Habitat Creation, Protection, and Monitoring

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.

In November 2015, the City of Evansville Common Council unanimously approved a state-required, ten-year update to the 2005 Smart Growth Comprehensive Plan. Sustainability is incorporated throughout the updated Plan.

B. Describe organized bird monitoring or data obtained from researchers or volunteers in the local park system. (Exclusions: Programs that receive credit under 4C: Christmas Bird Count, Great Backyard Bird Count, Swift Night Out)

The City of Evansville began holding a Lake Leota bird walk as an International Migratory Bird Day activity in 2011. These walks have occurred each year since as part of the local IMBD celebration. A total of 89 species have been sighted in the seven walks, 2011-2018. Three new species were seen in 2016, the American Kestrel, Dark-eyed Junco, and Yellow-bellied Sapsucker. One rare species was seen in 2017, the Caspian Tern (gull).

January 1, 2020, several area birders participated in the annual Christmas Bird Count and reported sightings to Audubon Society electronically. Quentin Yoerger coordinated and tallied this. City staff has noticed an increase in activity within several natural areas around the City including Pelicans, Falcons and Heron. Throughout 2020 there was WI Audubon sponsored monitoring and reporting of the Lake Leota eagles’ nest. Three eaglets were noted and monitored through fledgling.

In 2021 Evansville and the surrounding areas have continued to particiapte in bird counting and continues to add to the existing count data. A new and updated bird count sheet has been uploaded to the documents section of this application. 

In 2022 Evansville continued it's tradition of the annual walks both the Christmas Bird walk which is reported to the Audubon Society as well as the Lake Leota Walk and bird count. 

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 City of Evansville Park & Outdoor Recreation Plan, adopted by the Common Council in 2007, was updated by the City Park and Recreation Board in 2013. In 2012, the National Park Service listed Leonard-Leota Park on the National Register of Historic Places as a historic district. Improvements to the aquatic environment at Lake Leota continue, with collaborative effort among Evansville Community School District, Boy Scouts, and the City.

In 2022 the City of Evansville has begun looking into inacting a leash law in it's parks and in town. Decision will be made in 2023.

D. Document that current municipal planning seeks to provide additional bird habitat.

The School District has implemented a School Forest Education Plan since 2009. In 2017, Eagle Scout Matt Dudzic did prairie restoration and an information kiosk on school grounds. Bird information has been displayed in the kiosks. Aldo Leopold style benches have been built using recycled wood from old light poles.

The updated Smart Growth Plan identifies new “open space and conservation” property on the west shore of Lake Leota. Bald eagles have built a nest in a cottonwood tree on this property.

The past couple of years Evansville's Ash tree population has been affected by the Emerald Ash Borer, as  a member of Tree City USA, the City has a reforestation program and has planted more trees every year than have been taken out. This provides future bird habitat throughout the City as well as other natural areas around Lake Leota and other areas around the City. 

Evansville has continued to replace it's Ash tree population with a diversified planting of new trees. The city has also begun to include the replacement of trees that are removed during street reconstruction projects as well. Evansville has remained commited to reforestation and bird habitat. 

This has remained the same in 2022 with Ash tree removal we are almost completed the the remaovals. In 2022 we have begun street reconstruction tree replacement policy that any trees taken out from terrace due to a street project are being replaced the following year. 

F. Show that your community offers the public information on how they can control and remove invasive species in order to improve or maintain bird habitat.

A local native landscaping company continues to post information on invasive species, rain gardens and improved bird habitats on Facebook. The business owner also makes presentations to local community organizations.

The Scouts have been undertaken removal of invasive species at the Grove Community School Forest. 

January - March 15, the school district's Evansville Environmental Center provided nature programs and information for K-12 student groups and local youth groups.

We have several programs hosted at various locations, the library, middle school nature center, and a bird exhibit at the local community center. On June 1st 2022 Evansville hosted  the annual Evansville Community School District First Grade Outdoor Day held at Lake Leota Park.   Among the stations students visited was the Bird Watching Station.  Binoculars, available to every child, were supplied by the school’s Nature Center.  The kids were excited to see a variety of summer birds.  The Lake Leota Bald Eagle pair and the Barn Swallow nest on the covered foot bridge were big hits. The children (and their leader) were especially interested in watching a Common Grackle hunting and feeding on crayfish. 

