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Making It Grow! News Articles

May 1, 2005

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Everyone seems to be talking about birds these days. Backyard feeders and nesting boxes attract these feathered friends to our homes and they add such delight to our lives. The National Wildlife Federation has a program to certify backyards as wildlife habitats. I would strongly urge gardeners to look into this program since it encourages environmentally friendly yard care.

Wildlife, be it birds, small mammals, amphibians or reptiles are finding it harder and harder to exist as their natural living spaces are destroyed by development. Fields which once had hedgerows perfect for quail and rabbits are now huge cleared areas better suited for large equipment and irrigation. Mixed forests are replaced by tree farms where only one species is planted. Backyard habitats can help these creatures fill their needs while adding to your enjoyment of your own landscape.

Food, water, and shelter are the basics that you need to provide in order to attract wildlife to your yard. Hollies, red cedar and blueberries produce fruits that really call to those migrating birds. Flowers with tubular shapes entice humming birds to feed, and native grasses provide small seeds for other bird species and small mammals. A pecan tree feeds two-legged and four-legged mammals, and let's not forget that pollen and nectar bring those honeybees zooming in.

Water is a critical need for wild animals. You should provide clean water, preferably from a source that drips as that sound attracts the birds and insures that your bird bath won't go dry if you are away from home. Many gardeners use a small plastic pool, many sizes and shapes of which are available at garden centers, and bury them level with the soil line. If you choose one of these, be sure to put a large stone or several bricks in it to serve as a perch for the birds. Your water source should be in an open area so the birds can see what is around them and feel safe as they fly down to drink.

Cover is important, especially for protection from winter winds and cold. Evergreen plants such as pines and cedars, dense hollies and others give small animals places to take refuge during storms and times of stressful temperatures. Mature trees and large shrubs provide safe places to raise young. If you've never had a mockingbird nest in your yard, you've missed a wonderful experience of maternal instincts in action. Many clotheslines go unused while a mockingbird is nesting nearby!

Native plants are adapted for our environments and once established often have lower water needs and fewer pests that might require chemicals to control. If you add these "homegrown"
plants to your landscape, you can reduce your need for synthetic pesticides and develop a more sustainable landscape to is gentler to our fragile environment. Butterflies and bees are especially sensitive to chemicals and will thrive in areas where chemicals are not used.
Fire ant baits are certainly the ecologically correct way to control these imported pests who often kill baby birds and other small animals.

The website for the National Wildlife Federation has all the information you need to turn your outdoor space into a wildlife refuge.