My backyard is now a Wildlife Habitat certified by the National Wildlife Federation. I found out about this program from our new neighbor, Linda, who is also an enthusiastic gardener. Linda is delighted to have moved in so close to the Guadalupe River here in San Jose, California. According to Wikipedia, the Guadalupe is the only known salmon spawning river running through a major U.S. downtown area (outside of Anchorage, Alaska). The Guadalupe is not only a river of water and fish but also of ducks, geese, song birds, humming birds, hawks, vultures, racoons, opossums, cats, squirrels (grey, black, and gold), snakes, lizards, Jerusalem crickets, and homeless people. John and I own to the middle of the river along our back property, so providing a wildlife habitat means not messing up what we already have.
To provide certification, the National Wildlife Federation asks that elements from each of the following areas be provided:
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- Food Sources. For example: Native plants, seeds, fruits, nuts, berries, nectar
- Water Sources. For example: Birdbath, pond, water garden, stream
- Places for Cover. For example: Thicket, rockpile, birdhouse
- Places to Raise Young. For example: Dense shrubs, vegetation, nesting box, pond
- Sustainable Gardening. For example: Mulch, compost, rain garden, chemical-free fertilizer
Here is my new certificate:
Some recent pictures of our backyard river:
| Log jam
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Top of bank
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Down the bank
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Images Copyright 2008 by Katy Dickinson
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