H. Show that the local Chamber of Commerce or a similar group (e.g., an Audubon chapter, Wild Ones, etc.) takes an active role in the planning process for protecting and enlarging favorable bird habitat.

The local Audubon Chapter has organized several bird walk/count events in Evansville and surrounding areas. The school district's Nature Center has been active in community education to residents and students on how they can protect bird habitat.

I. Document a recent project that created or restored bird habitat in your community. (Exclusions: Bird feeders and small-scale artificial nesting structures)

There are several community bird feeders and nesting structures located in natural areas in the City. The feeders and nesting structures are maintained by local birders.

In 2021 the Park Board approved a high school senior project to place bird houses in parks around the city.

L. Show that your community has restored at least two acres of woodlands, wetlands, or prairie.

On the south edge of the City between First and Second Streets is Wind Prairie Park. The 5.4 acre parcel was a former city dump. Local organizations restored the area. The Evansville Park and Outdoor Recreation Plan states that:  "Wind Prairie Park is a specialized recreation area consisting of an open space prairie conservation area in the southern part of the city. The area contains a variety of prairie plant species and a few trees that have been planted along the property's boundaries for screening and beautification." The plan also points out that the Park is intended to be a nature preserve. Wind Prairie Park is a local site for the Christmas Bird Count. Eagle Scout Ethan Pierick put up five Bluebird houses in Wind Prairie Park. There is a mowed walking path and wood benches that allow for nature study. The prairie was burned last year as part of a natural maintenance cycle. 

In 2016 the prairie was burned and invasive shrubs were removed. A $2,000 purchase of prairie seed from Agrecol was sown in late fall. There were further prairie seedings and volunteers maintained and removed invasives from the area.

N. Show that your community works on public lands to control invasive species that have significant negative impacts on bird habitat.

The deparment of public works has adopted a policy to maintain retention ponds during non-migratory times. The regular maintenance of these areas helps control invasive species and allows native prarie species to grow and thrive.

This works has continued to happen on an annual basis for 2022. We do our best to maintain native grass areas and retnetion ponds outsdie of the migratory time periods to allow as much natural habittat as possible for birds.

O. Document a program to support the establishment of natural lawns and native landscaping, possibly including public presentations of Audubon’s Plants for Birds Initiative (contact them for a presentation kit).

For several years the DNR has provided thousands of native trees that are distributed for free throughout the community. The City uses these trees to enhance City parks, such as a 2016 project that added tree canopy at Westside Park.

Through the City's reforestation program any hazardous trees removed are replaced as well as adding in multiple other native tree species to enhance our park lands and terraces,

P. Demonstrate the implementation of a program to preserve Chimney Swift nesting and roosting sites (preferred) and/or to construct Chimney Swift towers.

There are Chimney Swifts in the Evansville area, they are known to roost in a local church. A member of the Evansville Woodchucks, a woodworking group affiliated with the community and senior center, has constructed two Chimney Swift towers. The towers will augment the educational resources of the Nature Center.

R. Show how your community aids a local youth group (e.g., Boy Scouts of America, Girl Scouts of USA, 4-H Club, etc.) or conservation group in bird conservation projects (e.g., bluebird trail, habitat restoration, Wood Duck nest boxes, etc.).

Evansville has a long history of collaborative efforts to accomplish local projects. During the spring of 2012, SOLE, a local group dedicated to improving the lake ecosystem, built an Osprey platform and erected it on property near Lake Leota. SOLE has led the effort to restock fish in Lake Leota. SOLE has also installed Wood Duck boxes at Lake Leota.

In coordination with the Wisconsin Bluebird Association, additional Bluebird nesting boxes have been placed along the Grove Community School Forest Trail and throughout the community.

