8/8/2019 Poster - An Invitation to a Healthy Apartment

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Even if you live in an apartment, townhouse, orcondominium development without muchspace for landscaping, the right mix of ingredi-

ents on a balcony, patio, terrace, or rooftop can bean oasis that provides food and rest for wildlife in anurban concrete desert. Coordinated efforts by neigh-bors can transform an entire multi-unit building orcomplex into a thriving urban habitat that is part of alarger living landscape.

BIRDS IN SMALL PLACESA small urban setting can still contribute to theconservation of birds, while creating a richer placethat is full of life and energy, takes the edge off ahectic urban world, and connects your home withthe natural world. Inviting birds to your patio,terrace, or balcony may be as simple as creating agreen space that stands out. Birdscape your singledwelling, several units, or an entire building complex

by providing birds with plants for food and shelter,feeders, a nest box, and a source of fresh water. Tryto provide these basic needs for locally commonnative birds, additional species youd like to attract,and other birds that need the most help in yourarea. Consider providing native flowers and a feederfor hummingbirds.

URBAN BIRDSCities often support more individual birds thansuburban or rural areas. However, these abundanturban birds are mostly House Sparrows, EuropeanStarlings, and Rock Pigeonshighly adaptableEuropean species that have learned to thrive inurban settings. By covering or replacing barepavement and buildings with native trees, bushes,

and wildflowers, urban areasincluding apartmentcomplexescan attract a wider range of native birdspecies and can serve as valuable habitat for birdsmigrating through the city. For more information onhow you can attract native birds to your apartment,condominium, or townhouse, visitwww.audubonathome.org/apartment.

BATSTHE NIGHT SHIFTThe United States is home to 47 bat species, andbats are often found in urban areas, where they mayhunt for insects attracted to streetlights. In moresuburban settings, bats may live around multi-unitdwellings, finding their insect prey over open fieldsand waterways. Bats that roost in crevices may takeadvantage of a bat house placed at a height of10 feet or higher on a structure that faces themorning sun. For more information, visitwww.audubonathome.org/bats.

BUTTERFLY BALCONIESA patch of bright-colored flowers in a sea of con-crete can serve as a magnet for butterflies.Makeyour patio, balcony, or small yard explode with color.Paint flowerpots yellow, orange, and red and plantthem with colorful native flowers. Butterflies mayalso come to drinking water placed for them in a

shallow bowl filled with pebbles and water, or drinknectar from an artificial butterfly feeder. For moreinformation on attracting butterflies, visitwww.audubonathome.org/butterflies.

THE OTHER BMost of the bees that pollinate native plants do notlive together in hives.Many of these native solitarybees are declining, but you may be able to help themby building a bee box. Simply drill small holes into anuntreated block of wood,or tie a bundle of driedstems together and place them outdoors. Solitarybees will lay their eggs in the holes, which thenserve as a nursery. For more information onhowto help these beneficial insects, visitwww.audubonathome.org/solitarybees.

CONTAIN YOUR NATIVESIn a small urban habitat, flowerpots, wall-mountedplanter boxes, and hanging plants can add interestand accommodate a variety of plants that may attractbirds and butterflies. Consult with your local nativeplant society to learn which native plants work bestin containers. As a general rule, bigger containers arebetter and give roots room to grow. Always include

a bottom layer of rocks or pieces of broken pots forgood drainage and to guard against overwatering.

BE A GOOD NEIGHBORShare your enthusiasm for your bird and butterflyoasis to initiate positive change within yourcommunity. Get together with your neighbors andform a cooperative gardening for wildlife group.Surround your building with greenery and enjoy yournew bird and butterfly neighbors. Take this poster toa homeowners association meeting and offer yourideas as inspiration. If you live in a high-rise building,promote dimming nighttime lights during migrationto avoid attracting migratory birds that may becomedisoriented and collide with lighted buildings andwindows. Plan your landscaping to complementnearby natural areas, and get adjacent landownersto join your efforts as well. For more informationon working together to help birds and other

wildlife in your community, visitwww.audubonathome.org/neighborhood.

