End of Summer Habitat Haven Update

We are delighted with how quickly participation in Lane Audubon’s backyard certification program has grown. Our first site visit was on May 23rd of this year, and by August 31st our terrific volunteers had already completed 44 more!

We continue to enroll participants and have received appreciative and positive responses from the community. It is heartening to see people embracing the concept of microhabitat creation, with native plants benefiting our birds and pollinators so much more than ornamental shrubs and flowers. It is more important than ever that we strive to heal nature one yard at a time! With more participation, we will see greater green space connections that provide corridors of safety and sustenance to wildlife.

In my own yard, when we cut down some dead Douglas firs, we left standing snags that now house nesting Northern Flickers, Downy Woodpeckers, chickadees and even Pileated Woodpeckers! Native wildflowers host several different kinds of native bees, and we spotted our first Monarch caterpillar on a patch of Milkweed! You, too, can make a difference!

Besides helping to choose appropriate native plants, we advise enrollees in the program about soil health, eliminating pesticides, water conservation, wildlife stewardship, and which invasive plants to remove. Yes, folks do get passionate about removing English Ivy and Herb Robert!

What are some next steps?

While we continue with our residential program, we are in the beginning stages of collaboration with BIPOC community leaders to help with native pollinator gardens at larger, more public spaces in our area. Translation of our webpage into Spanish is a goal as well.

Science tells us that people benefit mentally from spending time among bird song and in green spaces. Shade equity is also important as “heat islands” become dangerously hot for less advantaged people in our community. These are issues we hope to impact positively in the future.

I want to give a shout out to our wonderful volunteers: Steve Soltesz, Ev Sherr, Jackie Johnson, Alan and Janet Butler, Aryana Ferguson, and Cammi Ganshert. Thank you for your passion and commitment to helping our community!!

If any of this calls to you, and you have experience with native plants, consider applying to become a volunteer. Forms are available on our website at laneaudubon.org.

by Barbara Bryson