Give a Little Back to Wildlife
Tis the season of giving and this Holiday season is a great time to give back to your local wildlife. There are many ways you can give a little back both in your garden and in your community, and many of them don’t cost a thing.
Here’s a few ideas to get you started:
- Participate in a Christmas Bird Count. This annual event has been occurring for more than 100 years and it’s success is due to hardworking and dedicated Citizen Scientists–just like you. The counts run through January 5th. Check with the Audubon Society for the one closest to you. It’s fun, you get to meet wonderful folks, and you’re helping scientists track fluctuations in bird populations.
- The Great Backyard Bird Count is a less formal bird survey but it’s a great way to get your kids involved in nature and science. The next GBBC is February 12-15, 2010, and you simply pick a count area such as your garden or your local nature center and count the different birds that you see. Then submit your list to the GBBC website and check to see what everyone else saw. In 2009 over 93,000 checklists were submitted; make yours one of them this year.
- Start planning now for what you will add to your Ecosystem Garden next spring. Have space to add some natives? A green roof? A raingarden? Now is the time to plan.
- Volunteer. Call your local Nature Center, Wildlife Refuge, or city park. All of these would welcome you as a volunteer. My local NWR has a volunteer group called “Trail Tamers” which removes invasive plants, plants native trees and wildflowers, and maintains the trails. The gift of your time is one of the most precious gifts you can give.
- Join the Nature Conservancy, National Audubon Society, National Wildlife Federation, World Wildlife Fund, or any of the other wonderful conservation organizations. These organizations are doing great work to protect wildlife and their native habitats. Your support can help make a difference.
Have you included wildlife in your holiday giving? How do you give a little back? Happy Holidays to all!
© 2009 – 2010, Carole Brown. All rights reserved.
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I’m planning what to add to my garden alright. I’m off to read about the Christmas Bird Count – sounds fun!
Alison Kerr´s last post ..We Need Trees
Don’t forget giving to your favorite national park! There’s a lot of maintenance in keep these parks suitable for animals while still allowing people to visit.
Overall a great idea though! Take a pass on a few trinkets you’ll be bored with in a month and contribute to a worthy cause instead.
These are great suggestions. I do count birds for Project Feeder Watch, frogs for FrogWatch and am trying to move toward more native vegetation since we moved to our home 5 years ago. Wonderful resource as I am not a gardener, but I am trying to learn…Michelle
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