Landscaping for Wildlife Mark Hostetler Extension Wildlife Specialist Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation IFAS, University of Florida

Overview Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Wildlife Florida bird monitoring program How to certify your yard Landscaping for wildlife – Birds – Butterflies – Design process

Florida Cooperative Extension Service – Wildlife Who are we? –Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, IFAS, University of Florida What do we do? –In issues regarding wildlife Advise the public Develop educational programs Disseminate information Conduct research

Available Wildlife Information? Landscaping for wildlife Conservation and management of wildlife Human/wildlife conflict Detailed information on species Wildlife education programs

Web site: –Print on demand –Links and information –Educational programs Call your local extension office Call Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or visit Where to Go for Info?

All animals need: –Food –Cover –Water –Space Landscaping for Wildlife Photo by Joe Schaefer Habitat

Birds? R.-thr. HummingbirdY.-rumped Warbler Northern Mockingbird Red-tailed Hawk O.-crowned Warbler

Life History Stages of a Bird EggBaby BirdImmature Adult Reproductive Adult

Seasons of a Bird Breeding Wintering (non-breeding season) Migrating (Fall and Spring Migration )

Range Map – House Wren Summer Winter

Year-round Species Northern Mockingbird Carolina Chickadee Screech Owl Tufted Titmouse

Migratory Species Red-eyed VireoAmerican Goldfinch American Redstart

Partial Migrants

Your Yard Different species may appear in your yard at different times of the year Can Serve As: A breeding site A wintering site A stop-over site (A dispersal site)

Providing Habitat for Birds

FOOD

Provide Insects Photos courtesy of

Insect Eaters Hairy Woodpecker Yellow Warbler Great-crested Flycatcher

Insect Habitat = Bird Habitat Plant native species Reduce pesticide use - Spot treat - Use alternative methods of insect control Reduce the amount of mowed lawn - Design islands of “wild” areas Save dead trees (snags)

Suet/Peanut Butter Feeder During winter, stock a wire cage with peanut butter or suet

Provide Seed

Seed Eaters White-crowned Sparrow House Finch Tufted Titmouse Blue Jay

Seed Feeders Hanging feeders Platform feeders

Provide Fruit Plant native fruit species –Many different plant species produce fruit (hollies, cedar trees, beauty berries, wax myrtles) BeautyberryHolly spp.

Provide Nectar (¼ cup of sugar to 1 cup of hot water) Provide a hummingbird feeder Trumpet vine Plant species with red, tubular flowers

Fruit and Nectar Eaters Ruby-throated Hummingbird Brown ThrasherCedar Waxwing Northern Mockingbird

Provide Meat

Meat Eaters Barred Owl Loggerhead Shrike Great-horned Owl

COVER

Cavities Cavities are in short supply in neighborhoods

Primary Cavity Nesters Hairy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker

Secondary Cavity Nesters Photos of owls, titmice, chickadees, etc. Tufted Titmouse Great-crested Flycatcher Carolina Chickadee Eastern Bluebird

Providing Cavities Leave a snag on your property (woodpeckers) Provide a nesting box (secondary cavity nesters)

Vegetation for Cover Plant or maintain a variety of plant species Increase vertical height diversity

Organized Chaos Stop mowing!

WATER

Water Bird baths Running water Ponds

Space

Example: Trees and a Bird

Scale-dependent Decisions of a Wren and a Hawk Tract Home Range Habitat Patches Food Patches Tract Home Range Habitat Patches Food Patches

Different Birds Make Decisions at Different Scales Larger birds = broader scales and larger patch sizes Smaller birds = limited scales and smaller patch sizes

How To Plan For Space? Be aware of habitats surrounding your property and plan accordingly Think about the size of the bird Talk with your neighbors (e.g., plan bigger patches) Experiment! Embrace uncertainty!

