Landscaping for Wildlife

1. Landscaping for Wildlife Mark Hostetler Extension Wildlife Specialist Department of Wildlife Ecology & Conservation IFAS, University of Florida

2. Overview • Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Wildlife • Landscaping for wildlife • Birds • Butterflies • Design process • Florida bird monitoring program • How to certify your yard

3. Florida Cooperative Extension Service – Wildlife Who are we? • Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, IFAS, University of Florida • What do we do? • In issues regarding wildlife • Advise the public • Develop educational programs • Disseminate information • Conduct research

4. Available Wildlife Information? • Landscaping for wildlife • Conservation and management of wildlife • Human/wildlife conflict • Detailed information on species • Wildlife education programs

5. Where to Go for Info? • Web site: www.wec.ufl.edu/extension • Print on demand • Links and information • Educational programs • Call your local extension office • Call Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission or visit www.state.fl.us/fwc

6. All animals need: • Food • Cover • Water • Space Habitat Landscaping for Wildlife Photo by Joe Schaefer

7. Birds? Y.-rumped Warbler R.-thr. Hummingbird Northern Mockingbird Red-tailed Hawk O.-crowned Warbler

8. Egg Baby Bird Immature Adult Reproductive Adult Life History Stages of a Bird

9. Seasons of a Bird • Breeding • Wintering (non-breeding season) • Migrating (Fall and Spring Migration )

10. Summer Winter Range Map – House Wren

11. Year-round Species Northern Mockingbird Tufted Titmouse Carolina Chickadee Screech Owl

12. Migratory Species Red-eyed Vireo American Goldfinch American Redstart

13. Partial Migrants

14. Different species may appear in your yard at different times of the year Your Yard Can Serve As: A breeding site A wintering site A stop-over site (A dispersal site)

15. Providing Habitat for Birds

16. FOOD

17. Provide Insects Photos courtesy of www.flwildflowers.com

18. Insect Eaters Yellow Warbler Great-crested Flycatcher Hairy Woodpecker

19. Insect Habitat = Bird Habitat • Plant native species • Save dead trees (snags) • Reduce pesticide use • - Spot treat • - Use alternative methods of insect control • Reduce the amount of mowed lawn • - Design islands of “wild” areas

20. Suet/Peanut Butter Feeder • During winter, stock a wire cage with peanut butter or suet

21. Provide Seed

22. Seed Eaters White-crowned Sparrow House Finch Blue Jay Tufted Titmouse

23. Seed Feeders • Hanging feeders • Platform feeders

24. Provide Fruit • Plant native fruit species • Many different plant species produce fruit (hollies, cedar trees, beauty berries, wax myrtles) www.flwildflowers.com Beautyberry Holly spp.

25. Plant species with • red, tubular flowers www.flwildflowers.com Trumpet vine • Provide a hummingbird • feeder • (¼ cup of sugar to 1 cup of hot water) Provide Nectar

26. Fruit and Nectar Eaters Ruby-throated Hummingbird Northern Mockingbird Cedar Waxwing Brown Thrasher

27. Provide Meat

28. Meat Eaters Loggerhead Shrike Barred Owl Great-horned Owl

29. COVER

30. Cavities • Cavities are in short supply in neighborhoods

31. Primary Cavity Nesters Pileated Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker Hairy Woodpecker

32. Secondary Cavity Nesters • Photos of owls, titmice, chickadees, etc. Tufted Titmouse Carolina Chickadee Great-crested Flycatcher Eastern Bluebird

33. Providing Cavities • Leave a snag on your property (woodpeckers) • Provide a nesting box • (secondary cavity • nesters)

34. Vegetation for Cover • Plant or maintain a variety of plant species • Increase vertical height diversity

35. Organized Chaos • Stop mowing!

36. WATER

37. Running water • Ponds Water • Bird baths

38. Space

39. Example: Trees and a Bird

40. Scale-dependent Decisions of a Wren and a Hawk Tract Home Range Habitat Patches Food Patches Tract Home Range Habitat Patches Food Patches

41. Different Birds Make Decisions at Different Scales Larger birds = broader scales and larger patch sizes Smaller birds = limited scales and smaller patch sizes

42. How To Plan For Space? • Be aware of habitats surrounding your • property and plan accordingly • Think about the size of the bird • Talk with your neighbors (e.g., plan bigger patches) • Experiment! • Embrace uncertainty!

43. Summary • Bird Habitat – food, cover, water , & space • Life Stages – breeding, wintering, & migration • Food - plant for insects, fruit, nectar & small • animals; provide bird feeders

44. Summary • Cover - vertical height diversity; “wild areas”; • keep snags, provide nest boxes • Water – ponds, bird baths, running water • Space – scale and bird size, talk with neighbors, • group vegetation

45. Landscaping for Butterflies Giant Swallowtail By Joe Schaefer

46. Habitat for Butterflies

47. Life History of Butterflies(Lepidopterans) Egg By Sharon David

48. Butterflies Most fly during day Most are bright colors Have slender bodies Antennae slender & have knobs at tip Most rest with wings folded above body Butterflies vs. Moths Moths • Most fly at night • Many have drab colors • Have stout bodies • Antennae can be feathery, no knobs • Rest with wings horizontal

49. Food for Caterpillars • Host plants must be tailored to specific butterflies • Some plants are hosts to several different • butterflies (passion vine –Gulf fritillary, • Zebra long wing) • Some feed on one specific plant - • Pipevine swallowtail feeds on • Dutchman’s Pipe

50. Food for Caterpillars • An easy way to provide larval food: Do not mow certain sections of the yard! • If you do plant a garden, don’t forget host plants for larvae!