Your Backyard Wildlife Oasis

Nature By Robert K. Foster

Whenever I have the funds available I try to support a number of wildlife and nature organizations. One of those is the National Wildlife Federation ( http://www.nwf.org/ ) which recently included a little snippet of paper in one of its mailings to me. The paper was entitled “Protecting wildlife can be easy and fun!”. I decided to include the information here, quoted below from an unknown Author, and see if I could expand a little on the points given, from my own experience. Not only will this put the information online, if it’s not already there/here, but it might help me better learn the concepts and possibly be of interest to readers.

At first, after reading this little mailing flyer, I was struck by how many of the ideas mentioned might upset neighbors or city ordinances in some areas. I live in a major city in Michigan that requires lawns to be 8 inches or less in height or you risk receiving a violation from the city. One year I was required to remove all Queen Anne’s lace plants from my property, many consider these to be weeds.

But on to the main points of the mailing…

Native Plants

“Grow native plants found in your area including trees, shrubs and other plants that offer food such as pollen, nectar, nuts, cones, berries and other seeds.”

After doing some research this Winter about the feeding of deer and the moral and practical aspects of that, I came to the conclusion that natural food sources are the best for native deer populations as well as other wildlife. Providing hay or corn to wild deer that do not regularly eat those is actually detrimental to their health. Indeed deer can die within 24 to 48 hours from a disease called Acidosis which results from the acidity created by corn eaten in volume which deer cannot properly digest. Deer that regularly graze through the outskirts of a farmer’s field of corn eat only small quantities and are not as prone to this problem. But other deer that do not regularly eat corn are risking their lives without knowing it.

Despite my desire to help local deer through a frigid Michigan Winter my conclusion was that the deer know best what food to eat, I just have to make sure there is enough of the natural sources of that food to provide them sustenance through the Winter. There is also a lot of wild grape vines in my yard that provide small fruit to something, as I find the stalks stripped clean of berries every spring.

Provide Water

“Provide water for wildlife with a birdbath, small pond or shallow dish…or care for a natural spring or stream on or near your habitat.”

Ponds and standing water can be problematic I think due to the problems of insects like mosquitoes. But having a natural spring or stream nearby would be great. Of course you have to consider the risk of flooding but having some open water around your property seems like a good thing. I use small bird baths, which of course many people have. The Winter is when birds and other wildlife need water the most so having some way to keep the water from freezing is definitely worthwhile.

Maintaining a man-made pond can be difficult but if done right would likely add beauty and peace to a property, especially if there is some sort of water circulation provided. Many people find peace in listening to the sound of running or gurgling water. The depth of the pond would be key if you expect the creatures inhabiting it to survive the winter without your help. Of course having a pond requires the same safety concerns as having a pool if you have small children in the family or neighborhood.

Protective Cover

“Create protective cover for wildlife by growing a meadow, a prairie, densely branched shrubs and, when appropriate, evergreens. Place hollow logs and rock piles in your yard.”

My yard is full of trees, as well as some bushes. I sometimes feel like I am the only oasis of trees in my neighborhood. As any tree owner knows your charges will drop many a branch whenever they feel like it. I end up with a number of branch piles that I think are home to a few rabbits in the area, although I’m not sure. Other property owners likely have wood chippers to handle excess branches but I find that a natural fencing can be created by selectively placing branch piles to block or allow wildlife traffic. Rock piles would also be nice if done aesthetically.

Nesting and Plants

“Build birdhouses, attach to metal poles and monitor their use. Grow host plants for butterfly and moth caterpillars to eat and provide dense plantings to create safe areas for nesting wildlife.”

I don’t have any birdhouses in my yard, mostly due to the difficulty of finding spots for them and making sure they are clean and useful to local birds. I am also not all that familiar with the birds that might live in the area, other than the robins, crows, cardinals, and bluejays that make themselves so apparent. But I think finding native plants that provide good locations for natural nesting and food for other things like caterpillars is good for a property. I have a red thorn bush that a bird couple setup house in one year. You can’t get more protective than that.

In Conclusion, I find it sad that many people nowadays appear to have a disconnect with nature that makes a “natural” yard seem somehow hazardous or a “violation” of acceptable behavior. Many of the above would have to be done carefully in some areas in order to avoid fines or violating city ordinances. The National Wildlife Federation has a Backyard Wildlife Habitat ( http://www.nwf.org/bwh ) program that expands on these ideas.

Posted: Saturday, March 01, 2008
Source: http://www.thewindjammer.com/index.php/print/your_backyard_wildlife_oasis/