tennessee; improving your backyard wildlife habitat

8/3/2019 Tennessee; Improving Your Backyard Wildlife Habitat

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Improving Your

Backyard

Wildlife Habitat

PB1

$2.25


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Table o Contents

Wildlie Needs .............................................................................................................................. 3

Wildlie Management Concepts .................................................................................................... 3

Edge, Vertical Structure and Interspersion .................................................................................... 4

Draw a Map .................................................................................................................................. 5

Putting It All Together .................................................................................................................. 6

Benets o Landscaping or Wildlie ............................................................................................. 6

What Should You Plant? ............................................................................................................... 6

Table 1 - Native trees and shrubs benecial to wildlie .............................................................. 7

Table - Native herbaceous plants that attract hummingbirds and butterfies........................... 8

Providing Shelter .......................................................................................................................... 9

Feeders and Nest Boxes ................................................................................................................ 9

Table 3 - Food preerences o birds common to backyard eeders in Tennessee ....................... 10

SPECIAL CASE: The Eastern Bluebird ..................................................................................... 11

Water .......................................................................................................................................... 13

Conclusion .................................................................................................................................. 14


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W

Improving

Your BackyardWildlie Habitat

Craig A. Harper, Associate Professor

Forestry, Wildlife and Fisheries

ildlie viewing is

becoming one o the most

popular orms o outdoor

recreation in America. Ob-

serving wildlie in ones own backyard is not only

enjoyable, but convenient as well. In some areas

(especially rural settings), excellent wildlie habitatexists and viewing opportunities can be abundant.

However, in a growing number o areas (especially

suburbia), wildlie habitat has deteriorated or been

destroyed entirely. This is particularly true in many

subdivisions where the landscape was bulldozed

and leveled-o prior to home construction. In ei-

ther case, there are lots o ways to improve wildlie

habitat around your home.

Wildlie NeedsWildlie have our basic requirements: ood,

cover, water and space. Considering these require-

ments, you can see where the area around your

home may be decient in one or more o these. In

most cases you can improve deciencies; how-

ever, in some cases, because o physical or spatial

limitations, you will not. These our basic habitat

requirements dier (to some degree) with each

wildlie species. What is good or one species may

not be good or another. For example, squirrels

will not get much benet rom a large lawn or

pasture where bluebirds are thriving on insects.

Also, some mammals (e.g., deer and bears) need

a much larger area to meet their habitat require-

ments than others (e.g., rabbits or chipmunks)do. There is, however, overlap in many habitat

requirements. Many wildlie species benet rom

a ruit-producing shrub or bird eeder and a

multitude o species will use the standing dead

oak at the edge o your yard or eld or nesting,

denning, roosting, perching and eeding.

Wildlie ManagementConcepts

Beore starting a plan to improve wildlie

habitat around your home, there are some ba-sic concepts o wildlie management you should

understand. Realizing that not all species have the

same habitat requirements, a diversity o habitats

and vegetative types will benet more wildlie

species than an area with homogenous vegeta-

tive cover. Increased plant diversity gives rise to

increased animal diversity, where diversity is the

number o species, not the number o individuals.


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Food, cover, water

and space resources

are nite and can be

utilized completely.

To this end, an area

can support only

so many animals,

which is expressed asthe carrying capacity

(Figure 1). In many

areas, the carrying

capacity has been

reached, yet no

animals are present!

That is because there

is insucient habitat

to support any wild-

lie. This is where

activities or im-

provement are muchneeded and results

can be astonishing.

Edge, VerticalStructureand Interspersion

Edge is where two or more habitats come

together. For example, an edge exists where

your yard meets the woodlot. Most oten, many

wildlie species are ound here. The reason these

Figure 2. You can increase the amount o edge by creating irregular borders.

House

species are associated with edges is because both

ood AND cover are in close proximity. Escaping

a hawk or house cat is much easier or a rabbit i

some brushy cover is near the clover and grass its

eeding on. Likewise, a ox is going to hunt most

oten where the rabbit is near the edge! Cre-

ating an irregular border (as opposed to a straight

one) with your yard and ornamental plantings is

the easiest way to increase the amount o edge

near your home (Figure ).

