Prepare your yard for autumn wildlife with the Backyard Habitat Certification Program
As the days get shorter and temperatures cool, we know that another lovely Pacific Northwest fall is on its way, and with it, a season ripe with opportunity to make a positive impact in your yard and larger network of greenspaces.
In our urban and suburban landscapes in the greater Portland metro area, where natural habitat has been severely fragmented by development, every yard plays a crucial role in providing habitat for birds, pollinators, and other wildlife. Collectively, these restored spaces create a valuable network of food, water, and shelter and connect parks and natural areas with urban and suburban greenspaces.
Even the smallest yard can make a difference, and the best time to get started is the fall!.
- Plant native plants! These plants have evolved alongside our native bird and invertebrate populations and are best suited to provide the food and shelter our feathered and many-legged friends need to survive. By planting in the fall, you give these plants the best chance at survival.
- Leave the leaves! This is one of the easiest things that you can do! Simply don’t rake or blow your leaves! You can either leave them where they fall or relocate them from pathways or other frequently traversed areas into your planting areas.
- Turn off your lights! Throughout peak fall migration, millions of birds will fly over Oregon and Washington under the cover of darkness to reach their wintering grounds. By working together, we can reduce the collective light pollution that accumulates in the sky and drowns out the stars that help them find their way.
By Katherine Noble, Backyard Habitat Certification Program Co-Manager. Interested in learning more about the Backyard Habitat Certification Program? Visit backyardhabitats.org.
