Gardening for Wildlife - Tips on Creating a Backyard Habitat

Habitat is a combination of food, water, shelter, and space arranged to meet the needs of wildlife. Even a small yard can be landscaped to attract birds, butterflies, beneficial insects, and small animals. Trees, shrubs, and other plants provide shelter and food for wildlife.

The plants you use for food and cover will help determine the wildlife species attracted to your backyard. Nesting boxes, feeders, and watering sites can be added to improve the habitat.

Planning your wildlife habitat

Planning is necessary for attractive and productive wildlife habitat. You have both a horizontal area to work with--the size of your lot--as well as a vertical area that stretches from your soil to the treetops. The vertical area is composed of the canopy formed by the tallest tree branches; understory vegetation consisting of smaller trees, shrubs, and vines; the floor which is often dominated by low-growing groundcovers; and the basement where a variety of organisms exist in the soil. Different wildlife species live in each of these zones, so numerous habitats can be provided on a small piece of land.

Trees and shrubs are the backbone of any landscaping design and are important for wildlife shelter. Many tree and shrub species are excellent sources of food for wildlife. Proper selection of plant material can meet both the aesthetic needs of the homeowner and the food and shelter needs of wildlife. Remember that you are part of the habitat!

Steps to create habitat for wildlife:

1. Identify all existing plants, if any. Note:

• Condition of the plants and their locations.
  
• How much shade the trees and shrubs provide.
  
• Are trees evergreen or do they drop their leaves in the fall?
• Do they provide valuable food sources?
  

2. Make a sketch of your yard noting all existing plants, buildings, utilities, and pathways. You may even consider removing some plants. In some cases, trees have been planted too close to buildings or have grown much larger than the previous owner envisioned. Some species may be of little wildlife value and may not be particularly attractive. Once you have identified existing plants you want to save, start exploring options for plants that will work well with these species. The existing plants around your yard may be adequate to attract some wildlife, but a few changes can effectively enhance the existing habitat. Diversity in the landscape is necessary. Some plants provide food but very little cover; others provide cover but little food.

3. Add trees, shrubs, flowers, and groundcovers to your plan. Not all the planting needs to be done at once. If money or time is limited, consider it a work in progress.

4. Plant a variety of trees first. Select evergreen species for year-round cover and shelter. Select fruit or nut-bearing plants for a food source. Native species are well suited for providing wildlife habitat because they are adapted to the local soil, climate, and wildlife. Additional considerations for choosing and placement include:

• Eventual size. Whether they are evergreen or deciduous (trees that drop their leaves). Deciduous trees planted on the south side of a house will provide summer shade, but will not completely block winter sun.
  
  
• Neighboring properties.
  
  
• Flowering and fruiting habit. Select plants that flower and bear fruit at different times of the year. Some shrubs that produce berries can provide food throughout the year. Trees with nuts and fruit can also provide seasonal foods.
  
  
• Fill in with smaller shade-tolerant understory trees and shrubs. Adding these to an existing landscape will enhance the vertical structure that is common in natural landscapes. Many smaller trees and shrubs are colorful in the spring when they flower, and provide berries for fall and winter feed.
  
  
• Flowering annuals (plants that live one growing season) and perennials (plants that live for more than a year) add color to the yard and can be added at any stage to attract birds and butterflies. If your yard is large, consider using part of it for tall native grasses that provide beauty, as well as a natural source of food and shelter. A native wildflower garden provides the same function. Even on a small lot, native wildflowers, as well as some common garden species, can provide attractive habitat for a variety of birds and butterflies. Avoid straight lines and perfect symmetry. Natural habitat has curves and clumps of vegetation. Wildlife is not particularly attracted to a well-manicured lawn. Wildlife is more likely to come out into the open for viewing when the boundary of the yard is designed and maintained as a retreat for animals.
  

Further reading on this topic:
Attracting Birds to Your Backyard
Attracting Bees, Butterflies, and Moths

Source:
U.S. Department of Agriculture

Attracting Birds to Your Backyard

Bird species are extremely variable in their habits. Some like deeply wooded areas; others prefer open fields and meadows. Many species are year-round residents, while others such as the cedar waxwing appear only for a few days a year during migration. Other species such as sparrows, blue jays, cardinals, robins, juncos, and chickadees are highly adaptable and found in many environments.

Many people are not aware of the value of dead, dying, and hollow trees, as well as logs on the ground, for birds and other wildlife. Dead trees provide homes to more than 400 species of birds, mammals, and amphibians. Fish, plants, and fungi also benefit from dead and dying trees. Consider leaving standing dead and dying trees in your yard unless they pose a human safety or property hazard, and use old logs and stumps in gardens and landscaping.