Edge is represented on both a horizontal

and vertical plane. Vertical structure is repre-

Wate

r

Cover

Food

Wildlife

Figure 1.

Carrying capacity is defned bythe resource in limited supply,

known as the limiting actor.

Figure 3.Edge is increased vertically by stair

stepping vegetation starting with low-growing herbaceous vegetation, then

shrubs, small trees and large trees.


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Draw a MapOne o the rst steps in providing increased

habitat or wildlie in your backyard is to draw a

map o the area surrounding your home (Figure 5).

As accurately as you can, start with your property

boundaries and draw in your house, driveway, ence,

shed and then your shrubbery. Continue by identi-ying the location o all trees, bushes, bird eeders,

birdbaths, etc. Once completed, step o distances

(e.g., rom house to road, shed to garden, etc.) to

get a rough check o your map and correct any sign

o errors regarding scale. Now, what do you have?

Figure 4. Establishing islands in youryard is a great way to increase edge and

promote diversity.

Figure 5.Drawing o a backyard.

sented by dierent layers o vegetation

extending rom the ground up to the tree

canopy (Figure 3). Vertical structure is impor-

tant or several reasons. Most importantly, it

represents dierent layers o cover or protec-

tion, nesting, roosting and eeding or all kinds

o animals and some species specialize in

being able to exploit a particular layer. Many

small mammals and birds (e.g., eastern to-whees and brown thrashers) eed on the ground

amongst brush and low vegetation. Carolina

wrens, northern cardinals and northern mock-

ingbirds orage or ood in low-growing shrubs

and trees. Red-eyed vireos, scarlet tanagers and

yellow-throated warblers orage in the canopy

o mature stands. Some species (e.g., wild tur-

keys) preer areas where visibility is good and

the vegetation is not too dense. Others (e.g.,

rabbits) preer areas with low-growing dense

vegetation and reduced visibility.

Interspersion is best described as the ar-

rangement o habitats. A mixture o habitats

arranged in a patchwork mosaic provides good

interspersion. Make your yard and surrounding

area more attractive or wildlie by arranging

dierent habitats close to one another. An island

o wildfowers or shrubbery in your yard increas-

es interspersion while breaking up large expanses

o grass (Figure 4).


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Look at the habitat holes on your map and

study the arrangement o vegetation. This will

help you see where you should begin working.

Putting ItAll Together

Although every area is unique, most back-yards need more wildlie-riendly plants ar-

ranged to increase interspersion and edge. Plant-

ing trees, shrubs and herbaceous plants that are

benecial to wildlie usually is the single most

important thing you can do to improve wildlie

habitat around your home. Planting suitable

plants in the appropriate places in the proper

arrangement will benet wildlie throughout the

year. Food, cover and, to some degree, space will

be provided automatically.

As you develop a plan to landscape your

area or wildlie, keep edge and interspersion

in mind. I you are starting rom scratch, con-

sider planting the tallest trees along the outside

border o your yard and continue in toward the

center o your yard in a stair-step ashion with

smaller trees, then large shrubs, small shrubs and

nally herbaceous plants (see Figure 3). I woods

already surround your house, consider planting

smaller trees and shrubs at the edge o your yard

and the woods, creating what is called a sot

edge. That is, the transition between the woods

and your yard is gradual, not sudden. This makesthe area attractive to many more species o

wildlie. Remember that a diversity o vegetation

gives rise to a diversity o wildlie.

Benefts oLandscapingor Wildlie

Many benets are realized when landscaping

or wildlie. Obviously, wildlie will benet rom

habitat enhancement, but you will benet as well.By landscaping

or wildlie, you

can benet by

conserving energy

and reducing your

heating and cool-

ing bill (Figure

6). Plant coniers

as a windbreak

on the north and west sides o your property to

protect rom chilling winter storms. Evergreen

trees and shrubs act as insulators or birds and

mammals, protecting them rom bitter winds and

reezing precipitation. Foraging spots oten can

be ound under evergreens when snow covers thesurrounding area. On the south side o your prop-

erty, plant deciduous trees that produce plenty o

shade or a cooling eect in the summer. During

winter, these trees will lose their leaves and al-

low the suns warming rays to reach your home

and help reduce your heating bill. Soil conserva-

tion also is realized by landscaping or wildlie.

