Attracting Hummingbirds to your Habitat

via wikimedia commons

Hummingbirds are busy little creatures that love bright colors and sweet things. Despite their reputation for flitting around at high speeds, hummingbirds actually spend a great deal of their time
perched in safe places. So keep that in mind when trying to attract the little guys.

Food

When thinking of plants to attract and feed hummingbirds it's useful to keep in mind the shape of their beaks. Hummers prefer conical or trumpeted flowers. 

Shrubs like Azaleas or Honeysuckle are ideal since, when full size, they provide the perfect place for the little guys to rest when not eating. 

Supplementing your flowers with feeders will allow you to support a bigger hummingbird population as well as giving them somewhere to feed when their favorite flowers begin to die back. Like butterflies, they also appreciate offerings of fresh fruit from time to time. 

Water

Hummingbirds get all the water they need to drink from the nectar they eat. They do, however, still need to bathe and clean themselves. 

Traditional birdbaths are too deep for them. They'll need something a bit shallower, with perches in the sun where they can dry themselves and preen. Some people place rocks in their birdbaths, creating shallow spots where the tiny birds can sit and bathe themselves. 

Another option is to set up a water mister with a gentle spray near some plants that your hummers like to visit. They'll be more than happy with rubbing against the wet leaves and, if the mist is gentle enough, they may fly through the water or hover in it to get clean. 

Shelter

Trees and Large shrubs are the perfect shelter for these tiny birds. As long as there are plenty of branches and foliage to cover them from the elements and predators, they'll be happy. 

Nesting

These little guys are migratory, spending most of the cold winter months down south in the Gulf of Mexico. Which means, unfortunately, that the majority of backyard habitats won't get the chance to try and spot hummingbird nests. 

Those of you that do live in warmer regions, still might have a hard time spotting the minuscule nests. Hummingbirds themselves are so tiny, their nests are barely large enough to accommodate whichever parent is currently warming the eggs. 

Nests are well camouflaged and often look like little more than a knot in between two branches. These nests will be made in their favorite shrubs and trees, high off the ground, and out of the wind. They generally prefer building their nests in areas that stay cool since the eggs will not hatch if they get too hot. 

Wrapping up

Watching a hummingbird at a feeder is always a lot of fun, and it doesn't take much to get one to visit you. It's been estimated that in both the United States and Canada there's not a single square mile that's not visited by hummingbirds at least once each year. 

So plant your flowers, hang out your feeders and keep an eye out. 

Attracting Butterflies

Butterflies, like hummingbirds, are attracted to bright colors. Reds and yellows seem to be particularly favorable to them. But, more than that, you'll want to consider their preferred food sources and what plants they prefer to lay their eggs on. 

Fender's Blue Butterfly

Some butterflies will only lay eggs on a specific type of plant. For example, the Fender's Blue Butterfly in Oregon will only lay its eggs on the Kincaid's Lupine. The caterpillars hatch out before winter and hibernate among the roots of the plant. Then in the spring they emerge and feed on the leaves before forming their cocoon. 

So it's worth it do to a little research on the types of Butterflies in your region. Usually a quick google search of "Butterflies Your State" or "Butterflies Your County" will give you an idea of who lives in your area. 

If you live in the patch of the Monarch Butterfly migration you might try planting some milkweed (choose a variety that's native to you) to encourage the females to stop in for a meal and lay their eggs after wintering in Mexico. 

Water

Butterflies are delicate and sensitive to heat. They love damp and moist areas, but can't land on open water. So even if you have a pond or birdbath, you'll have to provide a special "puddling" area for your butterflies. 

Rain gardens or man-made marsh areas can provide your butterflies with adequate watering areas. Or you can make something a bit more mobile. 

Take a shallow container and put about an inch of sand in it. Add water until damp, but not soaked. You don't want huge amounts of standing water. Your butterflies will be happy with the moistness.

Food

While most species of butterfly can get their nutritional needs fulfilled exclusively from native plants, it doesn't mean that they won't appreciate a treat every once in a while. 

