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03-06-2008, 07:41 AM
THE NEWS TRIBUNE Published: March 6th, 2008 01:
Did You Know?
More than 35,000 acres of wildlife habitat is converted to housing and other development each year here in Washington. If we continue at this rate, many of our native wildlife species will have few places to live and visit.
What You Can Do
Once you have converted your backyard into a healthy habitat for native wildlife, you can certify your habitat by going to the National Wildlife Federation Web site at www.nwf.org/backyard and learn more from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife at wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/backyard.
Whenever you look out at your backyard, you are looking at a prime place for wildlife to live. At first glance, this might not be obvious, but with a little work, you can create your very own backyard habitat suitable for all sorts of wildlife.
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have a big, grassy, tree-lined backyard. You can turn a deck, patio or even a windowsill into a place that wildlife will love with these simple steps.
1. Conduct a habitat survey to figure out what you already have available for wildlife. Get a pencil and paper, head outside and write down everything you have in your yard that will make a healthy habitat. Look for food sources such as plants that provide flowers, berries, nuts or seeds. Do you have water? Perhaps a stream, pond, fountain or birdbath? Finally, look around for places where animals can find shelter. Are there trees, logs, shrubs, or brush piles?
2. Determine if you have food, water, shelter and space suitable for native Pacific Northwest animals. If something’s missing from your list, you’ll need to add it in to create a healthy backyard habitat.
To provide food, grow native plants and flowers. Check at your local nursery or go to www.wnps.org for a list of native plants.
You can also make bird feeders. Whatever you use as a feeder, make sure you clean it regularly to prevent bacteria from growing.
Here are some options for making a simple bird feeder.
• Get a large pine cone and tie string to the top to make a hanger. Smear peanut butter or lard onto the cone, filling all the spaces; roll the cone in birdseed then hang your feeder for the birds to enjoy.
• Another feeder can be made from any length or width fallen branch. Have an adult drill a variety of holes along the branch, but not all the way through the branch. Screw an eye-hook into the top of the branch and attach string for the hanger. Fill the holes with peanut butter or lard mixed with birdseeds and hang for the birds to gobble up.
• You can also make ground feeders by putting a pie pan of seeds right on the ground. However, be prepared for the squirrels and chipmunks to enjoy this treat, too.
You can provide water simply with a pie pan, rocks and water. Put a few different sized rocks in a pie pan and fill it with water. Be sure some of the rocks are big enough to stick out of the water so birds can perch on them. Make sure the rocks are pushed to one side of the pan to leave space for bathing. Change the rocks and the water often to keep it clean.
If you have enough room, you can provide shelter by growing native shrubs and trees. Animals also like to live in brush piles and fallen logs. If you are trying to attract a specific type of animal, check at your local library to find out what that animal likes to eat and what it might use for shelter, and add those features to your habitat.
Now that your backyard habitat is complete, start a wildlife log book to track the animals using the habitat. Record which animals use the habitat at different times during the day, and during different seasons. You can also keep a sketchbook of everything you see.
This month’s column was written by the staff at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, 11610 Trek Drive E., Eatonville; 360-832-6117; www.nwtrek.org.
from: http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/story/301789.html
Did You Know?
More than 35,000 acres of wildlife habitat is converted to housing and other development each year here in Washington. If we continue at this rate, many of our native wildlife species will have few places to live and visit.
What You Can Do
Once you have converted your backyard into a healthy habitat for native wildlife, you can certify your habitat by going to the National Wildlife Federation Web site at www.nwf.org/backyard and learn more from the state Department of Fish and Wildlife at wdfw.wa.gov/wlm/backyard.
Whenever you look out at your backyard, you are looking at a prime place for wildlife to live. At first glance, this might not be obvious, but with a little work, you can create your very own backyard habitat suitable for all sorts of wildlife.
Don’t be discouraged if you don’t have a big, grassy, tree-lined backyard. You can turn a deck, patio or even a windowsill into a place that wildlife will love with these simple steps.
1. Conduct a habitat survey to figure out what you already have available for wildlife. Get a pencil and paper, head outside and write down everything you have in your yard that will make a healthy habitat. Look for food sources such as plants that provide flowers, berries, nuts or seeds. Do you have water? Perhaps a stream, pond, fountain or birdbath? Finally, look around for places where animals can find shelter. Are there trees, logs, shrubs, or brush piles?
2. Determine if you have food, water, shelter and space suitable for native Pacific Northwest animals. If something’s missing from your list, you’ll need to add it in to create a healthy backyard habitat.
To provide food, grow native plants and flowers. Check at your local nursery or go to www.wnps.org for a list of native plants.
You can also make bird feeders. Whatever you use as a feeder, make sure you clean it regularly to prevent bacteria from growing.
Here are some options for making a simple bird feeder.
• Get a large pine cone and tie string to the top to make a hanger. Smear peanut butter or lard onto the cone, filling all the spaces; roll the cone in birdseed then hang your feeder for the birds to enjoy.
• Another feeder can be made from any length or width fallen branch. Have an adult drill a variety of holes along the branch, but not all the way through the branch. Screw an eye-hook into the top of the branch and attach string for the hanger. Fill the holes with peanut butter or lard mixed with birdseeds and hang for the birds to gobble up.
• You can also make ground feeders by putting a pie pan of seeds right on the ground. However, be prepared for the squirrels and chipmunks to enjoy this treat, too.
You can provide water simply with a pie pan, rocks and water. Put a few different sized rocks in a pie pan and fill it with water. Be sure some of the rocks are big enough to stick out of the water so birds can perch on them. Make sure the rocks are pushed to one side of the pan to leave space for bathing. Change the rocks and the water often to keep it clean.
If you have enough room, you can provide shelter by growing native shrubs and trees. Animals also like to live in brush piles and fallen logs. If you are trying to attract a specific type of animal, check at your local library to find out what that animal likes to eat and what it might use for shelter, and add those features to your habitat.
Now that your backyard habitat is complete, start a wildlife log book to track the animals using the habitat. Record which animals use the habitat at different times during the day, and during different seasons. You can also keep a sketchbook of everything you see.
This month’s column was written by the staff at Northwest Trek Wildlife Park, 11610 Trek Drive E., Eatonville; 360-832-6117; www.nwtrek.org.
from: http://www.thenewstribune.com/adventure/story/301789.html