There are four basic elements your habitat must provide its visitors. Food provided in the form of native fruits, nuts, and seeds or packaged bird food products. Water flowing naturally, or birdbaths, and artificially constructed, garden pools or ponds. Trees and shrubs, either evergreen or hardwood, all ready growing on your property or birdhouses and nesting boxes, that you will put in place providing shelter and a place for wildlife to raise their young.

Begin with taking a survey of your property. List trees, shrubs, and flowers you all ready have growing, and include what element or elements they provide. Include bird feeders, birdbaths, small pools or ponds, and birdhouses or nest boxes all ready in place.  Draw your plan to scale on paper. Consider what types of wildlife are all ready attracted to your property, and what types you want to attract. Birds, butterflies, mammals, and amphibians are some of the choices to think about. Consult wildlife field guides if you are uncertain just what is out there. Visit your local library if you don't already have a field guide, e-nature.com is a great source for online field guides. You can select field guides specific to your geographic location. Your key to success is taking time to plan your habitat. I suggest you choose the wildlife you want to attract first, then choose the trees and plants preferred by your future guests. Take for example butterflies. It is not difficult to attract butterflies to your habitat. If you want to get up close and personal, however, you need to think about host plants for their caterpillars to feed upon. Providing both food and host plants will ensure that you may observe the entire life cycle of the butterfly.

What about safety? It is hardly fair to put forth a great effort in building your habitat, then letting your cat out for a leisurely stroll outside. What about pesticides? Are you serving up a poison cocktail in those beautiful flowers laced with pesticides? You must decide if you truly want to go wild. This means leaving the pesticides at the local garden center and supervising kitty when he is outside to play. You will be creating a safer environment for wildlife and your children and pets.

I realize all these questions you are asking yourself seem a bit overwhelming. Certainly they are, but if you want your habitat to be a success, and I know it will be, it is an important step in creating a habitat that is right for you and your visitors. Read everything you can get your hands on about backyard wildlife habitats. Do this to get a better idea of what you want to accomplish in your own habitat. Keep in mind that every habitat is unique to its creator. Plan on trying to attract a species that ordinarily might not visit your property, or try growing a flower in less than ideal conditions. Always remember nothing is impossible, especially in nature.

The enjoyment that getting close to nature in your own backyard brings is indescribable. Gardening relieves stress and the satisfaction gained by helping species survive is endless.

After your habitat is up and running, you may want to think about getting it certified. Visit these websites for more information on backyard wildlife habitats: National Wildlife Federation