Georgann Schmalz
Birding Adventures,Inc .

One of the best approaches to evaluating your property for designation as a wildlife habitat is to initially evaluate which habitat features already exist and which ones you need to enhance.  Include in your evaluation the good and bad features (wetlands, erosion), immoveable features (buildings, fences, sidewalks, trees), and special features (hillsides, streams, rock outcroppings).  Study the sun’s pattern noting which areas receive the most sunlight and which are partially or fully shaded.  Make a sketch of your area including all the natural and man-made features that you have chosen

The key ingredient for a successful habitat is DIVERSITY .  Incorporating a large variety of plants, food, and water features will increase the number and types of animals that visit your habitat.  Choose a low-maintenance approach, combining native plants of different sizes, and providing food and water in creative ways.

Begin designing your habitat by including the four basic requirements of wildlife:

FOOD

Provide natural food or feeding stations that attract all types of animals:    birds, butterflies, small mammals, reptiles, and amphibians. Choose native species for your property and include those that produce hard mast, soft mast and flowers.  Vary their timing of fruit and flowers so that animals have access to food during all seasons.  Many types of feeders are easy to build or inexpensive to purchase.  Include seed feeders for birds,   suet for woodpeckers, sugar water for hummingbirds, and ears of corn for squirrels and chipmunks.

Downy Woodpecker peeking through suet.

Photo by Georgann Schmalz

Just like a diversity of vegetation, a variety of bird feeders will attract more species to your habitat.
Native plants offer the best variety of seeds, flowers, and fruit.

Beautyberry
Photo by Georgann Schmalz

WATER

A clean, dependable source of water is an essential part of your habitat.   Animals of all kinds are drawn to water whether it be an elaborate pond,   barrel tub, or a simple bird bath.  Make sure your water feature is near a hose   or faucet.  Select a site that is partially sunny, but away from dense  shrubbery which could harbor predators.  Provide several flat stones and  shallow areas of no more than one inch for small animals to bathe or drink.  Bird baths with moving water will attract many more birds than still water.

COVER

Cover serves to protect wildlife from weather and predators.  It also adds   nesting places and food for animals.  Plant native vegetation at different  levels, from ground-cover to low-growing shrubs, mid-story to the tall canopy.     Add rock piles, brush piles, large stones, leaf litter, stumps, rotting logs, dead trees, and vine tangles to diversify and meet animals’ requirements.

Deciduous leaf litter is more animal friendly than other mulches.

NESTING

If you have provided suitable food, water, and cover, wildlife will nest in your   habitat.  Each nesting area should offer a relatively safe and   protected place to raise young.  A diverse vegetation structure in your habitat will be the most successful.  Low ground cover for ground nesters,  low shrubs and saplings for medium height nesting species and finally taller shrubs and trees for canopy species.  If your habitat lacks dead snags with cavities, you can set out nesting boxes for birds.  Read about the size of the box, the entrance diameter and the placement for the variety of cavity-nesting species in your area. 

Four nestlings

Photo by Steve Price