Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat

Many of us simply don't have the time and resources to go out and save the world, though we wish we could. But there is a simple, inexpensive way to preserve your local environment while saving yourself time spent doing yard work and giving yourself a peaceful and beautiful place where you can relax.

You can build your own backyard wildlife habitat!

Reasons To Build A Backyard Habitat

Having your own backyard habitat is not only a good thing to do for the environment, but it will benefit you as well.

• Backyard habitats are educational.
• Backyard habitats preserve greenspace thus enriching our air with much needed, clean oxygen.
• Backyard habitats help insects, birds and animals by providing food, water and shelter in their increasingly smaller world.
• Having a backyard habitat takes up lawn space saving you time on mowing and gardening.
• With less mowing, there are less harmful emissions released into the air.
• Backyard habitats are beautiful, peaceful and relaxing.

Ingredients For a Backyard Habitat

Backyard wildlife habitats consist of three key components which are essential for wildlife to thrive.

Food

Food is important for every creature on this earth to survive. Your neighborhhod wildlife have varying food needs and you can provide that food in many different ways.

Bird feeders are the simplist way of feeding the bird population in your area. Keep the feeders filled with a variety of bird seed according to the species of birds that live in your area. You can add decorative feeders to your wildlife habitat that either hang or are supported by a pole inserted into the earth. There are also specific feeders for different species of birds like  finches and hummingbirds. Although squirrels, chipmunks and raccoons have the reputation for being a nuisance, they are still living, breathing creatures that are important to our environment. Well fed animals dig through your garbage a great deal less!

When seeds drop from the feeders and begin to sprout a plant, resist the temptation to pull the plant. The plant will grow and produce seeds, therefore saving you money and providing much needed seeds during the cold winter months.

Other plants provide food for birds, insects and small animals. Planting wildflowers, especially those native to your area, will prvide natural food for your wild neighbors. You can check with your local Department Of Natural Resources for a list of plants for your area. Not only do native plants produce seeds, fruits and nectars to nourish the wildlife in your area, these plants thrive in your soil quality and climate with little to no maintenance. You can plant from seeds, or visit your local garden shop for mature plants, trees and shrubs.

You can also provide food for insect eating birds by adding a wood pile to your habitat and allowing fallen tree branches and debris to stay where it falls.

Water

Water is another extremely important part of a backyard wildlife habitat. Water can be added to your habitat by purchasing or making your own bird bath. These can be simple bird baths or those with flowing water or fountains. Flowing water reduces the mosquito population and keeps the bird bath a little cleaner. For the cold winter months, place a bird bath heater in the water to prevent freezing. After all, not all birds fly south for the winter!

Another choice for providing water in your backyard habitat is to install a pond. You can do this yourself with proper instruction and supplies or you can also purchase an easy to install pond kit. Having a pond in your backyard habitat will not only provide water for the existing wildlife, it will draw in a variety of frogs, toads, insects and water-loving birds. You can also add beautiful pond fish to your water feature which are easy to care for and provide natural mosquito control.

Nesting and Shelter

The final ingredient for a perfect backyard wildlife habitat are nesting and shelter areas. The simpliest way to do this is by adding bird houses to your backyard habitat. Bird houses come in all shapes, sizes, colors and styles and can add a flair of decor to your landscape. You can also build your own bird houses from scrap wood and other materials. Provide several sizes of bird houses as well as houses with varying sized entry holes, floor sizes and overall sizes. This will accomodate the different species of birds in your area.

To assist your feathered friends in building their nests, place grass clippings, discarded yarn and string and pet hair into your habitat area. They will happily pick it up and use it in making a nest.

Having an ample amount of trees and shurbs allows areas for birds to nest on their own as well as giving them an area safe from predators and inclement weather. Thick plantings and tall, ornamental grasses serves this purpose as well in addition to adding beauty to you habitat.

While planning for housing and nesting, don't forget about housing for toads, rabbits and bats. Rabbits will take care of stray weeds growing on your lawn while toads and bats naturally reduce the insect population.

Building Your Habitat

Your habitat can be as small or as large as you like! Pick an area of your yard that you can allow to grow wild. Clear the area and till the earth to prepare for plantings. Add your mature plants, trees and shrubs and then sprinkle wildflower seeds about to fill in and provide a denser, safer environment for your backyard wildlife. Add your bird houses and feeders to the same area, but not too close together. Pay close attention to the location of the bird houses. Many species of birds will not nest close together. Place your water feature in a central area of the habitat space and close to food sources. Add a wood or brush pile for additional food and shelter.

Water your seeds and plants until they are established. If you chose native plantings, no more work should be required. However, if the plant species you chose are not native, you'll need to water more frequently and care for them. Allow your habitat area to grow wildly.

Dos and Don'ts In The Backyard Habitat

• Do allow new plants to grow. Some "weeds" provide beneficial food for wildlife and you may be surprised....birds can drop seeds from other gardens!
• Do use your habitat to educate your children about wildlife and nature preservation.
• Do feel free to add to your habitat and make it larger.
• Do have your backyard habitat certified by the National Wildlife Federation.
• Do supervise your household pets in the habitat area. They'll soon be accustomed to the additional wildlife.
• Don't use harmful pesticides in your habitat. Chemicals like this can be very harmful to wildlife and can cause illness and even death.
• Don't pull plants that grow from seeds that fall from your feeders.
• Don't cut down plants at the end of the season. The "dead" (dormant) plants will provide seed throughout the winter months as well as nesting materials in the early spring.

Enjoy Your Habitat

Now it's time to spend the time your saving on yard work to enjoy the fruits of your labor. Purchase a nice set of binoculars so you can see the wildlife visitng your habitat close up. Keep a bird watching book nearby so that you can identify the new species of birds that now call your yard home. Now grab a big, cool glass of lemonade, sit back, relax and enjoy your backyard wildlife habitat.