D. Document that current municipal planning seeks to provide additional bird habitat.
There are several parks located in the City of Mayville. Bird houses have been put up in all of the parks, whenever possible, in hopes of attracting birds. Mayville’s outdoor swimming pool was previously closed and is now a natural pond with aeration pumps. The pond has been attracting some migratory birds including a couple of Sandhill Cranes. Bird houses are abundant in the parks and the new natural pond.
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.
Invasive plant species are plants that are not native to this area that have either been intentionally introduced or have escaped cultivation. These plants threaten the ecological balance of our natural lands by displacing native plant species. These plants lack the predators and diseases that keep them in balance in their native habitats. The Mayville Area Chamber of Commerce has developed and printed an Invasive Species Brochure. This brochure is in both printed and electronic format. Printed brochures are available at the Mayville Chamber of Commerce and Mayville City Hall. The brochure is also available electronically on the City of Mayville's website.
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.
Horicon Marsh is in Mayville’s backyard and the city often collaborates with the Horicon Marsh Education and Visitors Center on events. The city worked with the Friends group, among others, in the past to design and print a “Tour de Marsh” bike, hike and auto tour map. A kick off of the opening of the new trails and of the map took place in 2011. The event was such a success that it has become an annual event with the kick-off of the opening of the trails being the first Saturday in June. There are free concessions along the routes, contests and birding and other information at the stops. The City of Mayville and the Mayville Area Chamber of Commerce have also made monetary contributions to the Education Center and many of the volunteers there are from Mayville. The Horicon Marsh is not only a Wetland of International Importance but is also part of the Great Wisconsin Birding and Nature Trail.
In 2019 Phase 1 of the Gold Star Memorial Trail was opened, Phase 2 is still in progress. This is a paved walking/biking trailing stretching from the City of Mayville to the Horicon Marsch Educational Center.
V. OTHER: Demonstrate in a narrative.
In addition to being the headquarters of Wings Over Wisconsin, Mayville also has a very active Wings Chapter. The Mayville Chapter was formed in 1980 to promote the population of wild winged birds. Two properties are owned and maintained by the chapter where they are working to provide wildlife habitat. Over the past several years 12,000 trees have been planted, 100 acres of wild grasses/cover have been planted, 20+ acres of corn for cover/feed have been planted and ponds have been dug. The Mayville Wings Chapter has also built and placed up to 80 wood duck houses, 50 bluebird houses and 50 wren houses. Wings also holds an annual bird seed sale. Every few years the Mayville Wings Chapter provides material for bird house building as part of the Audubon Days Festival. Participants are able to come and build a free bird house to take home for placement.
Mayville is also part of the Rock River Trail which promotes recreational trails and transportation routes on and along the Rock River in Wisconsin and Illinois. This help promote an appreciation for the natural beauty and natural resources along the Rock River Valley.
Community Forest Management
F. OTHER: Demonstrate in a narrative.
In 1989 the City of Mayville added a City Tree Board and is municipal code chapter 384. According to the code, powers and duties of the Tree Board include, but are not limited to, the following: 1) To prepare and maintain an inventory of trees located on public lands within the city; and 2) To prepare and recommend to the Council a plan for the planting, care and maintenance of trees in the city, including the number species and location. Within the code, the Tree Board has also developed a list of desirable trees for planting along streets. The list is broken down into three class sizes: short, medium and tall.
Mayville has several parks located throughout the city. Two of our largest parks are located on along the Rock River. Ziegler Park has 72.3 acres of parkland. Of that, 2.5 acres include a softball diamond with a concession stand and restrooms. The remaining 69.8 acres is wooded with a fitness trail and 1.5 mile nature trail along the Rock River. A large variety of birds can be seen in this natural habitat. Bird houses are added whenever possible.
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 American Bird Conservancy brochure “Cats, Birds and You” is available to the public at several locations in Mayville including the Mayville Chamber of Commerce and Mayville City Hall in addition to being a link on the Mayville Chamber website.
B. Demonstrate that your community provides property owners with information on how to protect birds from window strikes (e.g., online links, brochures).
The American Bird Conservancy handout “You Can Save Birds from Flying into Windows” is available to residents at several locations in Mayville including the Mayville Chamber of Commerce and Mayville City Hall and is also a link on the Mayville Chamber website.
Mayville is included in the Horicon Christmas Bird Count.
D. Describe your community-sponsored annual bird festival. This must be a multi-day event or a truly exceptional one-day event.
Mayville has been involved in the annual Horicon Marsh Bird Festival held every year in May. The festival focuses on introducing visitors to many birds at the peak of spring migration. Many birding events take place during the festival including bird hikes, boat tours into the marsh for birding, nest box monitoring, bird banding and much more. This festival was established as a celebration of the fall migration. Over the 30 years they have included birding information to those in attendance, marsh bus tours, bird identification contests and exhibits from Wings Over Wisconsin and the DNR. In 2012, the route of the bicycle tour was redone in order to include more of the marsh and birding on the routes.
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 City of Mayville celebrates International Migratory Bird Day in conjunction with the annual Horicon Marsh Bird Festival. In 2022, the Mayville Common Council designated May 7, 2022 as IMBD, and the Bird Festival was held May 6, 2022-May 8, 2022. The Mayville Common Council intends to designate May 13, 2023 as IMBD, the resolution will be presented at the February 13, 2023 Common Council Meeting.