Overripe fruit is a particular favorite since, as fruit ages, more and more of the starch gets converted into sugar. That's why bananas are sweetest right before they go bad. 

Some people recommend taking an overripe banana, poking holes in it with a toothpick, and then drizzling it with gatorade. Don't drown it, just add enough to make the whole thing damp. The butterflies will appreciate the sweet treat and dose of electrolytes from the gatorade to boot. 

Shelter

Where do Butterflies go when it rains?

They delicate little beauties will seek shelter wherever they can find it around your habitat. You can make it easier for them by making sure there are plenty of draft free, cozy little clefts for them to hide in. 

Man made butterfly houses offer another option. 

Wrapping up

It's very easy to provide everything butterflies need for a complete habitat. It's a bonus that most of the plants they like are pretty attractive as well, making it easy to put together a simple but gorgeous garden. So whether you've got a huge yard or an apartment balcony, you can create a beautiful butterfly sanctuary. 

Planning your Habitat

Before you start anything else, you should sit down and draw up a detailed plan. Chances are good that the "All Natural" look isn't going to fly with your HOA, Neighbors, or Landlord. If you live in an area where these aren't an issue, then feel free to go as "wild" and crazy as you want.

The average person, however, is going to have to take some things into consideration.

Space

How much room do you actually have to dedicate as a habitat? This is going to affect the type of wildlife that you're going to be able to offer shelter to. Birds don't take up much space and can be satisfied pretty easily with mostly man-made solutions so setting up a nifty bird house, feeder, and birdbath and planting a few seed bearing plants can easily satisfy all of their needs.

If you live in the countryside with few neighbors you might be able to attract deer and other wild animals to feed on your property. Just be aware that in secluded areas you may also end up attracting large predators as well.

Living in an apartment in a highly urban area doesn't mean you're excluded from setting up your own little habitat. People have managed to get their balconies certified as butterfly habitats in the past. Unfortunately, due to space limitations you're probably not going to be able to fulfill the needs of birds who will likely be too shy to make their nests practically right on your front porch.

If you don't have an area of your own to certify, you could try approaching your local city council about getting a local park or empty lot turned into a certified Wildlife Habitat and turning it into a community project.

Schools are encouraged to do the same, dedicating a small part of the school grounds to setting up a habitat that can be used to educate children about the ecosystem and coexisting with nature.

Local Wildlife

If you live in an Urban area then chances are that you're going to see fewer types of critters than someone who lives rural or even suburban zones.

Take into consideration your surroundings, look up local birding groups, and maybe even chat with your neighbors to get an idea of what critters might live in your area.

I also suggest looking into local conservation efforts, find out what animals might be threatened or endangered in your area. If you're able to provide a safe environment for a threatened species of bird to make its home and raise its young then you've made a serious contribution to your local wildlife.

Keep in mind that you may end up attracting wildlife that you don't necessarily want around.

Squirrels are bound to show up if you're feeding the birds. It's just a fact of life. Instead of trying to drive them away from your yard, offer them an easier solution with a feeding station and habitats of their own.

Larger predators, like bears, may require you to bring in your bird feeders at night and avoid creating a compost pile with kitchen scraps. Chances are, if you live in bear country, then you're already aware of the steps you should take to minimize the risk of attracting one of this big guys.

Neighbors, HOA and Landlords

If you're renting then your landlord may not be okay with getting part of their property certified since this often requires landscaping changes. If you're renting an apartment and want to create a balcony habitat then you should make doubly sure that your landlord is okay with it. 

If you actually own your property but have to deal with a Home Owner's Association you need to make sure that any changes you plan on making to your yard comply with their rules. 

There's also pretty good chance that your neighbors might take issue if you decide you're going to put up a couple of bat house due to preconceived, negative, opinions surrounding bats. You should take some time to educate yourself about the species of animals you're going to attract. If there are any that you think may cause issues (bats, owls, etc.) then take some time out to talk to your neighbors and educate them about what you're trying to do and why. 