Birdwatching and photographic opportunities

are greatly increased by landscaping in a wildlie-

riendly manner. Further, what better place is

there to raise your children than one in which they

can observe wildlie and learn about the naturalworld in their own backyard? In addition, the

beauty created by your landscaping eorts may

increase the value o your home and property.

What ShouldYou Plant?

First, consider planting trees and shrubs

native to Tennessee because native species are

well adapted to the soils and climate o our area

(Table 1). There is less risk in native plants suc-cumbing to drought and disease (except or exot-

ic diseases) and they usually require less cultural

attention than exotic species. Second, be aware

o each plant species requirements or sunlight,

soil type, moisture and pH. Contact your county

Extension agent or help concerning site require-

ments i you are not sure.

When deciding which species to plant, keep

in mind the year-round needs o wildlie. Plants

Wind

Sun

Figure 6. Planting the correct species in the properarrangement can help conserve energy.


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that benet wildlie most in spring and summer

may not benet wildlie in all and winter. Be

sure to plant a variety o species that will benet

wildlie during all seasons. Foods most oten

consumed by birds and small mammals during

spring and summer include sot mast (i.e., sot

feshy ruits, e.g., drupes, berries and pomes), in-

vertebrates (e.g., beetles, bugs, worms, snails andfies), leay greens and tender shoots o rapidly

growing twigs. These oods are relatively high in

protein and minerals, both o which are needed

during this time o year when many animals (par-

ticularly the young) are growing rapidly.

As all and winter arrive, many wildlie

species seen around the house in spring and

summer disappear, either hibernating or mi-

grating to warmer, more hospitable places. For

those that stay, all and winter present dicult

challenges, such as nding shelter rom harsh

weather and high-energy ood. Foods relishedduring the all and winter seasons include hard

mast (i.e., acorns and nuts), seeds, twigs, bulbs,

invertebrates and cool-season grasses and

legumes. Foods high in carbohydrates and at

are at a premium during winter, as an animals

energy reserves are depleted through cold winter

months. Selected trees and shrubs deserving

consideration when landscaping or wildlie

habitat improvement around your home are

listed in Table 1.A wide variety o herbaceous plants are

used by wildlie. Most o the herbaceous vegeta-

tion around homes, other than lawn grasses, is

comprised o ornamental plantings, oten in-

cluding exotic fowering species. Many fowering

herbaceous species can be planted specically

to attract hummingbirds and butterfies. When

planting ornamentals or cover, keep the concept

o vertical structure in mind. More wildlie spe-

cies will benet i herbaceous plants are arranged

to provide a sot edge. Holistically, herbaceous

plants around your yard benet wildlie more asa source o cover than orage, though some spe-

cies, especially white-tailed deer and rabbits, may

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9/16

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browse these plants. Herbaceous species you can

use to attract hummingbirds and butterfies are

listed in Table .

Providing ShelterIn addition to landscaping or ood and cov-

er, there are more possibilities to consider. When

you nish limbing and pruning work around the

house or cutting up storm damage, pile the mate-

rial adjacent to a nearby woodlot. Brushpiles are

magnets or lots o birds (oraging or insects),

small mammals (e.g., rabbits and chipmunks) and

reptiles (yes, this includes snakes!). To construct

a brushpile or wildlie, place the largest limbs (or

logs) on the bottom and pile the smaller brush on

top in a loose ashion (Figure 7). This provides

dens and crevices or wildlie under the protec-

tion o brushy cover. I you do not have any

large limbs or logs, you can pile smaller brushon top o sections o corrugated pipe. Ater the

holidays, your Christmas tree makes a wonderul

addition to the top o the brushpile. As you tend

your garden in the spring, instead o throwing

rocks wildly into adjacent brush or woods, create

a rockpile. Many species (e.g., chipmunks, oxes,

rabbits, raccoons and snakes) will benet rom

your eort.

Additional habitat or many species

o birds, mammals, reptiles and am-

phibians is provided by cavities

in trees, particularly dead,

standing trees (called

snags; Figure 8).

These structures pro-

vide nesting, denning

and roosting sites or

species such as blue-

birds, owls, wrens,

fycatchers, woodducks, nuthatches,

chickadees, swallows,

titmice, woodpeckers,

vultures, black bears,

squirrels, raccoons,

bats, black rat snakes

and garter snakes.

