8/8/2019 Poster - An Invitation to a Healthy Country Home

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Arural property offers open space and oppor-tunities for enjoyment. It is important toremember that your land is also a home to

wildlife. Urbanization and other factors have greatlyreduced the number of woodlands, pastures, range-lands, and prairies,making rural land stewardshipcrucial to the conservation of birds and otherwildlife. How you manage your acreage affects thesurvival of these species, as well as your ownquality of life.

BIRDS ON THE RANGEBirds are good indicators of the ecological health ofyour property. You can protect the value and pro-ductivity of your land while providing food, shelter,and nesting sites for local birds. Overgrazing andimproper weed management can result in degradedvegetation systems and lands that no longer providefor birds. A diverse mix of native cover and forage

plants, as well as healthy streamside vegetation, willsupport game birds, resident and migratory song-birds, and grassland bird species,which are especiallyat risk.

Bird feeders allow for up close observation ofsome rural bird species. Keep track of the birdscoming to your feeders and learn to identify thebirds using other parts of your property todetermine if your management choices are increasingthe number and types of birds on your land.Birdhouses provide nest sites for additional birdsthat might inhabit your land, including birds of preythat can help keep the rodent population in check.For more information, visitwww.audubonathome.org/countryhome.

BATS IN THE BARNBats are key to maintaining a healthy landscape, asthey control insect populations with their nightlyhunting for food. Some bats can eat up to600 mosquitoes in an hour. You can entice a varietyof bats to hang around by putting up a bat houseon or around your home and retaining that old barn.For more information, visitwww.audubonathome.org/bats.

BIG SKY BUTTERFLIESOver 700 butterfly species help pollinate nativeplants in the United States. Since flowering plants area key element of the broader landscape, why notestablish a butterfly garden? Butterflies can beattracted by nectar-producing flowers, host plants foreggs and caterpillars, and a shallow dish of pebbleswith water for drinking. For information about thecommon butterflies in your area and their favoredplants, visit www.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 then

serve as a nursery. For more information onhowto help these beneficial insects, visitwww.audubonathome.org/solitarybees.

LIVING LIGHTLY ON THE LAND

Rotate crop fields and graze only as much livestockas the land will sustain.Resist the urge to create atraditional suburban landscape around your home. Ifa firebreak is needed, try to incorporate native plantsand grasses into your design. Consult with your localNRCS office to identify native plants suited to thelocal soil conditions. Avoid using non-native plantsand those that require frequent watering. Preservenative habitats whenever possible.

WILDLIFE SAFETY

Birds often drown in open livestock troughs if thewater is too deep; provide a float or ramp thatprovides a way for them to climb out.Clean,fresh water is critical to your livestock, andfrequent replacement of the water also preventsmosquito breeding. Consider minimizing fencing toallow native wildlife to move freely while containingyour herd. Keep your domestic pets indoors or in aprotected run to minimize their impact on native

wildlife and to keep them safe from naturalpredators such as coyotes.

WORKING WITH NEIGHBORSYour property is part of a larger landscape that birdsand other wildlife need to survive. Invite your neigh-bors to join you in managing your adjoiningproperties for native species. Form a local wildlifeassociation and make a plan to provide food, shelter,and nesting sites to those species that most needyour help. Keep track of how the birds and otherwildlife respond to your efforts. For more informa-tion, visit www.audubonathome.org/neighborhood.

BEFORE YOU BUILDIf you are still planning construction of your countryhome, choose a building design and location thatprotects as much of the property as possible,minimize the amount of land cleared for the building

site, and protect trees and shrubs from damageduring construction. It is easier to protect existinghabitat than to create new habitat later.

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 tomake the pledge online.

CREATING A HEALTHY COUNTRY HOME

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.

AN INVITATION TO A HEALTHY COUNTRY HOME

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.

8/8/2019 Poster - An Invitation to a Healthy Country Home

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Invite Birds, Bats, and Butterflies toYOUR COUNTRY HOME

BIRDS TO HELP ON YOUR PROPERTY

With a large-acreage property or ranchette, you have a great opportunity to helpbirds, bats, butterflies, and other wildlife. Consider managing your land to provide foodand shelter for five or six bird species that need the most support in your area. Keep aclose watch to see how the birds respond to your efforts. To determine which speciesnear you need the most help, and to find ways to help support them on your property,

visitwww.audubonathome.org/birdstohelp.

My target species Action points

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Screen FENCELINES with nativeshrubs to create additional habitat andwildlife corridors.

MonitorWETLANDS, includingponds and playas, for overall health,and manage runoff to prevent erosionand flooding.

Work with NEIGHBORS toencourage habitat protection acrossproperty lines.

Do not plant INVASIVE PLANTS.Deal with invasive weeds early andoften, and restore grasslands withnative forbs and wildflowers.

Bats are common inhabitants of ruralareas.A BAT HOUSE will provide adaytime roosting place for these aerialinsect eaters.

Create a BUTTERFLY GARDEN byplanting wildflowers and other plants tofeed adult butterflies and caterpillars.

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Protect trees and other vegetationalong streams with fencing to preventovergrazing and erosion. The health ofthese RIPARIAN AREAS is key tothe overall health of the land, becauseso many animal species depend on thistype of habitat.

In the YARD, include items that willattract, protect, and support birds andother wildlife. Include bird feeders, abirdhouse, a source of clean water, andnative plants for cover, food, andnesting. Keep cats indoors, and modifywindows to prevent bird strikes.

ManageWOODLANDS for theconservation of forest birds.Unlessthere is a significant threat of wildfire,leave brush and dead snags in place asnesting and feeding places for birdsand insects.

If you have livestock, rotateGRAZING HERDS to differentpastures to promote sustainable foragegrowth. Pay attention to stockingdensities to maintain healthy vegetation.Explore herd types to determine whichbest suits your property.

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For more information, visi t www.audubonathome.org/countryhome For individual copies of this poster, call 1-888-LANDCARE.

ILLUSTRATION BY RICK BROWN

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Maintain native SHRUBLAND orshrubby pastures for quail,grouse, andother game birds.Native prairies ormeadows should be preserved fornesting grassland birds, such asmeadowlarks and sparrows,as well asfor hunting birds, such as hawks,owls,and falcons.

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