The other day I posted this question at the 4Real Forums because, A. I love to 
compare notes with other nature enthusiasts, and, B. I'm always looking for ways to make our backyard more attractive to the native flora and fauna.
It's in my best interest to do so, because most (if not all) of our nature study unfolds within the perimeter of our immediate surroundings. As I've mentioned before, nature study plays a vital role in our family life and home education, so it's to our great advantage that we create as exciting and inspiring a habitat as we can ...
Now, before I answer this question (to the best of my amateur ability), if I may, I'd like to reflect a bit on how I came to be so nutty for nature ...
I've always been a naturalist at heart, if not in education. The one and only nickname I ever had in my life was back in the seventh grade when I got tagged as The Nature Valley Girl. You know, like the granola bar? :) Kids being kids, it was not meant kindly, but I laugh now thinking back; I was forever talking about the weather, chasing butterflies, picking flowers at recess and doodling squirrels on my notebooks. Gee, sound like anyone you know? :)
As engrossed as I am with nature, however, generally speaking, I am not very outdoorsy. Birdwatching? Check. Stargazing? Sure. Mountain climbing? Not so much. But as any mother knows, as our children grow, so too does their need and desire for time spent outoors ...
How they love to explore and embrace the natural world! And before long they've grabbed us by their grubby little hands and dragged us out into the sunshine right beside them - out into the messy, muddy, smelly realm belonging to all things wild (our sweet children included). Happily though, if it's well fed, their enthusiasm grows catching. I'm glad to say I never lost my own enthusiasm for nature (thank you mum and dad for nurturing my quirks!) and since becoming a mother 11 years ago, that affection has blossomed into a true passion. Who knew I'd one day think slugs and toads were neat?
As I look back at these past few months, I am amazed by how much nature we've observed - and experienced! Mind you, we don't live in the country; our 60s-built neighborhood is decidedly suburban, and our yard measures far less than an acre. We toyed with the idea of moving to the country (fortunately dh is almost as "nutty" as I am) but our hearts (and his work) kept us closer to home. We do have the good fortune to live beside an expanse of conservation woods through which runs a river.
Our nature study definitely benefits from this close proximity to (relative) wilderness but I do think there are things we do that bring more wildlife to our attention. Notice I said attention and not yard. Truly, our yard is not so special; its the attention we pay that makes the difference. The time spent just being - in the yard or gazing out the window. To me, the most important part of nature study is to take that time to look, listen and be patient. If you wait for the moments to unfold - and they will - you will nurture a budding naturalist's enthusiasm along with your own ...
It's a good habit to develop, this quiet awareness. And once you whet your appetite for nature, you'll be eager to find even more - and when you see something flit by out of the corner of your eye - you will notice it. You will follow it. (Perhaps in your pajamas). You will observe it, admire it, question it, photograph it, reflect on it - and then later find yourself searching out the answers. And isn't this the heart of all education?
But I'm wildly digressing, so let me get on with my original question - the point of this post! - what makes a backyard a habitat? For the greatest and most consistent variety, there are four basic wildlife needs to be met - food, water, shelter and cover. Depending on how well you address them, these will be key to an ever more interesting array of critters and creatures appearing in your yard, however big or small.
Lately, I've been taking stock of our yard (which was certified two years ago as a NWF Backyard Wildlife Habitat) to see what's working and what needs improving. Here's how we meet - or seek to meet - those four needs:
Food:
- We try to put out a variety, but stick with what is most popular:
- 3 tube feeders of varying sizes filled with black oil seed
- 1 hanging tray feeder filled with black oil seed
- 1 thistle tube feeder filled with nyger seed
- 2 suet cake cages
- 1 birdseed block cage
- I used to scatter lots of seed and nuts on the ground but we've had too many casualties lately so I stopped. I want dear husband to build a couple of platform feeders to feed cardinals and doves, etc.
- We have not had much luck with our hummingbird feeder.
- I bought a squirrel feeding station - basically a wooden platform with a post onto which we stick dried corn cobs.
- We'd like to make some homemade feeders like the ones described in The Backyard Birdfeeders Bible (a favorite) and learn what to plant for Attracting Birds, Butterflies and Other Wildlife to Your Yard (on order - thanks Elizabeth!)
Water:
- We have a bird bath with an agitator for attracting the birds' attention and helping them locate the surface. In the winter we use its internal heating coil.
- As mentioned before, there is a river not far from our home.
Shelter/Cover:
- Birdhouses and nests don't seem to "take" in our yard. I think first of all it is a very bustling area with all the feeders, and, with the woods directly behind us, they can proably nest more peacefully nearby.
- Now that we've had several toad encounters, I'd love to make a toad house or two (though they seem quite happy beneath our addition).
- Would love to attract salamanders. (For many habitat ideas including this, be sure to check out the Animal Planet show Backyard Habitat - we record it every day and enjoy it very much.)
- We thought about a bat house, but they already live right there in the woods.
- We don't use chemicals in our yard, and we really let things grow quite naturally - not a lot of defined edges.
- We've got at least one brush pile going at all times. :)
As my boys grow, and their appetites for adventure along with them, I am certain our balance of nature study will shift from the intimacy of our own yard to the wide and wonderful world waiting beyond. For right now though, our suburban yard is meeting our nature needs quite nicely and there appears to be no end to the ever-revolving variety of wildlife we witness here in our little spot on the planet! I hope that this post gives you a few ideas for bringing more nature into your yard and your life. I'm certain your children will thank you - and the critters, if they could - would thank you, too. :)
And before I go, please indulge me one more plug for my upcoming Field Day! There's still plenty of room for your post but just a little more time to get it to me! All the details can be found here!
Have a wonderful, nature-filled day!