Plant species for birds

Below are some plant species to consider for wildlife habitat. Check with a local nursery on plants suitable for your area. Some of these plants, while suited for wildlife, may have characteristics such as shallow roots or weak limbs that make them inappropriate for small urban properties--or they may not be winter hardy in all locations. Birds eat any flower seed, depending on the kind of bird and seed.

Trees for birds:

• American beech (Fagus grandifolia)
  
• American holly (Ilex opaca)
  
• Balsam fir (Abies balsamea)
  
• Black cherry (Prunus serotina)
  
• Black gum (Nyssa sylvatica)
  
• Crabapple (Malus spp.)
  
• Flowering dogwood (Cornus florida)
  
• Hawthorns (Crataegus spp.)
  
• Hickories (Carya spp.)
  
• Live oak (Quercus virginiana)
  
• Oaks (Quercus spp.)
  
• Red mulberry (Morus rubra)
  

Shrubs for birds:

• Common juniper (Juniperus communis)
  
• Highbush blueberry (Vaccinium spp.)
  
• Hollies--both evergreen and deciduous species (Ilex spp.)
  
• Pyracantha (Pyracantha spp.)
  
• Red-osier dogwood (Cornus stolonifera)
  
• Serviceberry (Amelanchier arborea)
  
• Spicebush (Lindera benzoin)
  
• Sumacs (Rhus spp.)
  
• Viburnums (Viburnum spp.)
  
• Wax myrtle (Myrica cerifera)
  

Vines for birds:

• American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens)
  
• Trumpet honeysuckle (Lonicera sempervirens and related spp.)
  
• Strawberry (Fragaria spp.)
  
• Trumpet creeper or vine (Campis radicans)
  
• Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
  
• Wild grape (Vitis spp.)
  

Nectar plants for hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees:

• Aster (Aster spp.)
  
• Azalea (Rhododendron spp.)
  
• Bee balm (Monarda spp.)
  
• Butterfly bush (Buddleia alternifolia)
  
• Butterfly weed and other milkweeds (Asclepias spp.)
  
• Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis)
  
• Clover and other legumes
  
• Columbine (Aquilegia spp.)
  
• Coneflower (Echinacea spp.)
  
• Delphinium (Delphinium spp.)
  
• Fuchsia (Fuchsia spp.)
  
• Honeysuckle (Lonicera spp.)
  
• Jewel weed (Impatiens capensis or I. pallida)
  
• Lobelia (Lobelia spp.)
  
• Lupine (Lupinus spp.)
  
• Penstemon (Penstemon spp.)
  
• Phlox (Phlox spp.)
  
• Salvia (Salvia spp.)
  
• Trumpet creeper or vine (Campis radicans)
  
• Weigela (Weigela spp.)
  
• Zinnia (Zinnia spp.)
  

Additional food and shelter for birds

Few yards will be able to supply sufficient food or shelter for a variety of birds all year long. However, you can improve shelter and food supplies by building or purchasing feeders and houses, and by setting out certain foods.

All bird species have specific nesting requirements. Because of these requirements, your yard may not accommodate certain species. For instance, Eastern bluebirds prefer nesting sites that border open fields or lawns with a tree or fence post nearby to provide feeding perches. Chickadees prefer to nest in brushy wooded areas.

Before setting out nesting houses, find out which species are common in your area and can be encouraged to nest in your yard. Make or buy a bird house specifically designed for the bird you wish to attract. The size of the entrance hole is critical to prevent the eggs and young from being destroyed by larger birds--always check a list of appropriate hole sizes. Other considerations include box size, height above the ground, direction the entrance hole faces, and amount of sunlight. Boxes may need baffles or other protective devices to limit access by cats and other predators.

Many species of birds can be attracted by a variety of feed in different styles of feeders. There are many styles of bird feeders available, from window-mounted feeders to those that hang from branches and stands. Many birds will readily eat right off the ground. Bird feed comes in a variety of choices; however, sunflower seeds appeal to many birds, as well as small mammals. Woodpeckers, nuthatches, and chickadees are especially attracted to suet. Citrus fruit, chopped apples and bananas, and raisins will be eaten by numerous species, including robins, titmouse, nuthatches, woodpeckers, and mockingbirds.

Feeders may also attract wildlife species you may not want to feed such as starlings, crows, and squirrels. Feeder type and placement and the type of food can help deter unwanted species.

Unlike many other species of birds, hummingbirds rely on nectar as their source of food. These tiny, migratory birds are commonly seen in the summer in northern states gathering nectar from colorful flowers. Hummingbirds are typically attracted to red and yellow tubular flowers, although they frequently visit others. Hummingbird feeders can be purchased and filled with a sugar-water solution, consisting of 1 part sugar to 4 parts water. Every 3 to 4 days, wash the feeder with soap and water, rinse thoroughly, and add new sugar water.

Source:
U.S. Department of Agriculture