National Wildlife Federation® Attracting Birds, Butterflies & Backyard Wildlife

by David Mizejewski

Overview

A backyard can come alive by creating an environment with plants and spaces that attract nature's most interesting and friendly creatures. Colorful butterflies, uplifting songbirds, and lively toads can enhance the personal garden space, giving pleasure to nature lovers of all ages. National Wildlife Federation's® Attracting Birds, Butterflies, and Other Backyard Wildlife provides over a dozen step-by-step projects for families to do together, making getting back to nature easy, educational, and fun.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781580111508
Publisher:	Fox Chapel Publishing
Publication date:	01/01/2004
Series:	Landscaping
Edition description:	First
Pages:	128
Product dimensions:	8.50(w) x 10.88(h) x 0.35(d)

About the Author

David Mizejewski is a naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation. He holds a degree in Human and Natural Ecology from Emory University and has hosted television series on both Animal Planet and NatGeo WILD. He regularly appears on NBC’s Today Show and does dozens of other television and public appearances each year to promote wildlife conservation. He specializes in urban ecology, the role that native plants have on wildlife populations, and helping people restore wildlife habitat in their cities, towns, neighborhoods, backyards, and gardens.

Table of Contents

National Wildlife Federation Attracting Birds, Butterflies & Backyard Wildlife

Introduction 8

Chapter One • Habitat Basics 10• Vanishing Habitats 12• The Importance of Balance 14

Chapter Two • Providing Food for Wildlife 22• The Food Chain 24• Supplemental Feeders 30• Project: Easy Bird Feeders 36

Chapter Three • Providing Water for Wildlife 46• Providing Water 48• Project: Birdbath Stump 49• Ponds and Water Gardens 52• Project: Adding a Wildlife Pond 54• Project: Stormwater Wetland 59• Maintaining Your Water Feature 62

Chapter Four • Providing Natural Cover 66• Human-Made Cover 74• Project: Create a Brush Pile 75• Project: Installing a Bat Box 76• Houses for Critters 76• Project: Build an Amphibian House 79

Chapter Five • Places to Raise Young 80• Natural Nesting Places 82• Place You Provide 84• Project: Bird Nesting Boxes 85• Project: Bee Nesting Houses 88• Project: Plant a Butterfly Garden 91

Chapter Six • Designing Your Habitat 94• Assessing Your Property 96• Purchasing Native Plants 97• Project: Composting 101• Garden Design Approaches 104

Chapter Seven • Human Dimensions 114• Your Place in the Landscape 116• Project: Bug Hunting 117• Shape Your Knowledge 118

Backyard Habitat Checklist 120

NWF Resources 121

Glossary 122

Index 124

Photo Credits 128

 

 

 

 

What People are Saying About This

Valerie Kelsey

To create your own backyard habitat, you’ll need no other guide than this book, full of practical ideas, clever projects, and delightful photographs. (President, National Gardening Association)

Editorial Reviews

Winner of the Publishers Marketing Association's Ben Franklin Award.

"With beautiful photographs, this book is extremely useful and accessible. It's a must for anyone interested in increasing the diversity of life in outdoor spaces."-Holly Shimizu, Executive Director of the U.S. Botanical Garden.


"To create your own backyarde habitat, you will need no other guide than this book. It is full of practical ideas, clever projects and delighful photographs."-Valerie Kelsey, President of the National Gardening Association. “…is an excellent book for beginners...”

                                                           Daily Record(York, PA)                                                                          Mar 23, 2007

 "extensive information on attracting birds, butterflies and sundry creatures to your little piece of paradise.” “The purpose of this book is to teach the reader how to restore or create a wildlife habitat in his/her own yard…”  “The projects described are fundamental and elementary, suited for family participation.”  “This is a very helpful book for someone who wishes to enhance his/her landscape as a means of attracting wildlife.”

                        Epinions.com (Brisbane, CA)

Mar 21, 2007

 "...an excellent book....offering plenty of basic advice about providing the four basic needs of wildlife...lots of helpful advice..."

Washington Post
January 7, 2006 

 “It is full of practical how-to information to make your yard a wildlife haven…”

                        Daily Progress (Jacksonville, TX) 

June 05, 2007

 “...hundreds of ideas for landscaping that works for people and wildlife, as well as many easy projects to do with children.” Daily Journal
June 2008 

From the Publisher