not be confused with local, state or federal regulations. Leave No Trace is a philosophy that in the absence of any regulations helps you to make ethical decisions based on what is good for the environment. It is always important to know the rules and regulations that pertain to the area you are visiting.
Working with the agencies that manage the River, they have put together a Leave No Trace Leaflet that helps to explain these principles. These leaflets are available at most of the boat ramps and major access points within Pool 9.
The U.S Fish and Wildlife Service also provides a substantial amount of information related to Hazards to Birds.
B. Provide web links or a community newsletter demonstrating that your community educates property owners on methods to create and enhance backyard habitat for birds.
The Village of De Soto has links on its website to provide the community with information on methods to create and enhance backyard habitat for birds and about habitat programs. Some examples are:
The American Bird Conservancy recently created the Top Ways to Help Birds. These actions are so good that Bird City Wisconsin borrowed and adapted them to share with you. Are you up to the challenge? The Top ways to Help Birds link is on our Bird City Web page.
Wisconsin Bird Conservation Partnership
D. Describe your community-sponsored annual bird festival. This must be a multi-day event or a truly exceptional one-day event.
. World MIgratory Bird Day
May 28, 2022
I’ve always loved birds, and believe they’re important to us in many ways. I want to help ensure that birds who spend all or part of the year in Wisconsin have all the resources they need to survive and thrive.
To raise awareness for Wisconsin’s birds, we held a walk-a-thon like event through the neighboring woods. After the walk, the participants were treated to a live raptor demonstration by the River Valley Raptors who brought an American Kestrel, Red-tailed Hawk and a Borrowing Owl. The participants also painted birdhouses while having snacks. Each of the 14 parcipants took the painted bird houses for use at their homes. The Great Wisconsin Birding & Nature Trail, Bird City Wisconsin, The Ruby-Throated Hummingbird, Hawk Migration Association of North America, You can save Birds from flying into wWndows, Creating a Bird-Friendly Yard with Native Wisconsin Plants, and Cats, Birds and You brochures were handed out.
5 walkers through private and public bluff trails in close proximity to the Mississippi Valley Conservency identified 23 species of birds on the morning of May 28.
G. Provide a link to your community’s Bird City Wisconsin webpage, which must be visible from the main page of your municipal website (it may be located at the first level of a drop down menu on the main page but cannot be any less visible) OR demonstrate that your Bird City effort has a significant social media presence.
https://desotowi.com/home/de-soto-a-wisconsin-bird-city/
B. Show that your community goes above and beyond in its support for, and implementation of, green transportation (e.g., bike trails, rideshare programs, bike trails/lanes, etc.). Be sure to utilize the narrative to illustrate why your community is exceptional because standard practice will not receive credit.
De Soto is part of the Vernon, Crawford and La Crosse County rideshare program. It is called S.M.R.T (Scenic Mississippi Regional Transit). It runs Monday-Friday and stops in De Soto 6 times a day. There is also an initiative to build a bike trail along Highway 35 from the northern border of Vernon County to the southern border of Crawford County. The Vernon-Crawford Trails Task Force has gotten resolutions from almost all the municipalities along this Highway 35 corridor in support of this trail. This is a work in progress.
A. This community's municipal body passed the required World Migratory Bird Day resolution.
B. Document and describe your event that incorporates the annual IMBD theme in some fashion. If the event has not yet occurred, please share your detailed plans. For information on the current year’s theme and event materials, please visit the World Migratory Bird Day website. To see what other Bird City communities have done in the past, please view some other profiles on our website.
Our WMBD event is taking place on May 27, 2023
The day will begin with a walk on neighboring trails to count birds.
We plan on having a Bat Presentation and bat related crafts for the participant to take home.
We will also highlight the importance of water for migratory birds and identify key actions for protecting water resources and aquatic ecosystems with brochures handed out.
We will also hand out several brochures related to birds with snacks and beverages.
To edit existing photos (must be logged in) hover over the document to reveal the gear.
