Madison named 'Bird City' for conservation efforts, bird-lovers celebrate

The Bird Puppet Parade and Bird Song Sing-Along, led by the Wingin' It Bird BandIf you happened to cross Warner Park on the last Sunday of September, you may have met a crowd of people parading in bird costumes or sitting together, browsing bird pictures from a screen. Among them were older men and women, young couples and middle school students who all share the same name: bird-lovers.

They came to celebrate the recent recognition of Madison and Maple Bluff as Bird Cities. Madison Parks, the Madison Audubon Society and Friends of Cherokee Marsh hosted the event at Warner Park on Sept. 29.

Madison and Maple Bluff are among seven new cities granted the title this fall by Bird City Wisconsin, a state-wide program to promote bird protection by offering public recognition.

Carl Schwartz, state coordinator of Bird City Wisconsin, said the organization wants to mobilize people from all over the state who “know that birds are more than beautiful – they are significant.”

“Recognition as a Bird City can make a strong contribution to community pride and presents the kind of image that most citizens want to have for the place they live, conduct their business or ask people to visit,” he said.

The celebration began with a presentation of official bird city flags, plaques and street signs. Madison park staff, community members and members of Bird City’s partner organizations, such as Friends of Cherokee Marsh, gathered to mark their success in partnership-based conservation activities.

Activities at the celebration included a keynote talk, a “bird puppet parade,” a nature walk and an evening hike.

Paul Noeldner, member of Madison Audubon Society and board member of Friends of Cherokee Marsh and Wild Warner Park, facilitated the celebration by connecting with different conservation groups.

“We've brought people together today basically to bring this energy together so Carl Schwartz presents the flags to Madison and Maple Bluff.we can do together more than we can do individually,” he said.

Bird City Wisconsin accepts applications three times a year, and the recognition is renewable annually after the initial certification. The next application deadline is Nov. 1.

To become a Bird City, a community must meet at least seven of the 22 criteria across five categories, including habitat creation and protection, community forest management and public education.

According to Schwartz, the highlight of Madison’s application is its Conservation Park System, which has acquired 300 acres of natural areas in the last five years. It now maintains a total of 1,750 acres at 14 sites, such as Cherokee Marsh and Sandburg Woods.

Besides efforts by Madison’s Parks Division, other accomplishments include maintenance of Bluebird House Trails at Owen, Cherokee Marsh and Warner Parks by volunteers; International Migratory Bird Day events held by Henry Vilas Zoo; and 80 annual field trips organized by the Madison Audubon Society.

There are six Bird City communities in Dane County: Fitchburg, Middleton, Shorewood Hills, McFarland, Maple Bluff and Madison. According to Schwartz, the county’s achievements are ascribed to the area’s strong progressive traditions, the abundant bird life, the numerous bird watchers and the hard work by conservation groups.

Individuals can make their own efforts to be more bird-friendly. Noeldner suggests people create bird habitats by leaving their yards a little messy and make windows visible to birds so they don’t fly into them. Schwartz encourages people to join conservation groups and attend their events.

“[Protecting birds is] part of keeping and maintaining the fabric of nature, the fabric of our world,” Schwartz said.