Backyard Wildlife Habitat - New England

Creating a Backyard
Wildlife Habitat...in the Wilds of Vermont
By Linda K. Schneider

Success! Mama wild turkey has nested in the backyard and now she is
bringing her little ones out to feed in the freshly cut grass. What a joy it is
and a privilege to see this young mother with her brood, up close and
personal. Dream Come True Farm in Hartland, Vermont is Habitat #33885,
part of 60,000 backyards, large and small, that have been certified by the
National Wildlife Federation's Backyard Wildlife Habitat program.

At first the thought of joining this program seemed silly; after all I live in
Vermont for heaven’s sake! The wild animals are everywhere in Vermont.
But as development fast becomes a reality, habitat for wildlife is
shrinking. These animals are going to have to adapt to the development
and accept it, just like people must learn to do. What choice do we have?
Move? Relocate to where: Wyoming? I’m not ready to give up Vermont
just yet!

The large tracts of undisturbed land for the antelope to roam just don’t
exist anymore; someone has put a house there. Have you noticed lately,
houses seem to be built in places we didn’t think they would or could?
Small, welcoming backyard wildlife habitats might be a worthwhile
answer to this problem.

Mine started by planting trees, shrubs and perennials for the birds, called
“birdscaping”. The rule is to mimic nature, tall trees in the back, medium
sized shrubs, and finally small perennials down in front. It grew from
there to add wildlife, with just a few additions. As the grapes ripen, it is a
race to see who will eat them first, the ermine or us.

The American Cranberry bushes bring the waxwings, ruffled grouse, wild
turkey and occasionally deer. Not conventional foundation plantings, my
American Cranberry bushes are probably placed a little too close to the
house by most people’s standards. However, I beg to differ, in the spring
when flocks of birds show up at my windows. The berries have stayed on
all winter, freezing and thawing and refreezing. This process must ferment
the berries and add flavor!

Viewing can take place from the first and second story windows. While
the ruffled grouse hang out close to the ground to feel safe in this shelter,
the small song birds head to the top of this twelve foot high bush to feed.

Recipe for Success

Supply the four main ingredients and wildlife will come to live in YOUR
backyard too (and once you have all the right ingredients go to the NWF's
Backyard Wildlife Habitat site and apply for certification):

1. Water
2. Food
3. Shelter/cover
4. Nesting materials

Directions: Grow native plants for food and shelter. Add water. Stir in a
few plants as nesting materials. Don’t be too neat, leave a brush pile as a
hiding place. Watch what will show up when you supply the right
ingredients!

To elaborate on this recipe, food sources should be native species of
plants grown for the native birds. They know what to do with these plants.
Native birds have been surviving on these food sources for centuries.
(Serviceberry, Pine, Oaks, Sumac, Elderberry) Keep invasive plants out of
your yard. Rose Paul from The Vermont Nature Conservancy says,
“Invasive species like Buckthorn are ‘junk food’ for the birds. There is
little or no nutritional value in these plants.” Invasive species strangle out
the native plants.

Hedgerows provide shelter. Leave the brush pile in the backyard. Small
animals will hide and possibly nest in this pile.

Water must be available at all times. Bird baths will work. Moving water
is preferred, such as ponds and streams.

Provide nesting materials for birds and animals. Plant a willow tree and
thistles as nesting materials. The American Goldfinch waits until the
thistles have gone to seed before she builds her nest. The Hummingbirds
use willow-down to line their nests. Remember to keep your pet cat
indoors. While she loves the song birds as much as you do, she loves
them as dinner!

Vermont Department of Fish and Wildlife and your local Conservation
District can help with more information about these programs. To order a
$3.00 book titled; Backyard Wildlife Habitat in Vermont, call 802-241-3700.

To get on the mailing list for Habitat Highlights Newsletter call 802-241-
1454. When you plant for the birds and wildlife, the rewards are yours to
enjoy on a daily basis. Visits from creatures great and small, feathered and
scaled, antlered and… you get the picture.

About the author
Linda Schneider is the District Manager at Ottauquechee Natural
Resources Conservation District located in White River Junction, Vermont.
This District covers 18 towns in Windsor County and one in Rutland
County. Phone: 802-295-7942 x11 Email: linda.schneider@vt.nacdnet.net