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Show Page 6 THE OGDEN VALLEY NEWS Volume VI, Issue II May 1, 2002 Inviting Wildlife into Your Yard By Stephanie Duer, wildlife haven. Landscape designer and consultant Shelter Living in Utah, we are fortunate that there are many places near to home where we can take pleasure in the sights that are special to our state. We can enjoy the jeweled beauty of wildflowers at Mary Lake, watch for cormorants and herons on Antelope Island, or wait quietly in the morning mist to view deer browsing . . . Even though these places are close at hand, it isn’t always easy to get away to enjoy these natural pleasures. The busyness of daily living can make it difficult to venture to even close destinations. However, with a little planning, we can delight in what nature has to offer by inviting nature into our own backyards. By planting a sanctuary that welcomes birds and wildlife, we create a haven for ourselves as well. Like people, birds and wildlife have basic life needs that must be met in order to survive: shelter, food, water, and space. By providing for these needs, we welcome nature and all her companions into our backyards. Nothing brings a garden to life more than a bird song; the low, owl-like cooing of the Mourning Dove: the melancholic fee-bee of the Black-capped Chickaddee; the cheerful, clear notes of the Song Sparrow. Inviting birds into the yard can create opportunities for learning, chase away winter doldrums, and keep insect pests under control. Imagine having a yard that beckons a doe and her fawn to bed down for the winter, where chipmunks cavort and squirrels chatter at one another. There’s no need to create a jungle or go “native;” planting a few shrubs and flowers for berries and seeds offered, and adding a source of water are all that is needed to create a beautiful and enriching Creating a yard that beckons to wildlife is as simple as choosing plants that provide shelter by encouraging nesting and roosting. When the number and variety of trees, shrubs and flowers in a year are increased, a yard’s value is enhanced as a shelter for a multitude of birds and other wildlife. To attract the greatest variety of birds, plant a diverse selection of trees and shrubs to meet the nesting and roosting preferences of the different species that make their home in Utah, or that pass through regularly on migration. Orioles, hummingbirds, and flycatchers favor nesting in the tallest conifers and shade trees, while the Warblers and Towhees prefer to build their nests in lower, twiggy shrubs, such as golden currant and chokecherry. Some birds depend on dead and decaying trees for cavities in which to nest. Both the Western and the Mouhntain Bluebird build their nests in cavities inside aspen or pine trees. Woodpeckers excavate cavities in the decayed limbs of large cottonwoods, pinyons, and other tall trees. Nuthatches nest in naturally occurring cavities inside of decaying trees and, whenever available, the cavities deserted by woodpeckers. The Pygmy Nuthatch, in particular, is fond of ponderosa pine. Decaying trees not only provide shelter to a variety of birds, but are also home to many of the insects on which these birds feed. Chipmunks and squirrels also take advantage of the nesting opportunities found in large, old trees. So, if there are decaying or dead trees that pose no hazard to people or property, consider leaving those old tree snags standing for the living space and food they provide. A small stand of gambel oak or staghorn sumac will provide important cover for deer seeking shelter during the winter months. Gambel oak’s low canopy will also appeal to quail. Even a pile of brush and branches left in a far corner of the yard becomes a safe place for chipmunks, lizards, and garden-friendly snakes. Another mammal to consider providing shelter to is the bat. According to the North American Bat House Research Project, nearly 40 percent of North American bat species are endangered. According to Heidi Harries, Utah’s only bat rehabilitation specialist, bat species are becoming endangered due to the destruction of habitat and the use of pesticides. Chemicals such as diazonon and carbaryl not only kill the insects that re the primary food source of bats, but damage bats through contact and ingestion. Although 18 species of bats are found in Utah, according to Harris, only three typically inhabit urban areas: the little brown, the big brown, and the Brazilian free-tailed bats. These three bats all exist on a diet of night-flying insects, which is why their presence in the yard should be encouraged. Harris says the little brown bat, for instance, “can consume as many as 600 mosquitoes an hour. That’s probably more than a bug zapper will kill in a month.” And according to Bat Conservation International (BCI), many insects avoid areas where bats live. By encouraging these fascinating mammals to roost in our yards, we can help to save them from extinction, and control irritating insect pests at the same time. Food Another important aspect of attracting and maintaining wildlife in the yard is selecting plants that provide food for animals. Berries, nuts, acorns, seed heads, and nectar are necessary to attract birds, small mammals, butterflies, and the insects that some of them consume. Planting an assortment of shrubs, flowers, and ornamental grasses can create a veritable smorgasbord that birds and other wildlife will enjoy, while adding beauty to the yard. Berries and seeds are an important food source for wildlife. There are many attractive shrubs and ornamental trees that will appeal to deer, birds, and small mammals. Serviceberry, with starry white April flowers and luscious blue-black fruit; black chokecherry, a late flowering shrub with lush green leaves; and Utah juniper, with its fragrant, shredding bark and appealing irregular form, are handsome and distinctive plants in any season, and are an important food source for deer, birds, and small mammals year long. Creating a colorful border of perennial flowers will appeal to both wild and human visitors. Because perennials come back every year, they can be an inexpensive and rewarding way to attract and support wildlife. Perennial flowers supply food year long in the form of nectar and seeds and, indirectly, from the insects they attract. Even after blooming, perennial flowers are an important source of food to wildlife. During the long winter months when insects and nectar are not available, many birds and animals depend on seeds for food. Instead of cleaning up the perennial border in the fall, delay cutting back perennials and grasses until early spring. This helps to create a winter supply of food. The seed heads left behind from such flowers as purple coneflower, black-eyed susan, and sunflower will keep goldfinches, Dark-eyed Juncos, and Purple Finches WILDLIFE cont. on page 7 |