Title
Recognizing the City of Saint Paul as a Bird City of Minnesota.
Body
WHEREAS, birds are some of the most beautiful and easily observed wildlife that share our communities, and;
WHEREAS, many citizens recognize and welcome migratory birds as symbolic harbingers of spring, and;
WHEREAS, birds are an essential part of a healthy ecosystem as pollinators, seed dispersers, insect and rodent predators, and;
WHEREAS, these bird species play an important economic role in our community by generating millions in tourism and recreational dollars statewide, and;
WHEREAS, enjoying birds connects people, gets them outdoors and involved in the community, promoting good health and social connection, and;
WHEREAS, birds and their habitats are declining and birds are facing a growing number of threats on their migration routes and in both their summer and winter homes, and;
WHEREAS, public awareness and concern are crucial components of bird conservation, and;
WHEREAS, citizens enthusiastic about birds, informed about the threats they face, and empowered to help address those threats can directly contribute to maintaining healthy populations of both resident birds and migrants, and;
WHEREAS, in 2011 the City of Saint Paul signed a U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Urban Conservation Treaty for Migratory Birds in partnership with the Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board and Audubon Minnesota to ensure the Twin Cities becomes an increasingly effective and attractive sanctuary for resident, breeding, and migratory birds, and;
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul has been working cooperatively with Audubon Minnesota and the Saint Paul Audubon Society over the past year to initiate the Bird City Minnesota program and participate as a pilot city, and;
WHEREAS, Audubon Minnesota’s Bird City Minnesota program recognizes cities that meet a specific number of best practices in bird conservation and public engagement, and;
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul has met the Bird City Minnesota criteria and conducts a number of activities that educate and engage people in birding and conservation, protect and restore bird habitat, and reduce threats to birds, such as:
Celebrating International Migratory Bird Day (IMBD) on the 21st of May, 2016, engaging over 450 residents in conservation education and birdwatching at the Take Aim at Summer Fun event at Pig’s Eye Regional Park in partnership with the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources and Comunidades Latinas Unidas En Servicio (CLUES)
Co-organizing the Urban Birding Festival of the Twin Cities and offering numerous environmental education programs and special events
Engaging volunteers in habitat restoration and enhancement
Practicing invasive species control, erosion control, and revegetation with native plant material
Increasing equitable access to nature through parkland acquisitions and bikeway improvements
Reducing light pollution through Audubon’s Lights Out program and improvements to parking ramp lights, stoplights, and other exterior lighting scenarios
Passing a pollinator resolution to develop Integrated Pest Management programs in all departments, reduce the use of pesticides, and encouraging residents to use pollinator-friendly plants
WHEREAS, Bird City provides highly visible public recognition to these communities and a roadmap of future actions to make Bird Cities better for birds and people, now, therefore, be it:
RESOLVED, that the City of Saint Paul will be recognized as a Bird City of Minnesota and will continue to implement best practices that result in bird habitat improvement, hazard reduction, resident and municipal engagement.