Mailing Address: PO Box 31Baileys Harbor, WI
54202 Information Center Open Daily
Corner of Hwy 57 and County F
10:00 am to 4:00 pm
May 26 to October 16
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Baileys Harbor Bird City
In March 2002, leading bird conservation organizations in Wisconsin created a cooperative partnership called the Wisconsin Bird Conservation Initiative (WBCI), which is part of the National Bird Conservation Initiative. The goal of this coalition is to work in close coordination to deliver the full spectrum of bird conservation statewide, emphasizing voluntary stewardship.To date,167 organizations -- from the statewide Audubon Council to local bird clubs and bird-related businesses -- have endorsed WBCI's principles in support of bird conservation. These include: |
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WBCI’s Urban Committee introduced the concept for Bir
d City Wisconsin early on, based on the success of the Arbor Day Foundation’s Tree City USA program. They wanted a program that could do for communities and their bird life what Tree City USA has managed to accomplish in the field of urban forestry.
In 2009, WBCI members received a planning grant for Bird City Wisconsin through the Together Green program, a unique alliance between the National Audubon Society and Toyota. During this initial phase of the program, the Milwaukee Audubon Society is serving as the program’s fiscal agent and the Schlitz Audubon Center is its home base.
HOW BAILEYS HARBOR BECAME A BIRD CITY
Highlights of Bailey's Harbor Bird Conservation Efforts
Category 1: Creation and Protection of Habitat
1999 Wisconsin Act 9 – commonly referred to as Wisconsin’s “Smart Growth” legislation stated that by January 1, 2010, any Wisconsin municipality that has programs or takes actions that affect land use must have a comprehensive plan in place. The comprehensive plan must serve as the basis for community decision-making, be consistent with the municipality’s ordinances and programs, and comply with the Wisconsin statutes as to the nine issues or elements outlined therein. In several circumstances, such as when the municipality is applying for various state funds, municipal plans will also be evaluated against general planning goals outlined in the legislation. The Smart Growth legislation has undergone various amendments since its initial enactment. Some were to clarify the legislation, others to more clearly state which municipalities were required to create comprehensive plans. The statutory requirements as to the necessary contents of a comprehensive plan have remained essentially unchanged throughout these revisions. Although the Town of Baileys Harbor was not required to create a “Smart Growth” plan, local officials felt that it was a good idea to do so anyway, both since the existing town comprehensive plan needed to be updated and since the town might easily enact programs or ordinances that would require such a plan be in place. The Town of Baileys Harbor has therefore created and adopted this plan under the authority granted by Wisconsin Statutes Section 66.1001, replacing the town plan previously in place. Town officials hired GBH Consulting in the summer of 2002 to work with town residents on developing a new town plan that complied with the Smart Growth legislation. During the creation of the plan, eight widely publicized Public Information Meetings were held; eight newsletters were distributed to all property owners; open, posted meetings were held between GBH Consulting and the town plan commission each month; a Resource Inventory Report was completed; materials related to the plan’s development were available for review at the library and through a link on the GBH Consulting website; and volunteer citizen “work groups” drafted the initial vision statements and goals regarding each plan element. The Comprehensive Plan was adopted August 15, 2005.
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The Town of Baileys Harbor is abundant in natural and recreational resources. The waters of Lake Michigan and the rivers and streams that empty into it support approximately 150 species of fish. More than 90 species of birds have been recorded as potentially breeding within the town. Baileys Harbor is the most biologically diverse municipality in the state and is home to many federal and state endangered and protected species. Large portions of the town are forested or considered environmentally sensitive, and much of these are in permanent conservation due to ownership by The Ridges Sanctuary, The Nature Conservancy, the Door County Land Trust, University of Wisconsin, and the State of Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR). Wooded areas of the town are visible on the 2002 Aerial Photo with Wetland Overlay, which also shows areas zoned Wetland as of June 2005. The 2005 Land Use Inventory and Resources map includes two land use categories designating natural and recreational resources, and also depicts specific resources in the town such as The Ridges Sanctuary, Toft Point, the Mud Lake Wildlife Unit, and many others. Approximately 40-45% of the landmass in Baileys Harbor is protected in one way or another. |
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Three Important Bird Area sites
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Category 2: Programs Promoting Effective Community Forest Management
The Baileys Harbor Parks Committee is charged with managing, protecting, and maintaining six parks in the town. An additional 10 acres of heavily wooded land was recently acquired for a Recreational Park making it a 40 acre park. The additional 10 acres will remain heavily wooded with intended use for nature and vita trail insuring it will remain a wonderful bird habitat. Anclam Park is in the process of a total landscape transformation adding trees and flora that will turn it into an attraction for birds and bird lovers alike.
The Baileys Harbor Community Association has partnered with a local landscape company over the past 10 years in a tree planting program in our downtown area that has resulted in the planting of some 28 trees over the years.
The Town of Baileys Harbor, whenever possible, supports The Door County Land Trust, which lists both Kangaroo Lake Preserve and the Baileys Harbor Swamp Corridor among the 25 special places they protect. The Ridges Sanctuary Articles of Incorporation have as its stated purpose: To preserve and protect significant natural areas within Door County and The Ridges, Toft Point, and Mud Lake are examples in Baileys Harbor.
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Category 3: Limiting or Removing Hazards to Birds Cats Indoors: The Town of Baileys Harbor has just purchased 1000 copies of the Cats Birds and You brochure with intended distribution and or posting at Town Hall, McCardle Library, the Post Office, 57 Depot, Nelson’s, the Info Center, and those businesses in town that will support the distribution or posting. A link to the Bird Conservation Alliance will be provided on the town website. |
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Category 4: Public Education
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Bird Monitoring: The Ridges Sanctuary of Baileys Harbor has coordinated the Midwest Crane Count in Door County since at least 1998 and the Christmas Bird Count since 1969. |
Category 5: International Migratory Bird Day
On Monday, October 10, 2011, The Town of Baileys Harbor adopted an official International Bird Day resolution. In collaboration and partnership with the Ridges Sanctuary, the Town’s Migratory Bird Day will be celebrated with and be included in the Ridges annual Door County Festival of Nature. This is a 3 day event that includes birding trips, wildflower hikes, canoe outings, geology tours, family friendly workshops and more. This event gets national advertising exposure.
Baileys Birders can be followed on face book at http://www.facebook.com/BaileysBirders.