Create A Backyard Sanctuary

By D. S. Mitchell

Start With Bird Feeders

No matter how small your yard there are things that you can do that will turn your property into a wildlife sanctuary. With COVID-19 having many of us confined to our homes, it might be just the right time to get out in the yard and make a difference for a bevy of creatures. Biologists say habitat loss is the biggest threat to wildlife. Take some of your extra time and pent-up energy to build half a dozen bird feeders. If you are not good with hammer and nail, just order them on-line. One of the easiest things you can do is hang up bird feeders. Remember to place the feeders at different height levels, in different areas of the yard. Offer a variety of seeds in separate feeders. Don’t offer suet in warm weather.

Use Poisons Cautiously

Often people reach for rodenticides at the first signs of  mouse activity, without thinking of the potential danger to wildlife. A California study found rat poison in 90% of mountain lions and 88% of bobcats, and 25 other animal species, including the endangered northern spotted owl and the San Joaquin kit fox. For wildlife friendly alternatives visit www.saferodentcontrol.org.  Consider installing nesting boxes for barn owls. A family of barn owls can eat as many as 3,000 rodents a year. For information on the owl boxes please visit www.hungryowl.org.

Say No To Weedkillers

People need to expand their world vision. Amazingly, people take extreme measures to eat organic, yet go full-bore on weed killers. It is clearly time to say no to weed killers. Before buying young starter plants, seed packets and saplings, read the fine print, making sure you do not buy chemically pre-treated products. Make sure there are no neonicotinoids on labels. Half of the plants sold in the U.S. and Canada are treated with neonicotinoids before shipment to stores.

The Danger Of Neonicotinoids

Neonicotinoids are systemic pesticides. That means they are in every part of a plant. Evidence linking these neonicotinoid pesticides to the honeybee decline is definitive. Research also suggests residues could be harmful to humans especially young children. Furthermore, these products are extraordinarily persistent. Research shows these pesticides persist in the soil for at least a decade. While many countries have banned neonicotinoid pesticides, they are still in widespread use in the United States.

A No Weed killer Philosophy

The no weed killer philosophy must include plants that have been treated with weed killers prior to sale. Adopting a “safe for bee attitude” lets your yard sprout bee loving plants like clover, and wildflowers such as black-eyed Susans and phlox. Stop obsessing over the perfectly groomed yard. Lawns and gardens provide food, nutrition, and shelter for pollinators. Let your lawn go. Let clover, dandelions and other “weeds” flourish. Place piles of brush in several corners of your sanctuary they makes great nesting areas for squirrels and other small animals.

Dead Trees Standing

Revisit how you approach a fallen tree or a dead limb. It’s not an eyesore; it’s a potential bee nest! Drill bee-inviting holes in that dead wood, build nest blocks, or simply buy a pre-made bee box. Leave dead trees standing, unless they are in danger of falling on people or property. Dead trees will give homes to an estimated 400 species of birds, mammals and amphibians. Woodpeckers will feed on insects in those dead trees. The cavities created by the feeding woodpeckers provide homes for nesting birds, including flycatchers and owls.

Bats Are A Good Thing

There is probably no more maligned creature than the bat. Bats are no more likely to carry rabies than any other animal. They do however, perform an array of valuable services. Statistically a bat colony can consume 15 tons of mosquitoes in a single year. Bats are organic pest control.  Furthermore, bats are superior pollinators-530 species of plants are pollinated by them. Bats are in danger. Include night-blooming flowers for bats to feed on. Build a bat box and make your property a welcoming place for these fascinating and necessary creatures.  Roost modules available on-line, are meant to host maternity colonies that keeps bats warm enough to avoid contracting white nose syndrome. The fungus can’t survive temperatures above 68 degrees  Fahrenheit.

Bee Home

The future of the American honeybee is tenuous. These solitary creatures are in real trouble. But, by creating a back yard sanctuary you can help them survive. More than half of bee species live underground, while the rest live in holes in trees or hollow stems. You can go online and buy “Bee condos”.  Soon, if all goes according to plan, you will find that bees have taken up residence and are busy pollinating your yard and your whole neighborhood.

Butterflies On The Wing

This is a good time to “go native” by matching needs of local pollinators. Mix it up, plant some “larval host plants” that attract caterpillars that will shortly become beautiful butterflies. There has been an alarming decline in the Monarch butterfly population over the last decade. The loss can be traced to the loss of the milkweed plant. Milkweed is the only food source for the Monarch and it is the only plant where they lay their egg. Plant milkweed. The smell of the Milkweed is intoxicating. Open your windows.

Add Water

Experts say shallow pools will attract pollinators, especially if you’re in a dry climate or where there is no morning dew. If you already have a bird bath, great. Think about adding several more. Think various sizes, widths, and depths that will appeal to a variety of birds, squirrels and even deer. Provide some pebbles or rocks as “islands” in the dish so pollinators—especially small bees—won’t drown. Place these water sources around the yard, to create an inviting habitat.  Design areas to collect rain water. Use fountains to create “moving water”.  Beware, standing water can attract an unwanted backyard pest: the mosquito. Make sure you empty and refill dishes frequently to keep the water fresh.

Restrain The Dog

Take your dog outside and enjoy quality time with your pet. But, encourage the animal to stay clear of your wildlife sanctuary. Dogs are smart, they can be trained to stay out of the garden or other protected areas of your yard. If need be, restrain the animal in an area away from the sanctuary area. Furthermore you can place barricades, such as fences and hedges around the protected area. Most dogs want to be with their master and usually will stay close.

Bell The Cat

In the United States cats kill a billion birds a year! Several strategies can limit this devastation. Place a bell on your cat’s collar. Listen to make sure it is loud, so birds can hear the cat coming. This strategy alone can reduce bird deaths by one-third. Other gadgets such as cat cones can be helpful. The cones extend out and away from the cat’s head and are particularly effective. Many of these cones come in bright colors, which allows birds to see the cat coming. Make sure your cat is well fed, for obvious reasons.  Impose a cat curfew. Cats tend to go out around sunset, sunrise, and after bad weather.  Those are times birds feed, the most vulnerable time for them. Keep cats indoors during these high risk times, or better yet keep your cat indoors at all times.

Picture This

Collisions with windows kill about a billion birds a year in the United States. Sometimes birds see reflected trees and sky in the windows and fly right into them.  In the spring they see their own reflections and presume they are meeting a rival and will chase them into windows. Identify any dangerous windows around your home, especially picture windows. One simple strategy to prevent window collisions is to use specially designed tape. Check out bird conservation ideas at abcbirds.org/get-involved/bird-smart-glass.

Get Outside

While city, county, state and federal officials want to keep us safe, that does not mean you have to quarantine inside. Get outside. Enjoy the sunshine and fresh air. Make the most of this time. You can effectively “social distance” in the privacy of your back yard.  Build a wildlife sanctuary that you can enjoy for years to come, while providing needed habitat for so many species of wildlife. Make this time count.