D. Document that current municipal planning seeks to provide additional bird habitat.
Menomonee Falls is in pursuit of purchasing a property that borders and includes a portion of the Tamarack Preserve located on Good Hope Road. The long-term plan is to add a trail wrapping completely around the preserve north of Good Hope Rd. The trail south of Good Hope will begin with the development of a subdivision on the east side of the Preserve and is planned to eventually surround the lower section of the Preserve.
E. Describe your community’s ordinance demonstrating that your community does not restrict natural/native landscaping that emphasizes native plants and non-turf lawns.
Village ordinances show that long weeds and grass more than 8 inches tall are required to be cut. As long as the long plants are wild or defined as natural lawns they do not fall into this category.
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.
The Village offers several informational sheets on how to identify invasive plant and animal species in order to stop the spread of them. The sheets are located in the Village Hall lobby, as well as on the website.
T. Document that your community maintains a birding trail or hot spot location with educational signage and/or literature. (Note: A birding hotspot alone is not sufficient - your community must actively promote birding and public education at the site itself.)
Our informational kiosk located along the Tamarack Preserve identifies on a poster several birds that can be found in and around the wetland preserve.
Community Forest Management
A. Demonstrate that your community has been awarded Tree City USA status by the National Arbor Day Foundation.
The Village of Menomonee Falls continues to be recognized as a Tree City USA by the Arbor Day Foundation following its initial award in 2002 (also from 1987-1989). It has earned the Growth Award from 2011-2013.
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 Village actively promotes the non-mowing of stormwater retention basins and encourages the plantings of prairie and wildflowers. Mowing 1-2 times a year is enough to prevent weed growth.
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 Village’s website has a link to the American Bird Conservancy’s information on “Cats Indoors!”
B. Demonstrate that your community provides property owners with information on how to protect birds from window strikes (e.g., online links, brochures).
The Village’s website has a link to the American Bird Conservancy’s information on window collisions.
Public Education
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.
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 Village of Menomonee Falls will hold a ceremony on April 28, 2023 honoring both World Migratory Bird Day and Arbor Day. During this ceremony, the World Migratory Bird Day resolution will be read, and a tree will be planted. A limited number of tree seedlings will be available to attendees.