If they take issue and won't be convinced, then you should consider giving up on that particular animal. Not only will your neighbors appreciate it, but you might just earn yourself a new friend and maybe even get them interested in the idea of getting their property certified as a wildlife habitat too. 

Climate

Your local climate is going to affect how much water you need to provide as well as whether or not you'll need to build shaded areas into your habitat. 

The plus side to living in a warmer climate is that most of your native fauna will drought resistant and evergreen. Meaning you probably won't have to supplement as much food for your wildlife or water the plants quite as often. You'll just have to make sure you've got plenty of water available for wildlife to make use of. 

Colder climates will likely have to supplement food with feeders when the weather turns cold. 

While wetter climates are going to have to keep feeders dry to prevent birdseed from turning moldy or sprouting in the feeder. 

All in all, each region has something they're going to have to take into consideration when planning out their wildlife habitat. 

Step 5: Healthy and Sustainable Habitat

The fifth and final step to getting your Wildlife Habitat certified is practicing sustainable and healthy gardening habits.

Remove Non-Native Plants

You should start be removing invasive or non-native species of plants from your yard. Remember, when you become certified as a Wildlife Habitat, you're certifying your entire property. It's not enough to put things into practice only in one area of your yard.

Native plants generally thrive better and require less attention, pesticides and watering that non-native species since they're used to the climate that their found in. In some cases, non-native plants thrive much better than natives, in these cases they rob native plants of nutrients and can often take over an area if not constantly maintained.

In the long run, you'll find it easier to keep up with the demands of your native flora.

Reduce Your Lawn

One of the Facebook Foxes, sitting on some moss

Grass lawns are a pain in the butt. Not only do you have to mow them constantly, but they require frequent treatment with pesticides to keep out undesirable plants and weeds. And in order to maintain that vibrant green that's the sign of a healthy lawn you need water. And lots of it. 

The easiest option here would be to let your lawn go. Stop using pesticides, stop over watering multiple times a week, stop mowing, and let nature take its course. Of course, that's not practical for everyone. Home Owner's Associations and City Ordinances often have strict codes about lawn maintenance (where I live, grass growth over 10 inches in height is considered a fire hazard during the dry season). 

So instead of letting it all go back to nature, consider replanting sections of your yard with local plants. You could carve out chunks of your yard and replace them with shrubs and wild flowers. Another option, and one I've been considering for a while now, is to pull out your grass completely and replace it with a hearty ground cover that looks great while requiring less maintenance and no pesticides. 

Or, if you have a particularly shady yard, you could do like some homeowners have done and completely replace their lawn with native mosses. Not only does it look like grass from a distance, but moss stays short and forms a thick carpet over the ground that helps lock in water and keep it from evaporating.  

Conserve Water

Water is an important resource, but here in the States nearly 90% of all water goes to landscape and yard maintenance. That's a lot!

You can easily reduce the amount of water your plants need by covering all of your garden beds with mulch. Mulch traps water and keeps it from evaporating so that your plants can go longer before needing to be watered again. 

As mentioned above, most native plants are going to be more adapted to the local climate and are less likely to require extensive watering during warm weather. 

Composting

Starting a compost pile is not only a great way to supplement the nutrients for your garden, but it can also help reduce your garbage bill by lowering the amount of food waste you throw away each week. 

A healthy compost pile can also serve as a breeding ground for worms which will help to supplement the diets of many different species of birds that may come to call your Wildlife Habitat their home. 

In order to qualify for certification, you must be doing at least two things to help manage your habitat in a sustainable way:

• Soil and Water Conservation
• Riparian Buffer
• Capturing Rain Water
• Xeriscaping
• Soaker Hoses for irrigation
• Limit Water Use
• Reduce Erosion 
• Use Mulch
• Create a Rain Garden
• Control Exotic Species
• Integrated Pest Management
• Remove non-native plants 
• Use native plants
• Reduce Lawns
• Chemical Free Gardening
• Avoid Chemical Pesticides
• Avoid Chemical Fertilizers
• Compost

Step 4: Places to Raise Young

via Flickr

You've given them food, water, and shelter from predators now for the final ingredient for the perfect backyard wildlife habitat. A place to raise the next generation of little critters.

