1. Urban Environments & 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 birds Urban environments – people, wildlife, and impact

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. Urban Environments Over 77% of people in North America live in urban areas

8. Residential Developments Impact on Natural Resources: Energy, Water, and Natural Habitat

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

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

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

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

14. Range Map – House Wren Summer Winter

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

16. Migratory Species Red-eyed VireoAmerican Goldfinch American Redstart

17. Partial Migrants

18. 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)

19. Providing Habitat for Birds

20. FOOD

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

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

23. 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)

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

25. Provide Seed

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

27. Seed Feeders Hanging feeders Platform feeders

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

29. 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

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

31. Provide Meat

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

33. COVER

34. Cavities Cavities are in short supply in neighborhoods

35. Primary Cavity Nesters Hairy Woodpecker Pileated Woodpecker

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

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

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

39. Organized Chaos Stop mowing!

40. WATER

41. Water Bird baths Running water Ponds

42. Space

43. Example: Trees and a Bird

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

45. HAWK

46. WREN

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

48. 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!

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

50. 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

51. TOP TEN TIPS! By Joe Schaefer

52. 1. Limit the Amount of Lawn

53. 2. Increase Vertical Layering

54. 3. Provide Snags

55. 4. Provide Water

56. 5. Plant Native Vegetation

57. 6. Provide Bird/Bat Houses & Feeders

58. 7. Remove Invasive Exotic Plants

59. 8. Manage Pets

60. 9. Expand the Scale

61. 10. Reduce Pesticide Use

62. Design Process First yearThird year

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

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

65. 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

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

67. Create a Diagram Draw your future landscape Step 5

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 can compare results and interact with other birders Participants interact with their environment Added component for any educational or experiential program

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

87. Florida Wildlife Habitat Program Backyard Program: Contact local county extension office Participants describe current yard, wildlife seen and future landscaping plans Yard is evaluated and recommendations made

88. Upon certification, participants receive a certificate and sign

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

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

92. 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