Create a wildlife habitat

I’ve had this goal before under various other names, but I think this one best fits my intentions. I’ve decided to make as much of my backyard and front yard wildlife-friendly as possible. So far, I just have a bird feeder in the backyard for sunflower seeds. Not good enough!

What I need to do (after getting rid of the weeds once and for all):

1. Put up a suet feeder
2. Properly position the toad house
3. Add a squirrel feeder
4. Plant a tree that attracts wildlife
5. Get a birdbath
6. Create a pond
7. Plant a butterfly/hummingbird/songbird garden
8. Buy or make some bird houses

I’m also considering adding a home for Mason bees and a bat house.

This is going to be amazing when it’s finished! :D

We got an award certificate and a metal sign, I posted a picture of the sign. I haven’t decided where to mount it yet.
My Mom’s done it too, she’s got foxes. But WE’VE got bats.

Things are underway! Emily and I met with a landscape designer today and we determined there is a lot of work to be done in terms of simply preparing the designated space for planting. We have to rototill the space and then weed for what seems like years to get rid of all of the invasive plants. On Saturday, we spent 6 hours volunteering for the county by digging up native plants from a wetlands area that will be a lame-o subdivision soon so the plants can be transplanted elsewhere. So much work but so fun, too. We even got to keep some of the plants for our habitat! I’m excited things are looking achievable, though. Tomorrow we will be doing more grant writing. I hate that part, but if we get money I will be so happy. It will be like winning a prize.

In the quest for my Master’s in Education, I’m currently student teaching at a school that sits on a few acres of land, some of which is pretty bare. I think it’s incredibly important to utilize nature as a learning tool and resource whenever possible, since teaching students about life and the Earth is essential. Because of this, Emily and I went to a National Wildlife Federation workshop a couple of months ago where we were inspired to design and create a wildlife habitat and we plan to do this with our students in the Spring. Schoolyard habitats are becoming more and more popular, but they are still somewhat rare. It takes a lot of time, planning, and money. Grant writing will be the first challenge of this project. A wildlife habitat benefits the animals in our area, improves the quality of our water and air, and provides a hands-on learning environment. If you are interested in doing this on a smaller scale in your backyard, you can get some great info from the NWF on their website. If you properly design it and plant only native plants that benefit your area wildlife, you can even get it registered as a certified wildlife habitat. Certificate, placard, and all. :)