Learning from information on the web
National Wildlife Federation's Certified Wildlife Habitat Program: There is a wealth of basic and "advanced" practical information available on the requirements for a backyard wildlife habitat. You can also apply for certification and, when certified, can purchase an attractive metal sign designating your backyard as an official habitat. There are over 100,000 Certified Wildlife Habitats!
Wild Ones - Natural Landscapers, Ltd. - a non-profit organization with a mission to educate and share information with members and community at the "plant-roots" level and to promote biodiversity and environmentally sound practices. We are a diverse membership interested in landscaping using native species in developing plant communities. There are many local chapters throughout the country, including our own Habitat Gardening in Central New York!
Audubon at Home in Seattle: Gardening for Life - An Inspirational Guide to Creating Healthy Habitat is a great resource that's free on the web. Even though it's about Seattle, the same principles apply. (Just be sure you use your own native plants, not Seattle's.)
The National Audubon Society's Audubon at Home website has other good resources on the menu on the left on Reducing Pesticides, Increasing Backyard Diversity, Rethinking Your Lawn, and a number of articles in Learning How to Garden for Birds and Wildlife (reprints from Audubon magazine).
The US Department of Agriculture has some useful materials on their website. At this website, you can also order an attractive booklet on Backyard Conservation as well as some brochures.
The University of Maine's Cooperative Extension has some nice fact sheets on habitat gardening. Although some of the information is specific to Maine, a lot of it applies to Central New York or other areas of the country.
- Beneficial Insects in Your Backyard, #7150
- Components of a Backyard Habitat, #7137
- Facts on Cats and Wildlife: A Conservation Dilemma, #7148
- Keeping Your Yard Safe for Birds, #7145
- Understanding Ruby-Throated Hummingbirds and Enhancing Their Habitat in Maine #7152
- Landscaping for Butterflies in Maine, #7151
- Understanding Native Bees, the Great Pollinators: Enhancing Their Habitat in Maine #7153
- Planning the Backyard Habitat, #7133
- Principles for Creating a Backyard Habitat, #7132
- Why a Backyard Wildlife Habitat, #7131
Other Backyard Wildlife Habitats
Here are some habitat gardens on the web:
- Biggs' Wildlife Pond - a wildlife pond in California ... that led to writing a book on dragonflies!
- Leisa's Backyard Habitat
- Nature's Thread, an urban habitat project in Troy, NY
- Our Backyard Forest in Ohio
- Robyn's Pond Page and Wildlife Habitat
- John's Place in North Carolina
Last updated 01/28/2009