The options for this are as varied as the critters you can attract and may already be provided for in earlier steps depending on choices you've made.

Amphibians will be more than happy laying their eggs in the same pond that you provide as shelter. Birds may nest in trees and shrubs. Butterflies will lay their eggs on different plants and vegetation.

As with each step of this process, a little research goes a long way towards making sure that the species you're attracting have the perfect place to rear their young. Be sure to read up on how to research your wildlife habitat.

You can also provide plenty of man-made options to supplement what's naturally available. Bird and Bat houses can be made following simple plans or purchased.

To become certified you need to provide at least two places for wildlife to rear their young. Here are some suggestions:

• Mature Trees
• Meadows
• Nesting Boxes
• Wetlands
• Caves
• Plants for Caterpillars
• Dead Trees
• Dense shurbs or thickets
• Ponds
• Burrows

As you can see, many of these popped up during Step 3 and can easily pull double duty depending on what critters you'd like to see in your yard. 

Step 3: Providing Cover

Local/Native plants and vegetation are great sources of cover for wildlife. Chances are that the birds or squirrels that come to your yard are used to certain species of plants and will be more than happy to take cover in them. You can even get double duty from these plants if they're also a source of berries or seeds that wildlife can use as food.

Dead tress and shrubs, or brush piles, can also serve as shelter for various animals including birds and

via Flickr

squirrels. Gathering up dead tree limbs, yard cuttings, and plant debris and piling them in one corner of your yard can be a great start.

If natural options don't work, then you can provide man made ones instead. Birdhouses fill this need well and can be tailored to specific types of birds that you'd like to attract. 

If you're trying to attract amphibians into your habitat then a pond, if it's deep enough, can serve as cover from predators as well. 

Depending on the critter, they may end up turning these cover locations into their permanent den/nesting sites. 

Options for cover are pretty varied. In order to become certified you must provide to places for critters to take cover. Here are some suggestions:

• Wooded Area
• Bramble Patch
• Ground Cover
• Rock Pile
• Cave
• Roosting Box/birdhouse
• Shrubs or Thickets
• Evergreens
• Brush pile
• Burrow
• Pond

The goal with cover is to provide a place where critters feel safe. A place that they'd instantly run/fly/crawl the moment a predator appears. These places can also provide shelter from the elements if rain or wind suddenly makes conditions unpleasant. 

Step 2: Providing Water

Providing water for your new Wildlife Habitat can be as simple as installing a bird bath, or as complex as creating your own backyard wetland. If you're lucky enough to have a creek or pond (or live right on the beach) then you've got all the water your new, wild, friends are going to need.

Remember, the water you're providing isn't just for drinking. Birds and other animals will use the water you provide in order to bathe and, depending on what critters come to live in your yard, they may need water rear their young as well.

Whatever the case, you're going to have to do your best to ensure that these water sources remain clean and in good condition. That means keeping them free of chemicals and other contaminants. For birdbaths you'll want to clean them out several times a week to prevent mosquito larva from hatching.

Someone living in an apartment with a balcony might have a shallow dish to allow butterflies to

Butterflies "puddling" via Flickr

"puddle" (more on this in the Butterfly article). Someone with a small yard might go with a birdbath, while someone with more room may opt for an above ground pond.

There's no real hard rules here, as long as you're providing enough clean water to sustain the critters you're trying to attract into your habitat.

In order to become certified you must provide at least one of the following:

• Birdbath
• Lake
• Stream
• Seasonal Pool
• Ocean
• Water Garden
• Pond
• Butterfly Puddling Area
• Rain Garden
• Spring