CATHIEZOO"S BACKYARD WILDLIFE HABITAT PAGE!
Inviting Wildlife Into Your Backyard!
Every year many people plant gardens. During the winter months, we plan our gardens and visualize how they will look come summertime, just imagine how that same garden will look teeming with wildlife! Just visualize, for a moment, the beauty with butterflies dancing from one flower to another, or the splash of red against the the backdrop of green leaves as a cardinal perches on the branch of a nearby tree awaiting his turn at the feeders. And who can not smile at the antics of the squirrels running around the base of the tree while at play. It is truly a sight to behold.
It doesn't matter what size yard you have, you can still invite wildlife into your yard and life. In a small yard, a windowbox or a pot filled with nectering flowers will attract some butterflies and possibly some hummingbirds. Add a feeder or two and a birdbath and you will attract birds.
Our backyard has been certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a backyard wildlife habitat. There are about sixteen different species of birds that visit the yard, plus we are visited by squirrels, rabbits, a few raccoons, butterflies and even had an opossum visit. We provide the following for our wild visitors: nesting and cover by two trees,a number of junipers located in different areas around the yard and by a brush pile. Water is provided with birdbaths. Food is provided by the use of nectarfilled flowers, a fruit-bearing shrub and various birdfeeders. Also we have set up a butterfly garden with plants and flowers for adult butterlies and their larvae. We also never use any insect sprays of any kind in the yard.
The steps to creating an inviting place for wildlife are rather easy. They are as follows;
Water: Provide water by using one or more birdbaths,either on a pedestal or on the ground or both.
Food; Offer various kinds of bird seed, which can be offered in a varietyof feeders. Flowers provide food for butterflies, bees and other insects.Shrubs and bushes that bear fruit will attract some birds, along with some mammals.
Nesting sites and areas for cover; these can be provide by putting up birdhouses and by planting evergreen trees, or other type of tree. A brush pile place in the yard will also provide cover for birds and some mammals.
Over time, you too can have a backyard teeming with wildfe.We have been operating our backyard habitat for over ten years now, and each year try to add something new. And each year we are rewarded with even more visitors! Feel free to contact me for more information.
The forgotten pollinators!
Due to the loss of native plants and to the extensive use of pesticides our pollinators, such as, bees, wasps bats, moths, and butterflies are on the decline. Should this a concern? Yes, it should!Consider this, 80% of flowering plants, such as,cucumbers,squash,blueberries,melons,tomatoes,peppers,eggplants and many flowers need these pollinators.
What we can do to help!
Cut back on the use of pesticides.
Create nectar filled gardens.
Provide and protect nesting sites for the pollinators.
Plant native wildflowers.
For more information on the forgotten pollinators, E-mail [email protected]
Some links about inviting wildlife into your yard and into your world!
Attracting Butterflies to your Backyard
The Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program
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