Before you know it, spring will be here in full force. Soon it will be time to consider getting outside and working in the garden. There are many reasons for gardening, but have you ever considered gardening for wildlife?
Gardening for wildlife is important for several reasons.
Just think of all the beautiful songbirds, cheerful butterflies, hummingbirds that you can attract to your garden. Watching wildlife can be fun for the whole family.
Wildlife gardening and the natural habitat that you create can be very relaxing and will provide a peaceful place to relieve stress and unwind.
Your yard will be more attractive! Utilizing wildflowers and other native plants will increase the appeal of your property and provide a nurturing place for wildlife.
A natural habitat nurtures and supports wildlife all year long. Habitat restoration is critical for wildlife where commercial and residential development has eliminated most natural areas. Wildlife will especially need your help during the cold winter months.
Now that you have some reasons to garden for wildlife it is important to consider four different areas that you consider when putting together your wildlife habitat.
First, you must consider food sources for your wildlife. While putting out a bird feeder is certainly one way to attract birds, there is an even easier way. Using native plants will require less maintenance than anything that you can do because they have already adapted to successfully live in your area.
Interested in specifically attracting hummingbirds or butterflies? Check out our plant chart for attracting hummingbirds and butterflies.
Another area that you will want to consider for your wildlife habitat is providing an excellent source of water. Water is a very important resource that birds and other wild life will need in order to survive. There are a couple ways that you can do this. One way is to build a pond. This method will require more work to be initially done. However, the trade off is that you will have less daily upkeep. You might start with a simple design and gradually make it more complex. During the winter you can add a submersible de-icer or pond heater to make your pond the most popular place in the neighborhood!
Adding a bird bath is a fast and easy way to provide water. Additionally, you might consider purchasing a heated bird bath so that in the winter, you can provide a water source where all other sources may have frozen over (simply unplug the bird bath in the summer when heat is not needed.)
A bird bath will require some maintenance. It should be cleaned out every few days. Using a product like a water wiggler will prevent mosquitoes from using the bird bath and it will also keep the water moving, which in turn will catch the attention of the birds. Also, using a product like Bird Bath Protector will prevent stains, organic contaminants and mineral deposits. This will keeps the water clean and clear naturally. More information regarding these products.
Providing cover for wildlife will encourage birds to raise their young in your yard and will make them feel safer. An easy way to provide cover is to use existing vegetation, dead and alive. Many shrubs provide great hiding places within their bushy leaves, and dead trees are home to lots of different wildlife. You can also construct hiding places using logs, brush, or rocks.
A nesting box is a popular way to provide cover for birds. There are many types of different nesting boxes, depending on what kinds of birds that are likely to visit your yard. To see many different types of nesting boxes, visit BirdHousesOnly.
Gardening in a way that is environmentally friendly will have an affect on the health of the soil, air, water and habitat for native wildlife – as well as the human community. Some sustainable gardening techniques that can be used to help conserve resources include: mulching, reducing lawn areas, xeriscaping, rain barrels, and removing and restoring native plants. Do all of the ideas in this article seem interesting, but perhaps you need a little motivation to get your backyard wildlife habitat started? How about getting your backyard wildlife habitat certified? While the information contained in this article is general in nature, there is a program for which you can obtain certification that is sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation Certified Wildlife Habitat Program.
During the summer it is common to see baby birds and other wildlife as they begin their venture out into the big world. Often times it is even possible to see an injured young bird and our human nature desires very much to want to help the young fledging. In most cases it is best to leave the young bird where it is. When we interfere with nature, we are more likely to seal the young bird’s fate.
Are there signs of nearby predators, specifically cats? If not, then it may be best to leave the young bird, at least initially where you found it. Did the young bird fall out of its nearby nest? If so, then it might be appropriate to place the young bird back in its nest.
Where practical, monitor the injured young bird to see how it is doing and whether or not it appears that it may make it on its own, or perhaps its mother is nearby feeding and caring for the bird when you are not looking.
If it appears that the bird may not make it on its own, then it may be best to take it to a licensed rehabilitator. One source to find a rehabilitator is found through the National Wildlife Rehabilitators Association.
Additional useful information can also be found through the Wildlife Orphanage.
Remember two things. 1. A baby’s best chance for survival is its mother. 2. It’s against the law in most states to keep wild animals if you don’t have permits, even if you plan to release them.