Snags also serve as

perching sites or

eagles, hawks, owls,

vultures, herons and

kingbirds and eedingsites or brown creep-

ers, nuthatches, king-

birds, woodpeckers,

gnatcatchers, lizards, skinks and treerogs. Unless

the snag is a potential hazard to your home or

other structural property, let it stand and watch

what happens. You will be amazed at how many

wildlie residents and visitors it receives.

Feeders and

Nest BoxesIn addition to planting trees and shrubs that

produce ood and cover or wildlie, eeders

and nest boxes can be placed throughout

your property to urther provide or

wildlie around your house. Much

has been written concerning back-

yard eeders and nest boxes, with

many designs and varieties avail-

able. For comprehensive inorma-

tion on eeding birds and eeder designs,

reer to Wild about Birds by CarrolHenderson, available through the Minne-

sota Department o Natural Resources

(800) 657-3757 or (61) 97-3000.

Detailed inormation on nest boxes and

other nesting structures and how to

construct them is provided in Woodworking for

Wildlife: Homes for Birds and Mammals, also by

Carrol Henderson. A version adapted or Tennes-

see is available through the TWRA and is titled,Figure 7. Brushpile designed or wildlie.

Figure 8. Standing deadtrees (snags) attract many

species o wildlie.


10/16

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Woodworking for Wildlife in Tennessee, and

is available by contacting the Tennessee Wildlie

Resources Agency, (800) 6-6704.

Whichever type o eeder(s) you use, there

are some key points to consider. First, there is

no best or worst time to begin eeding; however,

i you begin a eeding program in the all/winter

months, continue until spring. Wildlie aroundyour house will begin to depend on the ood pro-

videdthat is why they are there! You can contin-

ue eeding wildlie throughout the year i desired.

Another point to keep in mind is to beware o

house cats! They are extremely procient preda-

tors and can severely reduce the number o birds

and small mammals around your house. Research

has shown that house cats (both eral and pets)

kill hundreds o thousands o birds and untold

numbers o mammals each year. In many cases,

the prey is not consumed, only killed because o

the cats innate sense to hunt. I you have a cat,consider keeping it inside and/or putting a bell on

its collar. All eral cats seen in your area should be

reported to your local animal shelter or immedi-

ate capture and removal. Otherwise, you are doing

a disservice to our native wildlie populations.

House cats (whether eral or not) are NOT natural

predators; they are exotic animals, not native to

North America.

You can cater to the species you preer by us-

ing selective eeder designs and seeds. Most birds

will eagerly consume black oil-type sunfower

seeds and white proso millet and all can eed rom

platorm and fy-through eeders (Figure 9). Put

out several dierent types o oods part o the

un is nding out who will eat what! Dont orget

to try suet eeders, thistle, ruit halves nailed to atree or post, peanut butter smeared on the side o

a tree and old breads and cakes. This should en-

sure a diversity o birds around your home. Feed-

ers should be cleaned periodically with hot, soapy

water ortied with a capul o disinectant (10%

bleach); rinse well. Bottoms o eeders should

have small holes drilled in (i they are not screen

bottoms) to acilitate moisture evaporation and

reduce mildew. I you enjoy watching wildlie

visiting your eeders, be sure to place them in

view o a window or glass sliding door. How-

ever, remember sites under eeders may be verymessy with spilled seeds and droppings, which

can attract mice and rats. Hence, your back porch

or patio may not be the best place or a eeder.

Listed in Table 3 are oods preerred by birds that

requent backyard eeders in Tennessee.

European starlings are especially attracted

to peanut hearts, so you may not want to oer

them at your eeders. Also, note that it is legal to

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11/16

11

The Eastern Bluebird is a

songbird native to Tennessee

whose bright coloration

and cheerul song make it a avorite

among most landowners. To at-

tract bluebirds around your home,it is necessary to provide them with

nesting cover. Bluebirds primarily

are insectivorous birds and typically

do not eed at bird eeders. Thus, the

best way to attract them is by erecting

nest boxes.

