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Clover. Is it all that it is made up to be?
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Learn how to enhance your habitat.
Enhancing your habitat Story
Habitat, simply put is the area where animals live. The key to
wildlife survival, habitat provides four basic elements: food,
water, cover and nesting areas.
Whether you have a small backyard or a larger...
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There are many ways we can use our human energy to lighten the load on natural resources and tread lightly on our home planet. Check how many of these you do already: 1. Recycle and re-use Wherever possible, separate waste into compost material,...
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Learn how to enhance your habitat.
Enhancing your habitat Story
Habitat, simply put is the area where animals live. The key to
wildlife survival, habitat provides four basic elements: food,
water, cover and nesting areas.
Whether you have a small backyard or a larger area with fields
and/or woodland, you can help provide these essential resources
for a variety of wildlife, including birds, butterflies,
insects, small mammals and some larger animals.
Begin by walking around your yard or property to identify any
existing habitat resources. Make a map or plan of the land,
noting any trees, shrubs, flowers, plants, vines and secret
spots that might provide cover for wildlife. Look for brush and
rock piles, as well as water or wetland areas.
Once your plan is completed, take note of those existing
features that are providing good wildlife habitat. From here,
you may decide to add more water features, an area for cover and
nesting or additional native plants for food.
The best way to provide a year-round source of food is to plant
a diverse selection of plants, shrubs, trees and vines. If you
live in an apartment or have a very small yard, you may only be
able to set out a few flowering plants in the summer,
supplemented by feeding a variety of birdseed.
Use feeders designed to keep the seed dry and clean. Check them
regularly and discard wet or moldy seeds that can make birds
sick. Consider separate birdfeeders for different seed types to
minimize waste. Or use a seed mix and and leave the droppings
for ground feeding birds and small mammals, if you prefer. If
you have room, scatter some mixed birdseed over a small area of
ground and allow it to germinate. Ground feeding birds and small
mammals appreciate not only the feed, but also the cover
provided by the growing seedlings. Various birds, butterflies
and bees will appreciate the nectar of potted or garden flowers
such as nicotiana, salvia, rudbeckia and snapdragon, to name
only a few.
For your small habitat garden, provide cover and nesting spaces
with birdhouses. A birdbath will complete the habitat
requirements. Birdbaths should be shallow, no more than
three-inches deep, and have a sloping, rough bottom to provide
good footing.
Larger gardens with fields or lawn and perhaps some wooded areas
offer additional opportunities for
providing wildlife habitat.
In addition to a variety of flowers and plants, shrubs and trees
will enhance your landscape and provide the requisite food,
cover and nesting sites. Utilize any existing food sources that
already exist on your land and purchase other plantings that
will invite wildlife to your table.
Some native shrubs and trees to consider are: American Highbush
Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum); Common Elderberry (Sambucus
canadensis); Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago); American Mountain
Ash (Sorbus Americana); Dolgo and Prairie Fire crabapple trees:
Silky Dogwood (Cornus ammomum); Red-Osier Dogwood (Cornus
stolonifera) and Buttonbush (Celphalenthus occidentalis).
Vines such as Dropmore Scarlet Honeysuckle and wild grapes as
well as brambles like blackberries and raspberries provide a
source of food for many birds, as well as cover and nesting
places.
If you've watery habitat on your property, preserve it as a
source of water for wildlife. If not, consider putting in a
small pond or locate several birdbaths in various secure spots.
Heated birdbaths provide a source of water when most other
sources are frozen.
Wildlife, particularly birds, seek cover and nesting spots in
trees and shrubs. Additional cover can be provided for small
mammals such as snowshoe hare, rabbits and other small mammals
by creating small brush piles in several locations. Or create a
10-20 foot strip of shrubs, hemlocks, or other evergreens to
provide a border for cover and a windbreak for birds, small
mammals, beneficial insects and deer. Borders or edges provide
both screening from objectionable views and provide animal
protection, travel lanes, food, cover and nesting spots.
Finally, keep in mind natural processes in your plan for
wildlife habitat. Leave seedpods, berries and grasses to mature.
Pile small twigs and branches where animals can scurry for
shelter. Allow some areas to remain small fields where
grasshoppers can live and turkeys can feed.
About the author:
Steve Link - Pifer-Swann Realty This article was written by
Steve Link. He is an agent for Pifer-Swann Realty and is also a
farmland manager. Steve will periodically submit articles for
the benefit of Land20's readers. If you have any questions or
comments you can email him at stlink@pifer-swan.com
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