A number of Eagle Scout projects have been completed that enhance birding or habitat. Installation of Bluebird boxes and construction of educational kiosks and benches at Wind Prairie Park and the School Forest Trail are recent projects. The Boy Scouts were also active volunteers in planting the 2000+ native trees and shrubs along the School Forest Trail. Prairie restoration has also occurred along the School Forest Trail.

Collaboration with youth groups in the community has increased, including programming and collaboration with the nature center and public library.  The library hosted events this year at the nature center to increase awareness of natural habitats and ecosystems. 

January - March 15 2020, the school district's Evansville Environmental Center provided nature programs and information for K-12 student groups and local youth groups.

Evansville continues to have multiple programs and events that engage local youth, the School Districts Environmental / Nature Center, a highly involved Boy Scouts and the Evansville Public Library all offer various programs. A resident has also been activly working on a monarch butterfly habitat and it organizing a local group.

S. Demonstrate how a public golf course is managed to benefit birds.

A Bluebird trail was established at Evansville Community Golf Course in 2009.

Resident and birder Rod Courtier has monitored and maintained the 14 nesting boxes.

In 2021 Residents Quentin Yoerger and Rod Coutier have monitored and maintained the bluebird houses at the golf course. 

V. OTHER: Demonstrate in a narrative.

The Evansville Police Department installed a 24/7 drug drop off box at the police station. They also participate in the National Rx Round Up. Citizens can anonymously drop off unused, unwanted and expired prescription and over-the-counter medications, keeping them from polluting landfills and groundwater and out of the hands of our youth. Nearly one ton of drugs have been collected locally through these programs. In 2018, over 500 pounds of medication were collected.

The City provides information about Emerald Ash Borer to volunteers for distribution throughout the community.

Community Forest Management

A. Demonstrate that your community has been awarded Tree City USA status by the National Arbor Day Foundation.

The City of Evansville continues to be recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation following its initial award in 2001.

Tree City USA has continued to recognize the City of Evansville which submitted its 2020 application in December.

Evansville has continued to be a recipient of the Tree City USA award. The application for Tree CIty USA was submitted in November of 2021.

B. Implement a municipal moratorium on the trimming of trees and shrubs and the mowing of ditches, storm water retention basins, and other grasslands from May 15 to July 15 to prevent the destruction of active bird nests. (Exceptions: Invasive species control and public safety)

The City maintains its storm water retention basins on a regular basis but lets the native prairie grasses grow througth the Spring and Summer. These areas are not mowed down until after August 1st of each year. 

The Evansville Public Works Department continues to maintain its retention basins during non-migratory time periods. This allows for additional migratory bird habitat as well as maintains invasive species to allow for healthy native plant species to grow.

C. Document an ongoing community program to incorporate a significant number of native trees, native shrubs, native herbaceous plants, and/or cultivars of native species in public or large-scale private landscaping.

The City has maintained rough habitat at the edge of Lake Leota for fish including the installation of several fishcribs, insects, and small birds.

Our community continuously uses the Grove Community School Forest to engage our students in improving habitat. Boy Scouts collected prairie seed and planted it at two orairies being restored along the School Forest Trail.  Throughout the year the nature center works with students to plant trees and shrubs to help create bird nesting habitat.

The City now employs a certified arborist on its staff who has helped us maintain and plant native non invasive tree and shrub species. 

F. OTHER: Demonstrate in a narrative.

The City offers an annual terrace tree sale and planting, in conjunction with Arbor Day, to increase size and diversity of City's tree canopy. Free trees obtained from the DNR are distributed throughout the community. The unfortunante spreading of the Emerald Ash Borer has destroyed many Ash trees here in Evansville but the City has been dedicated to replace every tree that we were forced to take down.

The City coninutes to offer an annual terrace tree sale event where discounted native trees from a local nursery are planted on or near Arbor Day. The city continuously strives provide additional bird habitat and promote tree spiece diversity.

Limiting or Removing Threats to Birds

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 brochure “Birds, Cats, and You” is available at the local library and on the Bird City Wisconsin page of the City's website (City Government > City Initiatives and Efforts section).