Summary Bird Habitat – food, cover, water, & space Food - plant for insects, fruit, nectar & small animals; provide bird feeders Life Stages – breeding, wintering, & migration

Summary Cover - vertical height diversity; “wild areas”; keep snags, provide nest boxes Water – ponds, bird baths, running water Space – scale and bird size, talk with neighbors, group vegetation

Landscaping for Butterflies Giant Swallowtail By Joe Schaefer

Habitat for Butterflies

Life History of Butterflies (Lepidopterans) Egg By Sharon David

Butterflies vs. Moths Butterflies Most fly during day Most are bright colors Have slender bodies Antennae slender & have knobs at tip Most rest with wings folded above body Moths Most fly at night Many have drab colors Have stout bodies Antennae can be feathery, no knobs Rest with wings horizontal

Food for Caterpillars Host plants must be tailored to specific butterflies Some plants are hosts to several different butterflies (passion vine –Gulf fritillary, Zebra long wing) Some feed on one specific plant - Pipevine swallowtail feeds on Dutchman’s Pipe

Food for Caterpillars An easy way to provide larval food: Do not mow certain sections of the yard! If you do plant a garden, don’t forget host plants for larvae!

Food for Adult Butterflies Photos courtesy of Thistle Phlox Purple Coneflower Milkweed

Additional Food for Adult Butterflies Rotting fruits: oranges, apples, bananas By Joe Schaefer

Cover for Butterflies Increase vertical height diversity Plan for “natural areas” Brush Pile Butterfly boxes do not really work

Provide Basking Area Provide lots of sunny areas Place flat stones in these sunny areas

Provide Puddling Areas Include damp areas or shallow puddles using sand or dirt as base By Joe Schaefer Provides source of minerals, especially sodium

Reduce Pesticide Use Almost all pesticides are non-specific, they kill both the pest species and butterflies Spot treat areas

Space for Butterflies Yard contains sunny areas, puddling areas, and woody areas for cover Group flowers and host plants together, make large patches Think about the landscape near your property

Benefit to Pollinators Your butterfly garden attracts a whole host of insect pollinators Important for production of vegetables and fruit !

Summary Cover - dense vegetation or a brush pile Food - flowering plants for adults and host plants for caterpillars Basking and puddling areas Space – group plants; what surrounds your yard? Reduce pesticide use

Where to Find Info on Butterfly - Plant Associations? Florida Butterfly Gardening Book Marc & Maria Minnow

Design Process First yearThird year

Get to Know Your Property OBSERVATION –Shady areas –Wet areas –High traffic areas –Existing plants –Views –Topography Step 1

Draw a Base Plan Sketch your site (to scale) –Draw property lines –House, driveway –Fences, any other human-built structure Step 2

Sketch Existing Landscape Structure Water (where is it? where does it go?) Views (good views and unsightly views) Type of soil Plants (what kind, where are they?) Topography (low and high ground) Step 3

Checklist of Desired Uses Functional areas – humans Step 4 Functional areas – wildlife

Create a Diagram Draw your future landscape Step 5

Summary - Landscaping for Birds & Butterflies Refer to Habitat - food, cover, water, and space Take time to design

Bird Monitoring Program

Birds? R.-thr. HummingbirdY.-rumped Warbler Northern Mockingbird Red-tailed Hawk O.-crowned Warbler

Create simple, standardized methods to survey birds Create a Web site linked to a data base where participants can enter and view collected bird data Objectives

Utility Can measure how bird diversity changes over time Participants interact with their environment Added component for any educational or experiential program Participants can compare results and interact with other wildlife landscapers

Point Count Stationary survey of birds in a given area Used for small lots or landscapes where it is difficult to walk through

Point Count 20 m 10 minutes

Transect Count A route is walked and birds are counted on each side Used for large properties or surveys of neighborhoods

Transect Count 20 m

Enter and View Data Participants enter data through the Web site (need User ID and Survey Code) Anybody can view the results online

THE WEB SITE! Florida Bird Monitoring Program

Florida Wildlife Habitat Program Certification Program: Apply through the wildlife extension web site Participants describe current yard, wildlife seen and future landscaping plans We evaluate and make recommendations

Upon certification, participants receive a certificate and sign

Summary Wildlife Info: Landscaping for birds and butterflies: - Food, Cover, Water, and Space Bird monitoring program Certify your yard

Acknowledgements Developed by: Dr. Mark Hostetler, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, IFAS, University of Florida, 2001.

Acknowledgements Photo & Sound Credits: Mark Hostetler, Joe Schafer, and Dan Sudia USGS Patuxent Bird Center (Bird Photos): FL Museum of Natural History: Flower Photos: Florida Wildflower Showcase : Florida Wildflower Showcase :