|Backyard wildlife habitats can reflect and enhance our connection with nature. The National Audubon Society provides many useful guidelines for establishing a backyard habitat hospitable and conducive to supporting a wildlife population. Some of the fundamental elements to be provided include:
Other important measures to consider are prevention of bird window collisions and keeping cats indoors.
|The choices of feeders, bird seeds, and other items can be bewildering. Feeder options can include tube, hopper, tray, lantern style, suet cake, hummingbird feeders, and more. Foods to provide may be sunflower seeds with or without hulls, thistle seed, mixed grains, and the natural berries growing on trees and shrubs. The resources listed below can assist you in developing a hospitable environment for wildlife in your own backyard.|
|Feeders and Foods:
Bird Feeding Basics from the Cornell Lab of Ornithology
|Bird House Plans and Nest Boxes:|
|Trees and shrubs:
Plants for Birds from National Audubon Society
Supply Water for Wildlife from the National Wildlife Federation
When pruning trees and bushes, leave a pile of branches for birds to seek shelter in. Also leave a few larger tree limbs as perches.
|Protection from Windows:|
|Protection from Cats:
Cats Indoors program from American Bird Conservancy
|YOUR Backyard Wildlife Habitat Experience:
Drop a note to us at firstname.lastname@example.org with any ideas, comments, stories, and/or photos you would like to share about wildlife experiences in your small or large backyard habitat. What kinds of trees and shrubs seem to work best? What are the most useful bird feeders? What local sources do you use to purchase bird food?
|For more information and ideas about creating a healthy backyard habitat, see the July-August 2013 issue of Audubon magazine “Creating a Bird-Friendly Yard“.|