Over the past ew decades,

bluebirds have experienced a decline

in numbers. A primary reason or this

decline is a lack o suitable nesting

sites. Naturally, bluebirds nest in

cavities o trees or ence posts created

by woodpeckers or decay. In many

areas, suitable nesting cavities can be

scarce or even non-existent. Repro-

duction in these areas is predictably

low. In addition, the house sparrow

and European starling (two exotic

species rom Eurasia) now compete

with bluebirds or nesting cavities.

As a result, even i suitable nesting

cavities are available, use by bluebirds

is limited because o the aggressive

nature o the non-native birds.

Beore you build and erect nest

boxes or bluebirds, there are some

important guidelines that should be

ollowed. To keep competition rom

starlings at a minimum, dimensions o

nest boxes should be:

Floor 5 inches x 6 inches

Back 6 inches x 18 inches

(extra length to

allow nailing on

post or tree)

Front 6 inches x 9 inches

Sides 5 inches x 9 inchesin the ront and 10

inches in the back

Top 6 inches x 7 inches

(to provide a little

overhang in the ront)

Entrance hole 11/ inches in

diameter; 6 inches

above the foor o

the box

Generally, 3/4-inch lumber

is used to construct nest boxes.

The dimensions can vary slightly

EXCEPT or the entrance hole,

which must be 11/ inches. I you

make the entrance hole smaller than11/ inches, bluebirds will not be able

to enter. By making the entrance

hole no larger than 11/ inches, the

box is somewhat species selective,

excluding larger, unwanted birds,

such as the European starling.

House sparrows still may be a

problem; however, since they are

unprotected, invasive, non-native

birds, you may shoot them or

destroy their nests at will. Also, nest

boxes or bluebirds should NOT

have a perch installed just below the

entrance hole. Bluebirds do not need

perches, which only serve to attract

house sparrows. It is important to

construct nest boxes so it is possible

to get into them or cleaning and

destroying nests o unwanted birds

such as house sparrows. This is

accomplished by attaching a hinge

to the top o the ront panel o the

box. A small wood-screw inserted

hal-way into the bottom o the ront

panel can serve as a handle to pull

the ront o the box up and open so

you can get inside. Install a small

clasp to keep the ront panel closed.

To allow or drainage and airfow, a

ew 1/8-inch holes may be drilled into

the bottom o the box and at the top

o the sides. Other structures (e.g.,

gourds, cans, etc.) also can serve as

nesting cavities or bluebirds. Just

be sure to keep the entrance hole 11/

inches in diameter.

Bluebirds preer open

spaces, such as pastures, orchards,roadsides, yards and parks where

insects are abundant. Creating open-

type areas around or near your home

will increase the amount o oraging

habitat or bluebirds. When nest

boxes are placed in these optimal

habitats, bluebird populations can

increase quite rapidly. Mount nest

boxes on ence posts or tree trunks

4 to 6 eet above the ground acing

open terrain, optimally acing east

to protect the entrance hole rom

prevailing wind and rain. Predator

guards (conical shields) made o

sheet metal can be wrapped aroundthe tree or post just below the nest

box to minimize predation rom

house cats, snakes and raccoons.

To help keep wasps out o bluebird

boxes, try nailing a piece o the

sticky strips commonly sold or

fies on the inside o the box top.

Nest boxes should be erected in

late winter, since nesting may begin

as early as late February or early

March. Because o the territorial

nature o bluebirds, boxes should be

at least 100 yards apart.

Bluebirds may produce two

to our broods per year. Females

will lay a clutch o our to six

light-blue eggs and incubate them

approximately 1 days. Upon

hatching, bluebird chicks remain in

the nest or about 15 days beore

fedging. Once the fedglings leave

the nest, the male tends to them or

several days while they learn to fy

and search or grasshoppers, crickets,

beetles, fies and other insects.

Meanwhile, the emale prepares the

nest or a second clutch.

Bluebirds that nest in Tennessee

typically stay near their nesting

area all year, while bluebirds rom

northern states migrate southward

during winter. Over-wintering here

in Tennessee can be a problem or

bluebirds during harsh winters, as

some winter mortality may occur.

On particularly cold nights, several

bluebirds may roost together in a

single nest box to conserve heat.