B. Demonstrate that your community provides property owners with information on how to protect birds from window strikes (e.g., online links, brochures).

Children made window silhouettes for preventing bird collisions and Bird City volunteers discuss the topic at the Library and Nature Center.

I. Demonstrate that your community has enacted a bird collision monitoring program and has treated problem windows to reduce collisions with municipal and commercial buildings.

Because Bird City Selection reviewers commented that it would like Evansville to do more to address "Cats Indoors!" and window strikes, the local Bird City Committee made an effort to provide education in this area. Copies of three American Bird Conservancy brochures are available to attendees: two regarding cats and one on bird collisions. Posters on both topics are periodically displayed at the public library. Children are able to make window silhouettes as an interactive program at the library after school and during the International Migratory Bird Day celebration.

K. Attach (in the “Application Documents” section in your profile) and describe in your narrative your community’s ordinance that requires new buildings to be built following bird-safe design, construction, and operation guidelines (e.g., Toronto Green Standard, see Ecology: Bird Deterrence; San Francisco).

The Bird City Committee displayed information throughout the year at the library (and throughout the community) on invasive plants and animals, offered brochures and handouts from the American Bird Conservatory, entitled "Cats. Birds, and You," "Trap, Neuter, Release (TNR):  Bad for Birds, Bad for Cats," and "You Can Save Birds from Flying into Windows," to attendees. Loon Watch materials on lead poisoning by lead fishing tackle were also distributed. Outdoor days occur with K-6 students throughout the year to inform on protecting bird habitat and protecting birds from harm.

Public Education

A. Demonstrate that schools in your community participate in a nationally-recognized environmental education program (e.g., Flying WILD, Audubon Adventures) or that your community organizes its own substantial education and outreach program for young people. 

Local residents and teachers have taken Flying WILD training and use the materials to design birding activities for Evansville youth.

In May of 2020, six Evansville birders individually or with their family members participated in the annual Migratory Bird Day walk and reported their findings electronically.

The Evansville Nature Center and the local bird groups continue to host various events to promote 

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 public library provided a family gardening program with hand-on activities. A local native landscaping company makes presentations on native plantings to organizations such as the Women’s Literary Club.

C. Demonstrate that your community is represented in at least one citizen science bird monitoring program (e.g., the Christmas Bird Count, Great Backyard Bird Count, Swift Night Out).

Evansville has participated in the Christmas Bird Count for decades. Former Evansville resident and University of Wisconsin art professor John Wilde began local participation in the Count in the mid-1960s. Currently, local resident Quentin Yoerger coordinates the Cooksville Bird Count, part of the Christmas Bird Count. The Cooksville Bird Count occurs each year on January 1 and includes Evansville locations such as Lake Leota and Wind Prairie Park.

E. Illustrate a program that involves schools, garden clubs, or other organizations in bird conservation activities.

The Evansville community obtained a bird monitoring kit in April, 2013. The kit was introduced at the Bird City table at the Energy Fair. The Youth Center and local scouts often use the birding kit. Outdoor days are now incorporated into the school K4-6 curriculum. Work stations including bird identification, bird habitat, and monitoring with binoculars are used by 700 students.

Eager Free Public Library has organized the STEAMpunks Club, with students in K-6. The students enjoy hands-on science and nature activities, including birding.

Activity at the Grove Community School Forest is ongoing. Additional native prairie plants and shrubs were planted in 2017 and 2018. Bluebird houses previously installed along the School Forest Trail are monitored by school students and results are reported to the Bluebird Association. Evansville Park Board member Rod Courtier installed Bluebird houses around Evansville.

Throughout 2020 prairie and wooded areas on the school grounds and in the community, were maintained to provide continued habitat for birds and their food sources.

H. Document a substantial regular program that educates young people on any of the following topics: climate change, energy efficiency, green/bird-safe buildings, or environmental sustainability.

