Arural property offers open space and opportunities for enjoyment. It is important to

remember that your land is also a home to

wildlife. Urbanization and other factors have greatly

reduced the number of woodlands, pastures, rangelands, and prairies, making rural land stewardship

crucial to the conservation of birds and other

wildlife. How you manage your acreage affects the

survival of these species, as well as your own

quality of life.

BIRDS ON THE RANGE

Birds are good indicators of the ecological health of

your property. You can protect the value and productivity of your land while providing food, shelter,

and nesting sites for local birds. Overgrazing and

improper weed management can result in degraded

vegetation systems and lands that no longer provide

for birds. A diverse mix of native cover and forage

plants, as well as healthy streamside vegetation, will

support game birds, resident and migratory songbirds, and grassland bird species, which are especially

at risk.

Bird feeders allow for up close observation of

some rural bird species. Keep track of the birds

coming to your feeders and learn to identify the

birds using other parts of your property to

determine if your management choices are increasing

the number and types of birds on your land.

Birdhouses provide nest sites for additional birds

that might inhabit your land, including birds of prey

that can help keep the rodent population in check.

For more information, visit

www.audubonathome.org/countryhome.

BATS IN THE BARN

Bats are key to maintaining a healthy landscape, as

they control insect populations with their nightly

hunting for food. Some bats can eat up to

600 mosquitoes in an hour. You can entice a variety

of bats to “hang around” by putting up a bat house

on or around your home and retaining that old barn.

For more information, visit

www.audubonathome.org/bats.

BIG SKY BUTTERFLIES

Over 700 butterfly species help pollinate native

plants in the United States. Since flowering plants are

a key element of the broader landscape, why not

establish a butterfly garden? Butterflies can be

attracted by nectar-producing flowers, host plants for

eggs and caterpillars, and a shallow dish of pebbles

with water for drinking. For information about the

common butterflies in your area and their favored

plants, visit www.audubonathome.org/butterflies.

THE OTHER “B”

Most of the bees that pollinate native plants do not

live together in hives. Many of these native solitary

bees are declining, but you may be able to help them

by building a bee box. Simply drill small holes into an

untreated block of wood, or tie a bundle of dried

stems together and place them outdoors. Solitary

bees will lay their eggs in the holes, which then

serve as a nursery. For more information on

how to help these beneficial insects, visit

www.audubonathome.org/solitarybees.

LIVING LIGHTLY ON THE LAND

Rotate crop fields and graze only as much livestock

as the land will sustain. Resist the urge to create a

traditional suburban landscape around your home. If

a firebreak is needed, try to incorporate native plants

and grasses into your design. Consult with your local

NRCS office to identify native plants suited to the

local soil conditions. Avoid using non-native plants

and those that require frequent watering. Preserve

native habitats whenever possible.

WILDLIFE SAFETY

Birds often drown in open livestock troughs if the

water is too deep; provide a float or ramp that

provides a way for them to climb out. Clean,

fresh water is critical to your livestock, and

frequent replacement of the water also prevents

mosquito breeding. Consider minimizing fencing to

allow native wildlife to move freely while containing

your herd. Keep your domestic pets indoors or in a

protected run to minimize their impact on native

wildlife and to keep them safe from natural

predators such as coyotes.

WORKING WITH NEIGHBORS

Your property is part of a larger landscape that birds

and other wildlife need to survive. Invite your neighbors to join you in managing your adjoining

properties for native species. Form a local wildlife

association and make a plan to provide food, shelter,

and nesting sites to those species that most need

your help. Keep track of how the birds and other

wildlife respond to your efforts. For more information, visit www.audubonathome.org/neighborhood.

BEFORE YOU BUILD

If you are still planning construction of your country

home, choose a building design and location that

protects as much of the property as possible,

minimize the amount of land cleared for the building

site, and protect trees and shrubs from damage

during construction. It is easier to protect existing

habitat than to create new habitat later.

HEALTHY YARD PLEDGE

Create and maintain a healthy environment for you,

your family, and local wildlife by pledging to:

U Reduce pesticide use

U Conserve water

U Protect water quality

U Remove invasive exotic plants

U Plant native species

U Support wildlife on your property

Visit www.audubonathome.org/pledge to

make the pledge online.

CREATING A HEALTHY COUNTRY HOME

The AUDUBON AT HOME website

<www.audubonathome.org> contains a wealth of

information and downloadable resources to help

you plan and develop your property in a wildlifefriendly way. You’ll find regional resources and

information about the birds, other wildlife, and

native plants in your area.

The AUDUBON AT HOME website contains information

and downloadable resources to help you plan and

develop your property in a wildlife-friendly way. You’ll

find regional resources and information about the birds,

other wildlife, and native plants in your area. Visit

www.audubonathome.org.

NRCS’S BACKYARD CONSERVATION website also

shows ways to help the environment and to make your

yard more attractive and enjoyable. Visit

www.nrcs.usda.gov/feature/backyard.

AN INVITATION TO A HEALTHY COUNTRY HOME

United States Department of Agriculture

Natural Resources Conservation Service © National Audubon Society, Inc., 2006

This publication is printed cooperatively by Audubon and the Natural Resources

Conservation Service, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

USDA is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
Invite Birds, Bats, and Butterflies to 

YOUR COUNTRY HOME

BIRDS TO HELP ON YOUR PROPERTY

With a large-acreage property or ranchette, you have a great opportunity to help

birds, bats, butterflies, and other wildlife. Consider managing your land to provide food

and shelter for five or six bird species that need the most support in your area. Keep a

close watch to see how the birds respond to your efforts. To determine which species

near you need the most help, and to find ways to help support them on your property,

visit www.audubonathome.org/birdstohelp.

My target species Action points

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Screen FENCELINES with native

shrubs to create additional habitat and

wildlife corridors.

Monitor WETLANDS, including

ponds and playas, for overall health,

and manage runoff to prevent erosion

and flooding.

Work with NEIGHBORS to

encourage habitat protection across

property lines.

Do not plant INVASIVE PLANTS.

Deal with invasive weeds early and

often, and restore grasslands with

native forbs and wildflowers.

Bats are common inhabitants of rural

areas. A BAT HOUSE will provide a

daytime roosting place for these aerial

insect eaters.

Create a BUTTERFLY GARDEN by

planting wildflowers and other plants to

feed adult butterflies and caterpillars.

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Protect trees and other vegetation

along streams with fencing to prevent

overgrazing and erosion. The health of

these RIPARIAN AREAS is key to

the overall health of the land, because

so many animal species depend on this

type of habitat.

In the YARD, include items that will

attract, protect, and support birds and

other wildlife. Include bird feeders, a

birdhouse, a source of clean water, and

native plants for cover, food, and

nesting. Keep cats indoors, and modify

windows to prevent bird strikes.

Manage WOODLANDS for the

conservation of forest birds. Unless

there is a significant threat of wildfire,

leave brush and dead snags in place as

nesting and feeding places for birds

and insects.

If you have livestock, rotate

GRAZING HERDS to different

pastures to promote sustainable forage

growth. Pay attention to stocking

densities to maintain healthy vegetation.

Explore herd types to determine which

best suits your property.

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For more information, visit www.audubonathome.org/countryhome • For individual copies of this poster, call 1-888-LANDCARE.

ILLUSTRATION BY RICK BROWN

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Maintain native SHRUBLAND or

shrubby pastures for quail, grouse, and

other game birds. Native prairies or

meadows should be preserved for

nesting grassland birds, such as

meadowlarks and sparrows, as well as

for hunting birds, such as hawks, owls,

and falcons.

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