Wildlife Habitat in the City
http://www.nwf.org/How-to-Help/Garden-for-Wildlife/Create-a-Habitat.aspx
Our yard is now a Certified Wildlife Habitat. The link allows you to see what is required and apply!
There are six items that must be provided:
1. Provide food for wildlife. We achieved this by leaving seed heads on flowers and grasses through the winter. WIth the elimination of herbicides and pesticides, we have lots of grubs and bugs for birds and other creatures including other bugs and grubs!
2. Supply water for wildlife. We have a birdbath that attracts both pollinators, birds, squirrels and an occasional domestic house cat! We haven’t seen any dead birds so the birds are either fast or the cats are slow!
3. Create cover for wildlife. We have a good size Colorado spruce along with grasses and dense groupings of plants that help hide birds and other little beings. Our cat is mostly indoors and old. She doesn't really look for little mice and birds these days.
4. Give wildlife a place to raise their young. We had two nests of house finches this year. One nest was built into the top of a wasp nest that we preserved on our front porch and have hanging in a corner. The second nest was built in the Colorado spruce tree. The chickadees inhabited one of the birdhouses my dad made for us. This is the second year they have graced us with a late spring brood amongst the honeysuckle and in the shade of our neighbor’s aspen trees.
5. Help wildlife with a healthy habitat. This means eliminating the use of herbicides and pesticides. It allows for bugs and grubs to live in the yard so those hungry chickadee chicks have enough food to fly the coop. In the application, these are actually categories 5 and 6. If you are using these two items in your yard and you have children, I think your first question should be, “If I am not supposed to use them with wildlife present, then what is it doing to my children?”
My husband and I are proud of our achievement. There is not a Wildlife Federation cop coming to our yard to check. I didn’t submit photos. But I was truthful about what we have in our yard that is contributing. It includes native flowers, water wise plants and grasses and careful planting of grasses so they are water-efficient. Hopefully, there is enough for the native pollinators to feed and create their own homes. While we are one house on our block, we are hoping others will follow. You can become a block and a neighborhood Certified Wildlife Habitat. Click on the link above to begin your own certification!