Are You Wildlife Friendly?

You have carefully planned your backyard habitat and all of the basic elements are in place. There is, however, one thing missing, and that is the wildlife. Have you made your habitat wildlife friendly? How you present the basic elements to your guests will greatly increase your chance for success. Try and look at the whole plan from a wild critter’s point of view.

Start with your lawn, a very large part of the habitat. Is it neatly manicured and cut to the quick, or soft and green with clover and a few dandelions mixed in? If your answer is soft and green, then you are on your way to attracting rabbits, white- footed mice, and short tailed shrews.

The next, large, areas you should look at, are your flowerbeds and borders, and underneath your shrubs. Do you use marble chips, lava rock, or any other type of inorganic mulch in these areas? Insect eating birds depend a great deal on large areas of leaf litter or decomposing bark mulch, rich with insects and their larva. Wrens and Song Sparrows especially enjoy this area. Any type of organic mulch is very good for your plants and helps to enrich the soil.

Bathing birds are a treat to watch on a hot summer day. Have you noticed any at your birdbath lately? If the birds aren’t bathing, check the location of the birdbath. Birds like to have an elevated area close by they can get to quickly. Clean, fresh water is also a must. Be careful not to overfill the bath. Placing a rock in the middle of the birdbath will encourage smaller birds to bathe.

Hummingbirds are beautiful and interesting to watch. If you are unsuccessful at attracting them to sugar water feeders it could be because they are not sparkling clean. Hummers will not feed from a feeder if the nectar is moldy. Clean your feeders, and, refill with fresh nectar every three days. It is also a good idea to have more than one feeder. These little birds are very territorial and often will not let another bird feed from “their” feeder.

If you don’t have a variety of birds visiting your feeders, it is time to do some research. Find out what birds are common in your area. Once you know which birds will likely visit your feeders, the rest is easy. Provide them with the type of feeders they prefer along with their favorite seeds. Consider also, specialty feeders for suet and other treats. Squirrels will be attracted to bird feeders. I personally, find the antics of squirrels very entertaining. It is a good idea to set aside a feeding area specifically for these mischievous little mammals.

Did you know, that butterflies are attracted to the color, of flowers, as well as the nectar they seek? Next time you visit your local garden-center choose nectar rich flowers. Often the modern hybrids are beautiful, but have little or no nectar. If they have a wonderful scent chances are they are rich in nectar. Bees and other nectar loving insects will also appreciate your effort to provide nectar rich flowers in your habitat. Consider bloom time when you are making your selections. Plan to have several varieties blooming throughout the growing season.

Next time you are outside in your yard picking up sticks after a storm, start yourself a small brush pile. Small mammals and a variety of birds enjoy the features this element provides, including cover and a good place for them to find insects.

These suggestions and intended to help you assess your own backyard habitat, and are by no means instructions for making your habitat wildlife friendly. Every habitat is unique to its owner, and what works for one may not work for the next. Do not get discouraged. If you build it, they will come.