As the land is increasingly developed in our area, we are destroying much of the native habitat on which birds and other wildlife depend. Typical developments include large areas of lawn and non-native plants that provide little benefit to the ecosystem. Some of these non-native plants escape and take over the few remaining natural areas, becoming invasive and threatening even more habitat. While nature preserves and parks provide important resources to wildlife, these areas represent a very small portion of our landscape.
So, our yards, and the type of plants found in them, matter more than you may know. These spaces are a habitat that birds and other wildlife increasingly need to survive. By making small changes at home like adding native plants, especially keystone species, we can make a big difference. Native plants play a very important role in providing the food birds need to survive and thrive in a way that non-native plants cannot do.
Non-native ornamental plants are grown specifically for their aesthetic qualities for landscaping around the home, not for their wildlife benefits. They can disrupt the food web because they don’t support the insects that most birds and other animals eat.
Wake Audubon is trying to restore native habitat and reduce the pressure from non-native ornamentals and invasive plants through education and direct intervention. We are teaching people about the benefits of using native plants, how to identify and remove invasive plants, providing sources of water, leaving leaf litter, brush piles, and providing snags where possible. These small steps can also make their property more bird-friendly.
Our goal is to create Bird Friendly Communities, one yard or property at a time.
Bird Friendly Habitat Certification
To encourage and guide people in the process of creating bird friendly habitat on their property, Wake Audubon is offering a Bird Friendly Habitat Certification Program where trained volunteers visit your property to identify plants and advise you on making the habitat safer and more beneficial to wildlife.
The purpose of the program is to improve backyard habitats for birds and other wildlife. It is focused on education and encouragement to help make our communities healthier for both wildlife and people.
For more details about the program and to request a Certification Visit, go to our Certification Request page. We also have a Bird Friendly Habitat Certification Brochure that further explains the program.
For more information on any of the key elements of creating a bird friendly habitat, follow the links below by clicking on a photograph.
This summary and resources are based on work developed by the New Hope Bird Alliance.