HOW TO CREATE A BACKYARD WILDLIFE HABITAT

             Every day we find more and more species on the brink of extinction . Every day we see more our beautiful natural habitats , such as the Amazon , crumbling to pieces . Our ecosystem is breaking down and only by sole effort of each human , will we be able to put the pieces back together again .

One idea , that thousands of people across the US have adapted too , is creating a backyard wildlife habitat . Though the truly wild lion will never find home in a backyard , a chipmunk or a bird would relish the comfort . Whether you're a bird watcher , or just someone looking for a way to help Mother Nature , you came to the right place .

FOOD, WATER, SHELTER , A PLACE TO REAR YOUNG

Upon these four principles , lie the building blocks of a successful backyard wildlife habitat . These are the ingredients for success . Lets break them down individually .

FOOD

Food can range from anything to a bird feeder to row of blueberry bushes . It doesn't really matter what you do as long as you supply them with a healthy food . Even a single hummingbird feeder will bring you and the wildlife hours of joy .

If you long to have woodpeckers visit your backyard , put out a suet feeder , or better yet plant a snag - a rotten tree or thick branch - in the ground . To take food on a much higher level , plant berry-producing shrubs throughout your backyard , and give the birds a year around treat . Remember , natural berries and nuts , are much better for birds and wildlife than bird food . Plant a sunflower patch for a summer bee garden and a fall bird garden .

Now that you understand the first element of a backyard wildlife habitat let us go on to the second part .

WATER

Water may be the most important part of a your backyard wildlife habit . Even a small dish filled with clean water , will supply more birds and mammals with water than you ever thought possible . If you decide to install a pond , you'll have frogs , turtles , dragonflies all to call it home . If your lucky you might even catch a glimpse of a fishing bird on the edge of your pond . As long as there is water , even a small amount , the wildlife will come .

SHELTER

Never underestimate the power of shelter . If birds have no place to hide , they will not pay your yard a visit . Tall trees , a cluster of shrubs or a brush pile will all work . But if your yard is a flat , green expanse you'll see nothing at all . Sticky bushes such as holies will evade cats and become popular nesting sites for songbirds .

A PLACE TO RAISE YOUNG

Birdhouses , bat houses , butterfly houses and bee houses are all animal-making-factories . Year after year they will spill new life into the world . By supplying the wildlife with homes , you have done them an invaluable service . Now that natural habitats are on the decline , wildlife will often cherish a ready-made home . But keep in mind , that trees and shrubs will help out as well , so be sure to have plenty of them around .



Those are the four pillar stones of a backyard wildlife habitat . With these four steps you can create and attract more wildlife than ever before . Whether your dream is to create a butterfly garden or a bird haven , keep these four steps in mind , and your success is guaranteed .