Edmonds Backyard Wildlife Habitat

BATS NORTH WEST DAYLIGHT SAVINGS DAY EVENT IN EDMONDS, MARCH 14th from 3PM-5PM at the Willow Creek Hatchery, 95 Pine Street, Edmonds

Join the Edmonds Backyard Wildlife Habitat Project, at the new Edmonds Wildlife Habitat & Native Plant Garden for an afternoon and early evening of Bat FUN!

3pm, Meet Bats Northwest at their information tent, ask bat questions, get bat answers, eat batty snacks.

3:20pm-4:20pm, Go inside the Willow Creek Hatchery’s Education building for a Bat presentation.

4:20pm- 4:40pm, Group Experiment with Bat Echo-Locators at the hatchery and around Willow Creek.

4:40-5:00pm, Installation of the Garden’s Bat House, a group effort

ALL AGES WELCOME, FREE EVENT! For more information contact the EBWH Project, (425) 672-2150 or email, edmondsbwh@gmail.com

March 15-21: National Wildlife Week (nationwide)

Celebrate National Wildlife Week by doing what comes naturally. Whatever you do—at home, school or play—do it outdoors and have fun! Climb trees, chase butterflies, dig in the dirt and celebrate nature. You’ll become healthier, happier and more connected to the world around you.

National Wildlife Week is a signature event of National Wildlife Federation’s Be Out There™ campaign, an initiative to connect families and communities to nature, raise healthier kids, instill a conservation ethic, and inspire a life-long appreciation of wildlife and the environment. Held annually since 1938, National Wildlife Week is National Wildlife Federation’s longest-running education program.

What: National Wildlife Week

When: March 15-21, 2010

Where: Nationwide

More info: www.nwf.org/nationalwildlifeweek

10 Simple Things You Can Do To Make the Sound A Better Place Right Now

BECOME A SOUND CITIZEN BY DOING AT LEAST ONE THING TO MAKE THE SOUND A BETTER PLACE AND SAVE OUR SOUND:

1. BUY LOCAL. That reduces transportation costs, and keeps local merchants in the game.
2. RECHARGE IT.  Use rechargable batteries and keep disposable batteries out of landfills.
3. READ THE TAG. Use the energy rating when buying tools and appliances.
4. GET A RIDE. Carpool, bus, bike. Good for the Sound and healthy, too.
5. WALK IT OFF. Take a hike to work. Good for the heart, good for the Sound.
6. BEAT THE HEAT. Lower your thermostat & water heater temperature to save money & energy.
7. LIGHT IT UP. Switch to Compact Fluorescent Bulbs. CFLs use 75% less energy and last longer than incandescent bulbs.
8. POWER DOWN. Make sure everything is turned off when you leave work.
9. DON’T BE A DRIP. Regularly servicing your car keeps oil in your engine and out of the Sound.
10. DIG IT. Plant a native tree or a shrub. They absorb carbon dioxide and storm water, and are nice to look at.

And let’s keep harmful chemicals out of Puget Sound.

Rain Gardens Workshops- FREE!

Schedule for Rain Garden Classes in King County:

02/25 Redmond
03/18 Bothell
03/30 Seattle
04/01 Mercer Island
04/20 Lake Forest Park
04/29 Bellevue
05/18 Duvall

Rain gardens work like native forests by capturing and infiltrating stormwater from rooftops, driveways, and other hard surfaces. Rain gardens reduce flooding by absorbing water from impervious surfaces; filter oil, grease and toxic materials before they can pollute streams, lakes and bays; help to recharge the aquifer by increasing the quantity of water that soaks into the ground; provide beneficial wildlife habitat. Workshop participants will receive a rain garden handbook and other useful materials. They will also be invited to participate in several full scale rain garden installation workshops scheduled later in the spring and summer.

Workshops are free and registration is required. Participants will be sent site-assessment instructions in advance to help maximize their learning at the workshops. Contact Stacey Gianas at Stewardship Partners to register and for more details:

Call (206) 292-9875 or email sg@stewardshippartners.org and visit www.stewardshippartners.org for more rain garden information.

Myths about Cats and Birds, From American Bird Conservancy