SPECIAL CASE: The Eastern Bluebird


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1

kill exotic bird pests such as starlings and house

sparrows. I you consider squirrels a problem

at bird eeders, provide them with some oodo their own. Unshelled (let on the cob) corn

skewered on a long nail driven into a tree or post

sometimes will keep their attention away rom the

bird eeder. I not, squirrel-proo eeders are

available commercially or you can use your imag-

ination in squirrel-proong your bird eeder.

(Hint: metal fashing or vinyl siding wrapped

around the eeder post usually works. Good luck

matching wits; squirrels are quite ingenious at

getting to eeders!)

Hummingbirds require a special type o

eeder. Hummingbird nectar is our partswater to one part sugar. It is best to boil water

beore adding the sugar so it will dissolve well.

I you make relatively large quantities o this

solution, store unused portions in the rerigera-

tor. Hummingbird nectar should not contain

honey because o the risk o ungal diseases. You

can eed hummingbirds as long as they visit the

eeder. You will NOT keep hummingbirds rom

migrating by keeping eeders out past Labor Day.

Also, there is no evidence that putting red ood-

coloring dye in the solution harms humming-

birds, however, since the saety o ood-coloringdye is in question, it may be best not to use it in

nectar. Most hummingbird eeders are colored

red to attract the birds so ood-coloring dye is

not needed anyway. I your eeder does not have

any color, you can paint a red fower or put red

tape around the eeder. CAUTION: sugar water

will erment when let in the hot sun. Fermented

nectar is deadly or hummingbirds. Do not put

out a hummingbird eeder i you are not willing

to clean it weekly. Washhummingbird eeders

using hot water with a little vinegar added to

discourage mold. Hummingbird eeders should

be scrubbed with a bottlebrush and rinsed thor-

oughly beore relling with nectar. I insects

are attracted to your hummingbird eeder, dont

despair; in addition to nectar, hummingbirds eedupon insects or protein.

Nest boxes are another structural com-

ponent important in improving wildlie habitat

around your home. Although most people associ-

ate nest boxes with bluebirds, many other wildlie

species (including mammals) benet also. Spe-

cies such as gray squirrels, fying squirrels, bats

and screech owls will accept and use nest boxes.

In act, all o the cavity-nesting species listed

previously may be ound in nest boxes i dimen-

sions are appropriate (Table 4). Nest boxes or

birds should be erected in late winter, awaitingarrival o spring migrants. Nest boxes should be

inspected, cleaned out and repaired i necessary

beore each nesting season. While it is important

that nest boxes be inspected prior to the nesting

season, you should not inspect the boxes once

birds (or other wildlie) have begun using them.

By doing so, you risk causing the birds todesert

their nest and/or young. The exception to this

is when unwanted, invasive species (e.g., house

sparrows and starlings) use your nest boxesin

which case their nests should be destroyed. Ater

chicks fedge, do not try to catch them, even ithey are lying on the ground, seemingly helpless.

The adults are nearby, waiting or you to leave

and quit bothering them. It is best to leave the

animals alone and let nature take its course.

For those interested in providing bats

with suitable roosting sites, a new bat house

has been designed by personnel rom the Daniel

Boone National Forest in Kentucky (Figure 10).

These post bat houses reportedly are being

used at a much higher rate than previous designs,

as they are more like the bats natural summer

roost sites. Dan Dourson and John MacGregor

o the Daniel Boone National Forest recom-

mend placing bat houses in the ollowing habi-

tats: upland orest stands with an open canopy

on slopes acing south or southwest; small

openings along edge-habitat near ponds; along

riparian zones (streams and creeks), orest roads,

powerline rights-o-ways; or the edge o orest

clearcuts and small orest gaps. Relatively open

Figure 9. Fly-through eeders are popular with many peopleand attract a diversity o bird species.


13/16

13

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14/16

14

areas where the bat houses can receive more

sunlight are preerred. Bat houses are less

likely to be used when placed near homes,

barns or other buildings.

WaterWater sources are provided in a variety

o ways, ranging rom a simple birdbath to

a small pond created with wildlie in mind.

