The TurfMutt Foundation is an organization that advocates appreciation and caring for
our green space and encourages all of us to spend time in the living landscapes
around us like backyards, parks, and other green spaces. The Annual Great Backyard Bird Count (Feb. 17-20) is a great way for people –
especially families and kids – to engage with the outdoors right in their own
backyard, and the TurfMutt Foundation encourages everyone to participate.
“Mulligan the TurfMutt and I sit outside in our backyard and watch birds for
hours,” says Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation. “It’s a
great way to appreciate our backyards and their connection to the rest of the
natural world. After all, nature starts at our own back doors.”
How The Great Backyard Bird Count works:
- Watch the birds in your backyard, on a walk through your
neighborhood or at a community park.
- Submit the different types of birds you counted here.
- Researchers will use the data to create a snapshot of bird
populations around the globe and better track migrations and population
changes. This will result in a better understanding of bird and what we can do
to help conserve them.
Visit www.birdcount.org
to learn more.
Besides being beautiful, many birds, such as hummingbirds, assist in the
pollination process, which helps crops and other plants to grow and thrive.
Unfortunately, according to a report
released by Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and
Ecosystem Services (IPBES), more pollinating insects, birds, and other animals
are going extinct today than ever before.
“What we plant in our own backyards, community parks and community green
space can have an impact on these important pollinators,” says Kiser. “Remember,
know your climate zone and which grasses, shrubs, trees and flowering plants
will thrive in your area.”
Here are just a few things you can do in your backyard to support
pollinators, like birds, bees and butterflies:
- Select native species. Choose plants that are native to
your area and will bloom at different times of the year. Use the Ecoregional Pollinator Planting Guides to select plants that benefit pollinators in
your microclimate.
- Choose a variety of plants. To lure a variety of
pollinators to your yard, plant a variety of flowers in different shapes,
colors, and sizes. Pro tip: pollinators are better able to find the flowers if
you plant them in clumps rather than individually.
- Leave the leaves. Leaves and other plant materials in your
yard offer shelter for pollinators, especially in the winter. Dried flowers
from many summer and fall flowers provide food and habitat to insects, birds
and wildlife.
- Create a hydration station. Place a shallow dish of water
in your backyard or deck, and add some rocks or marbles to the water dish to
give pollinators a place to perch while they hydrate.
For more on how to create a yard that supports your family’s lifestyle, as
well as pollinators, go to TurfMutt.com. Sign up for Mutt Mail, a monthly
e-newsletter with backyarding tips and all the news from The TurfMutt
Foundation here. Look for Mulligan the TurfMutt on the CBS Lucky Dog television show.
Other articles by HVP News Reporters