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Mexican Hat
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Eastern Screech Owl
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American Beautyberry
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| Registered |
Austin successfully
registered with the National Wildlife Federation as a Community Wildlife Habitat on July 18, 2007.
| Tasks to accomplish |
In order to become certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a Community Wildlife Habitat, we need to accomplish certain tasks and benchmarks that earn points. Some of the goals we are working on:
- Habitat Certifications: help land owners and property managers have their homes, public sites, workplaces, parks and school yards become Backyard Habitats.
- Education Goals: create a resource library, information kiosks and brochures, newsletter and feature articles, host wildlife gardening workshops and Habitat Stewards trainings; promote neighborhood and community-wide celebrations.
- Community Projects: develop a website, help with revision of weed ordinances, conduct builder and developers’ workshop, organize native plant rescues and stream cleanups.
| Help Austin become a Certified Community Wildlife Habitat! |
To learn more about turning your yard into a Backyard Habitat, visit the National Wildlife Federation's Website.
If your property is already certified with National Wildlife Federation as a wildlife habitat then it has already been counted towards Austin's total number of certified habitats needed for Community Wildlife Habitat certification.
| How Wildlife Habitats Benefit Austin |
- Preserve Austin's natural beauty and distinctive biodiversity
- Improve Austin's quality of life for people and wildlife
- Sequester carbon and reduce the need for air-polluting maintenance practices, such as lawn mowing, through the use of native plants
- Help people deepen their understanding of nature and increase their connection to the outdoor world
- Save money on water and yard maintenance bills
- Improve area water quality by reducing the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides
| Why should I create a NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat? |
- It's fun! Watching wildlife in action can be fun and relaxing for everyone. Your habitat may attract beautiful songbirds, butterflies, frogs, and other interesting wildlife for viewing from your very own window.
- Curb appeal! Replacing grass lawns with native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees will increase the beauty of your property and provide a nurturing refuge for wildlife.
- Bring wildlife a home! Restoring habitats where commercial and residential development have degraded natural ecosystems can be your way of giving back to wildlife.
- Eco-friendly! Gardening practices that help wildlife, like reducing the use of chemicals, conserving energy and water, and composting also help to improve air, water and soil quality.
- Community! Gardening for wildlife can help you share your love of wildlife with your neighbors and help them get involved in creating a home for wildlife.
| Volunteer |
Volunteer to Conserve Wildlife Habitat In Your Community by becoming a Habitat Steward
| Take the Habitat Challenge! |
The City of Austin and National Wildlife Federation challenge the city’s neighborhoods to create homes for wildlife.
Council Member Leffingwell announced the winners of the Neighborhood Habitat Challenge during a press conference on November 20th. The challenge that lasted from May 1 to Oct. 31 was sponsored by Parks and Recreation's Wildlife Austin program. The first place winner is the Jester Estates Homeowners Association; second place goes to the Allandale Neighborhood Association; and third place goes to the Highland Park West Balcones Area Neighborhood Association.
The Habitat Challenge winners will receive: 1st Place: Picnic celebration in a local park for all residents who certified their yards as wildlife habitats during the challenge. 2nd Place: Native trees for neighborhood tree planting projects. 3rd Place: A two-hour Wildlife Habitat Design Workshop.
If you’d like to certify your yard as a wildlife habitat, go to nwf.org/gardenforwildlife for more information.
Press release attached.
Map of winning neighborhoods & habitats certified during challenge
| Helpful Resources |
Invasive Plant Information
Austin's Least Wanted Invasive Plant Species
Central Texas Invasive Plant Field guide
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department - The Dangers of Invasive Species
Native Plant Information
City of Austin Grow Green Plant Guide of Native & Adapted Plants
Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center's
Central Texas Recommended Plant list
Explore Plants
Wildlife Information
National Audubon Society - Audubon Home
| Partners |
National Wildlife Federation
Residents can certify their yards by visiting the National Wildlife Federation’s website,
http://www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife/ or can request a pre-paid habitat certification application (limited quantity) from the Wildlife Austin program: 327-8181 x29
Photo credits to Cathy Nordstrom and Dale Bulla - thank you for your contribution.
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