HEALTHY YARD PLEDGECreate and maintain a healthy environment for you,your family, and local wildlife by pledging to:

U Reduce pesticide useU Conserve waterU Protect water qualityU Remove invasive exotic plantsU Plant native speciesU Support wildlife on your property

Visit www.audubonathome.org/pledge to

make the pledge online.

CREATING A HEALTHY APARTMENT OR TOWNHOUSE

The AUDUBON AT HOME website contains a wealth ofinformation and downloadable resources to helpyou plan and develop your property in a wildlife-friendly way. Youll find regional resources andinformation about the birds,other wildlife, andnative plants in your area.

The AUDUBON AT HOME website contains informationand downloadable resources to help you plan anddevelop your property in a wildlife-friendly way. Youllfind regional resources and information about the birds,other wildlife, and native plants in your area. Visitwww.audubonathome.org.

NRCSS BACKYARD CONSERVATION website alsoshows ways to help the environment and to make youryard more attractive and enjoyable.Visitwww.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard.

United States Department of Agriculture

Natural Resources Conservation Service National Audubon Society, Inc., 2006

This publication is printed cooperatively by Audubon and the Natural ResourcesConservation Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

AN INVITATION TO A HEALTHY APARTMENT

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Invite Birds, Bats, and Butterflies toYOUR APARTMENT OR TOWNHOUSE

BIRDHOUSES offer a goodalternative for cavity-nesting chickadees,titmice, and wrens.

Bats are important insect predators inmany urban areas, and a BAT HOUSEcan give them a place to roost duringthe day.

With the clearing of hollow trees andthe capping of chimneys, ChimneySwifts are losing preferred places tonest and roost. Attractive CHIMNEYSWIFT TOWERS can house thesehigh-flying insectivores and, when usedto display information, can even doubleas community nature kiosks.

Your buildings barren roof area canbecome on attractive green hilltop.ROOFTOP GARDENS save energyby insulating building interiors, reducerunoff, last longer than conventionalroofs, and provide habitat for birds,butterflies, and other beneficial insects.

Hummingbirds will more readily find aHUMMINGBIRD FEEDER in themidst of plants,especially those withtubular flowers.More of these tinywinged jewels may visit if you and yourneighbors create a network of adjoininggreen balconies, roofs, or patios.

Seed-eating birds have an uncannyability to find BIRD FEEDERSevenin the most urban settings. A readyfood source may attract common citydwelling birds, as well as more unusualspecies passing by.

A balcony, terrace, or patio GARDENbecomes an inviting microhabitat. Ifyou encourage your neighbors tocultivate their outdoor space as well,your combined efforts will create evenmore habitat for birds and butterflies.

An estimated 1 billion birds die eachyear from crashing into windows.Decorate the outer surface of yourWINDOWS to make the glass visibleto birds, or put up a protective screento prevent them from flying into it.

FreshWATER in a birdbath or shallowcontainer can provide drinking andbathing opportunities for many birds.

A community-wide effort to keepCATS indoors will keep cats safe andhealthy, while reducing cat predation ofbirds and other small animals.

BIRDS TO HELP IN YOUR AREA

If your apartment, townhouse, or condo is in an urban area, your primary goal may beto provide additional habitat for common native birdsto provide an oasis for birdsmoving through your neighborhood.Consider providing food, shelter, and nesting sitesfor five or six local species.Then keep a close watch to see how the birds respond toyour efforts. To determine which species to help in your area, and how you can attract

them to your apartment, condo, or townhouse, visitwww.audubonathome.org/birdstohelp.

My target species Action points

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ILLUSTRATION BY RICK BROWN

For more in format ion, visi t www.audubona thome .org/ apartment For individual copies of this poster, call 1-888-LANDCARE.

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