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 Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission approved and adopted a 20-year Comprehensive Plan in 2004 for the City of Marinette in accordance with Wisconsin’s “Smart Growth” law. The city has been in compliance since that date.
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 Comprehensive Plan has criteria in place that protect natural and wildlife areas as well as promote enhancing such designated areas.
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.
Seagull Bar is a sand spit and marsh complex on Green Bay that is part of the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail. The sand spit shelters a lagoon and large area of shallow water with emergent vegetation. This area is the only dune complex with a system of sand ridges and wetlands on Green Bay. The area is a prominent bird migration stopping point on Green Bay. During some spring and fall migrations, shorebirds by the thousands gather there to rest and feed. The lagoon is attractive to all species of waterfowl such as the Piping Plover and White Pelican.
Community Forest Management
A. Demonstrate that your community has been awarded Tree City USA status by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
The City of Marinette continues to be recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation following its initial award in 1992.
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 "Cats Indoors!" program is promoted through the local Chappee Rapids Audubon Society. The chapter places American Bird Conservancy pamphlets at local animal shelters and businesses as well as distributing them at their meetings, outings and community events.
Chappee Rapids Audubon has sponsored participation in Christmas Bird Counts in the area since its inception. There are three local counts that the people of Marinette, Peshtigo and Menominee, Mich., coordinate and participate in. They are the Peshtigo count in Wisconsin and the Hayward Lakes and Carney counts in Michigan.
Many local Audubon members have participated in the Great Backyard Bird Count, the Cornell Lab Citizen Science Winter Count, and Sandhill Crane Count in April in Wisconsin and in October in Michigan. Residents also have done surveys for the DNR on the Piping Plover on Seagull Bar and the Kirkland's Warbler in Marinette County.
D. Describe your community-sponsored annual bird festival. This must be a multi-day event or a truly exceptional one-day event.
Marinette sponsors the Pond Road Birdfest, promoting it on the City’s website, Facebook page, and community calendar.
E. Illustrate a program that involves schools, garden clubs, or other organizations in bird conservation activities.
Chappee Rapids Audubon Society has a program in which a nature field guide has been given to participating schools every year since 1998. The schools in that program include:
Peshtigo, WI: St. Mary's Catholic Grade School and Peshtigo Elementary
Marinette, WI: Marinette High School, Marinette Middle School, Trinity Lutheran Grade School and UW-Marinette
Menominee, MI: Menominee Middle School and Catholic Central Grade School
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.
Are you interested in birds, seeing them up close or through binoculars? The Bird Fest is a great time for you and your children to learn about the birds that come through our area every year.
Chappee Rapids Audubon Society will hold its 8th Annual Bird Fest on May 15th at the observation deck on Pond Road. The event is held in conjunction with Marinette’s Bird City Wisconsin accreditation. The day also celebrates International Migratory Bird Day, which is observed across both North and South American continents.
For those interested in seeing the birds “up close,” field guides will be available to help with identification, and birding tours will be available between 8 am and 12 pm during the Saturday event.
To find the deck, take Shore Dr. south. At University, it becomes Co BB. Follow that for approx. 7 miles. Take a left onto Pond Road and go approx. ½ mile to the deck. There will be a sign at Pond Road.