Evansville Water & Light hosted it's first ever Customer Appreciation Day in which we provided various energy efficency education tables to the public. We also held several stations for kids to learn about savinging energy and provided free LED light bulbs and even a few smart thermostats. We also have multiple programs in which people can set up appointments to meet with us and discuss ways in which they can conserve energy as well as become more energy efficient. 

In 2020 we were unable to have a Customer Appreciation Day due to COVID but continue to offer educational materials to the public regarding energy efficency.

I. Show that your municipality promotes and supports a bird club or other environmentally/ecologically-minded club. (Exclusions: Garden clubs, unless you demonstrate a strong focus on native plants)

The City offers several community run events throughout the year that promote bird counts and monitoring.

K. Demonstrate that your community actively raises awareness of its bird assets. Examples include placing a remote web camera on a nest platform, offering bird watching field trips, or creating a significant educational resource on your community's bird life.

Environmental education is a priority in Evansville, led by the Evansville Community School District. A prime example is the continuing development and improvement of the Grove Community School Forest Trail, with its incorporation into the school curriculum, its community-wide volunteer base, and recent addition of educational kiosks.

The Evansville Environmental Center is a rich resource for students and the community to support sustainability.

Committee members have written articles about birds and the Bird City program for the local newspaper. The Committee has added birding information to the City website.

The goal of the Evansville Bird City Committee is to promote public awareness of bird conservation throughout the year, making each day Bird Day. With the assistance of dedicated volunteers, school district, public library, scout and 4-H leaders, city and others, programs, presentations, and activities are available to citizens year round.

The Nature Center maintains a Facebook Page.

N. OTHER: Demonstrate in a narrative.

The Evansville Environmental Center, the community nature center located at the intermediate school, launched an effort in 2015 to encourage district teachers from 4K through high school to utilize the many Center resources to enhance curriculum. The school district has two environmental coordinators.

Energy & Sustainability

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.

Evansville installed its first EV charging station with the capacity to add another in the near future in our new Maple St parking lot. Evansville is also looking to go green with the use of electric vehicles for city use to reduce our carbon footprint. We are also creating a new mulitmodal pathway to connect our new west side development with future plans to expand into other areas of the city. Another section of multimodal pathway was built in 2019 in the downtown area with sitting areas near allen creek.  

In 2020 Evansville is purchasing its first fully electric mower which will be replacing two current gas mowers. In 2021 we will be adding several more fully electric mowers as we slowly phase out the curent gas mowers. The City countinues to look at electrification of it's fleet vehicles as the technology progress and become more readily available. 

The parks department will be replacing it's 16 year old gas 4x6 John Deere Gator with an electric version Gator. This is part of the continuous improvement the city takes as part of it's carbon reduction plans to become carbon nuetral. 

I. Document that your community is part of the Energy Independent Community program.

Evansville's Energy Independence team meets quarterly to discuss energy efficiency measure in the City.  We are listed as an Energy Independent Community Here: http://energyonwi.uwex.edu/energy-independent-communities. The team discussed additions of electric car charging stations in 2018 and has now been implemented in 2019. We are also discussing ways in which Evansville can become carbon neutral.

In 2020 we began to see a slow uptick of the new EV charging stations use. COVID has dampened those number but we expect them to continue to rise as EV's become more mainstream.

In 2021 the Energy Independance Committee drafted a resoltion for the city to become carbon nuetral by 2050 which was passed by Common Council. The Energy Independence Committee meets quarterly.

In 2022 the Energy Independence Committee continues to meet on a regular basis including representitives from the schools as well as other areas of the community. We continue to become more energy efficient and look for ways to better the community thorugh education and advocacy.

World Migratory Bird Day (WMBD)

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.

The Lake Leota IMBD Bird Walk, led by several members of the local Audubon chapter, was held on May 5, 2018 from 6:50 – 9:20 am. 62 species were observed.

In May of 2020, six Evansville individually or with their family members participated in the annual Migratory Bird Day walk and reported their findings electronically. On May 8, 2021, Evansville participated in the annual World Migratory Bird Day walk around Lake Leota. There was a walk this year as well,. We typically hold the walk event on the first or second weekend of the month of May.