Edmonds Backyard Wildlife Habitat

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

Attracting Wildlife With Dead Trees

Dead trees provide vital habitat for more than 1,000 species of wildlife nationwide. They also count as cover and places for wildlife to raise young in the requirements for Certified Wildlife Habitats.

• Snags – The name for dead trees that are left upright to decompose naturally.
• Logs – When a snag (or part of a snag) falls on the ground, it becomes a log–also a very useful for wildlife habitat.

By some estimates, the removal of dead material from forests can mean a loss of habitat for up to one-fifth of the animals in the ecosystem.

Dead Wood Good? How Dead Trees Help Wildlife

Wildlife species use nearly every part of a dead tree in every stage of its decay for things such as:

• A Place to Live - Many animals, including birds, bats, squirrels and raccoons make nests in hollow cavities and crevices in standing dead wood.
• A Food Source – By attracting insects, mosses, lichens and fungi, dead wood becomes a gourmet restaurant for wildlife looking for a snack.
• A “Crow’s Nest” – Higher branches of snags become excellent look-outs from which wildlife (such as raptors) spot potential prey and also eat what they catch.
• A Hiding Place - The nooks and crannies of dead wood are put to good use by squirrels and other wildlife looking to store food.
• A Soil Refresher - Mosses, lichens and fungi all grow on snags and aid in the return of vital nutrients to the soil through the nitrogen cycle. Decaying logs on the forest floor also act as “nurse logs” for new seedlings.

Incorporating Dead Trees into Your Habitat

You can create a refuge for hundreds of woodland creatures by keeping snags in your yard (or constructing artificial snags if no natural ones are present).

Despite the importance of snags to wildlife, many modern forestry practices encourage the removal of dead wood from the forest floor in an attempt to control pests and fungi, as well as for aesthetic reasons.

• When should I remove a snag? – Never allow dead wood to rest against your home. Also any trees which may fall on your home (or a neighbor’s home) should be removed. In both these cases, however, consider moving the wood to another safer area of your yard.
• What about termites? – As long as the snags are a reasonable distance from your home, termites and other pests won’t find their way into your home.
• How do I create artificial snags? - If there are no natural snags in your yard, you can create artificial ones by trimming branches on live trees of varying sizes and types. Hardwood trees tend to make better nesting habitats while softer wood is better for food foraging. If you do not wish to create snags from living trees, the use of nesting boxes can be a good alternative.
• How many snags should I have? – Three snags per acre is a good estimate for most areas, but you should check with your local wildlife management authority to get specific recommendations for your region.For more information about the WDFW’s Urban Wildlife Tree Project contact: Chris Anderson, andercda@dfw.wa.govWDFW sale “Wildlife Tree/Save a Snag” Signs for $5.00