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

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

3. 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

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

5. Web site: www.wec.ufl.edu/extension –Print on demand –Links and information –Educational programs Call your local extension office Call Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or visit www.state.fl.us/fwc Where to Go for Info?

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

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

8. Life History Stages of a Bird EggBaby BirdImmature Adult Reproductive Adult

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

10. Range Map – House Wren Summer Winter

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

12. Migratory Species Red-eyed VireoAmerican Goldfinch American Redstart

13. Partial Migrants

14. 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)

15. Providing Habitat for Birds

16. FOOD

17. Provide Insects Photos courtesy of www.flwildflowers.com

18. Insect Eaters Hairy Woodpecker Yellow Warbler Great-crested Flycatcher

19. 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)

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

21. Provide Seed

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

23. Seed Feeders Hanging feeders Platform feeders

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

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

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

27. Provide Meat

28. Meat Eaters Barred Owl Loggerhead Shrike Great-horned Owl

29. COVER

30. Cavities Cavities are in short supply in neighborhoods

31. Primary Cavity Nesters Hairy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker

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

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

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

35. Organized Chaos Stop mowing!

36. WATER

37. Water Bird baths Running water Ponds

38. Space

39. Example: Trees and a Bird

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

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

42. 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!

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

44. 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

45. Landscaping for Butterflies Giant Swallowtail By Joe Schaefer

46. Habitat for Butterflies

47. Life History of Butterflies (Lepidopterans) Egg By Sharon David

48. 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

49. 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

50. 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!

51. Food for Adult Butterflies Photos courtesy of www.flwildflowers.com Thistle Phlox Purple Coneflower Milkweed

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

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

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

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

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

57. 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

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

59. 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

60. Where to Find Info on Butterfly - Plant Associations? www.wec.ufl.edu/extension Florida Butterfly Gardening Book Marc & Maria Minnow

61. Design Process First yearThird year

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

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

64. 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

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

66. Create a Diagram Draw your future landscape Step 5

68. Summary - Landscaping for Birds & Butterflies Refer to www.wec.ufl.edu/extension Habitat - food, cover, water, and space Take time to design

69. Bird Monitoring Program

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

71. 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

72. 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

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

74. Point Count 20 m 10 minutes

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

76. Transect Count 20 m

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

78. THE WEB SITE! Florida Bird Monitoring Program http://bird.ifas.ufl.edu

92. Florida Wildlife Habitat Program Certification Program: Apply through the wildlife extension web site www.wec.ufl.edu/extension Participants describe current yard, wildlife seen and future landscaping plans We evaluate and make recommendations

93. Upon certification, participants receive a certificate and sign

94. Summary Wildlife Info: www.wec.ufl.edu/extension Landscaping for birds and butterflies: - Food, Cover, Water, and Space Bird monitoring program Certify your yard

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

97. Acknowledgements Photo & Sound Credits: Mark Hostetler, Joe Schafer, and Dan Sudia USGS Patuxent Bird Center (Bird Photos): http://www.mbr-pwrc.usgs.gov/Infocenter/infocenter.html FL Museum of Natural History: http://www.flmnh.ufl.edu Flower Photos: Florida Wildflower Showcase : http://www.flwildflowers.com Florida Wildflower Showcase : http://www.flwildflowers.com