Regardless o source, water is an essential

component o wildlie habitat and provides

necessities or wildlie in many ways. Obvi-

ously water provides rereshment or thirsty

animals; however, there are other benets

you may not realize. Depending on the size

and nature o the water source, some wildlie

species may nd ood there. Raccoons orage

or crawdads in shallow pools and creeks;

herons and kingshers eed upon small sh;and rogs, dragonfies, whippoorwills, tree

swallows, purple martins, nighthawks and

bats orage on the many fying insects ound

above a small pond. For some species (e.g.,

many rogs, toads and salamanders), water is

necessary or reproduction, providing a place

to lay eggs and or tadpoles to develop. In

addition, some wildlie species require water

or a substrate to live in (i.e., sh, many

turtles, rogs and salamanders). A pond is a

unique ecosystem, providing habitat or an

array o wildlie species that simply wouldnot be there otherwise and enhancing condi-

tions or many terrestrial species.

Whether you have a birdbath, a small

pond 5 eet in diameter or a 1/4-acre pond,

there are some things to consider and keep in

mind. It is best i the water source is located

in the shade at least part o the day. Water

will remain cooler and not become stagnant

as quickly as i it were in ull sunlight all

day. To make a small pool most attractive

or wildlie, make sure there is some cover

nearby (within about 10-0 eet). This willmake the animals using the water source eel

more secure and render it available to more

species. Keep birdbaths at least 3 eet above

ground level (or protection rom cats) and

have a tree or some type o perch nearby

or birds. In addition, the edge and bottom

o birdbaths should be rough to provide

secure ooting. Water depth should be shal-

low, especially around the edges, so birds can

3'

Poplar or pine

Galvanized screws

Bats enterand exit

4" x 4"rough-cut

oak.12 - 16ft. long.

2 1/2 - 3 ftin ground

Shingle roofing

Screened vent1/2" to 3/4"in diameter

Cut top of4" x 4" post

Slightly roundedpost corners

Additional cutscould be madeto increaseroosting area.

3/4" wood spaceattached withlug bolts.

Figure 10.Kentucky bat houses reportedly receive more

use than previous designs.


15/16

15

get in and splash about. I the edge or side o

the water source is too steep, many birds will not

use it. I you have a small pond, make sure part

o the bank perimeter is ree o tall vegetation to

provide a place or birds to approach the water.

Another important consideration is to keep the

water fowing or moving or aeration. This can be

accomplished byallowing the water to run overrocks or by positioning the water intake so that

it pours into the birdbath or pond. The sound

o moving water attracts many birds and other

wildlie that otherwise would not visit the pool.

It is critical to keep the water in your birdbath

as clean and cool as possible. Allowing water

to become stagnant and lled with algae can be

harmul to wildlie.

ConclusionImproving wildlie habitat around yourhome can be a very rewarding and invigorating

experience. While the aesthetic, recreational and

biological benets may be most obvious, the big-

gest reward may be the educational experience

gained by children enjoying wildlie residing in

and visiting their own backyards. Many olks are

limited in terms o opportunities to help con-

serve our wildlie resources. By working toward

this eort in your own backyard you can make

the area around your home more interesting and

attractive, and experience the ruits o your labor

through an increased abundance and diversity owildlie around you.

Sources for information regarding backyard

wildlife management:

Foote, L. E. and S. B. Jones. 1989. Native shrubs

and woody vines of the Southeast. Landscaping

uses and identication. Timber Press. Port-

land, Oregon.

Gardening with wildlife. Available rom the Na-

tional Wildlie Federation, 141 Sixteenth St.,

N. W., Washington, D. C.

Henderson, C. 1987. Landscaping for wildlife.

Minnesota Department o Natural Resources,

Nongame Wildlie Program. St. Paul, Minne-

sota.

Henderson, C. 1995. Wild about birds. Minnesota

Department o Natural Resources, Nongame

Wildlie Program. St. Paul, Minnesota.

Woodworking for wildlife in Tennessee. Available

rom the Tennessee Wildlie Resources Agency,

Ellington Agricultural Center, P. O. Box 40747,

Nashville, TN 3704.


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PB1633-3M-9/06 E12-4915-00-004-07 07-0038

Programs in agriculture and natural resources, 4-H youth development, family and consumer sciences, and resource development.University of Tennessee Institute of Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture and county governments cooperating.

UT Extension provides equal opportunities in programs and employment.

Visit the UT Extension Web site athttp://www.utextension.utk.edu/

tennessee; improving your backyard wildlife habitat

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