"Wherever you go, no matter what the weather, always bring your own sunshine."Anthony J. D'Angelo
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2005: Nature’s Crisis
In my 35 years as a conservationist, I have never beheld such a bleak and depressing situation as I see today. The evidence for my despair falls into three categories: the state of Nature, the power of anticonservationists, and appeasement and weakness ...
Campfire Capers: There's a Bear in Your Truck
The site we called Stough's Point was part of a larger "camping" area which was actually a state park. During the times we camped there, the park had not yet been developed into the fairly typical layout of rows of pull-ins with hook ups and modern ...
Camping and Trekking in the National Parks-Your Heritage
National parks and reserves, although blessed with all the beauty and exciting locations for great memorable adventures, can be very rugged places as well ,with no consideration for man kind.Conditions may change from good to bad in a short time If you ...
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Enhancing your habitat Story
Habitat, simply put is the area where animals live. The key to wildlife survival, habitat provides four basic elements: food, water, cover and nesting areas.
Whether you have a small backyard or a larger area with fields and/or woodland, you can help provide these essential resources for a variety of wildlife, including birds, butterflies, insects, small mammals and some larger animals.
Begin by walking around your yard or property to identify any existing habitat resources. Make a map or plan of the land, noting any trees, shrubs, flowers, plants, vines and secret spots that might provide cover for wildlife. Look for brush and rock piles, as well as water or wetland areas.
Once your plan is completed, take note of those existing features that are providing good wildlife habitat. From here, you may decide to add more water features, an area for cover and nesting or additional native plants for food.
The best way to provide a year-round source of food is to plant a diverse selection of plants, shrubs, trees and vines. If you live in an apartment or have a very small yard, you may only be able to set out a few flowering plants in the summer, supplemented by feeding a variety of birdseed.
Use feeders designed to keep the seed dry and clean. Check them regularly and discard wet or moldy seeds that can make birds sick. Consider separate birdfeeders for different seed types to minimize waste. Or use a seed mix and and leave the droppings for ground feeding birds and small mammals, if you prefer. If you have room, scatter some mixed birdseed over a small area of ground and allow it to germinate. Ground feeding birds and small mammals appreciate not only the feed, but also the cover provided by the growing seedlings. Various birds, butterflies and bees will appreciate the nectar of potted or garden flowers such as nicotiana, salvia, rudbeckia and snapdragon, to name only a few.
For your small habitat garden, provide cover and nesting spaces with birdhouses. A birdbath will complete the habitat requirements. Birdbaths should be shallow, no more than three-inches deep, and have a sloping, rough bottom to provide good footing.
Larger gardens with fields or lawn and perhaps some wooded areas offer additional opportunities for
providing wildlife habitat. In addition to a variety of flowers and plants, shrubs and trees will enhance your landscape and provide the requisite food, cover and nesting sites. Utilize any existing food sources that already exist on your land and purchase other plantings that will invite wildlife to your table.
Some native shrubs and trees to consider are: American Highbush Cranberry (Viburnum trilobum); Common Elderberry (Sambucus canadensis); Nannyberry (Viburnum lentago); American Mountain Ash (Sorbus Americana); Dolgo and Prairie Fire crabapple trees: Silky Dogwood (Cornus ammomum); Red-Osier Dogwood (Cornus stolonifera) and Buttonbush (Celphalenthus occidentalis).
Vines such as Dropmore Scarlet Honeysuckle and wild grapes as well as brambles like blackberries and raspberries provide a source of food for many birds, as well as cover and nesting places.
If you've watery habitat on your property, preserve it as a source of water for wildlife. If not, consider putting in a small pond or locate several birdbaths in various secure spots. Heated birdbaths provide a source of water when most other sources are frozen.
Wildlife, particularly birds, seek cover and nesting spots in trees and shrubs. Additional cover can be provided for small mammals such as snowshoe hare, rabbits and other small mammals by creating small brush piles in several locations. Or create a 10-20 foot strip of shrubs, hemlocks, or other evergreens to provide a border for cover and a windbreak for birds, small mammals, beneficial insects and deer. Borders or edges provide both screening from objectionable views and provide animal protection, travel lanes, food, cover and nesting spots.
Finally, keep in mind natural processes in your plan for wildlife habitat. Leave seedpods, berries and grasses to mature. Pile small twigs and branches where animals can scurry for shelter. Allow some areas to remain small fields where grasshoppers can live and turkeys can feed.
About the author:
Steve Link - Pifer-Swann Realty This article was written by Steve Link. He is an agent for Pifer-Swann Realty and is also a farmland manager. Steve will periodically submit articles for the benefit of Land20's readers. If you have any questions or comments you can email him at stlink@pifer-swan.com
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 Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2008 - ABC News
Owned by London's Natural History Museum and BBC Wildlife Magazine, the annual Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition rewards the best wildlife images taken by the world's top professional and amateur photographers. Launched at the end of ...
Bush attacked over wildlife plan - BBC Americas
US environmentalists have accused President George W Bush of trying to rush through changes to the Endangered Species Act in his last days in office. They say the changes could take away protection for animals and plants facing possible extinction ...
Eating Wildlife Again Popular in China - Environment News Service
BEIJING, China , November 13, 2008 (ENS) - China's consumption of wildlife for food and medicine is rising, while China's traditional medicine trade also is rapidly growing, finds a review of wildlife trade in China in 2007, released today by Traffic ...
Sul Ross receives $113,000 grant for wildlife habitat study - Odessa American Online
ALPINE Sul Ross State University's Borderlands Research Institute was recently awarded a four-year, $113,000 grant to study the effects of herbicide on habitat use and movement of mule deer and other wildlife. The grant, awarded by the Buena Vista ...
State reopens wildlife areas to hunters, froggers - Palm Beach Post
Florida wildlife managers on Friday will reopen several hunting and fishing areas to duck hunters and froggers in once-flooded sections of the Everglades in Palm Beach, Broward and Miami-Dade counties. State-managed sections of the Everglades and the ...
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