Create Backyard Habitat

Creating backyard habitat is something

nearly everyone can do.

Provide food. Provide plenty of natural

bird food by planting native plants that

bear small berries or that support ample

insect populations. A bird feeder is also

useful for attracting many birds. Position

feeders to avoid deadly window collisions.

Plant shelter. Birds require dense cover,

like shrubs and evergreen trees,

especially during winter.

Furnish water. Commercial bird baths,

small pools, and natural ponds are

sure-fire ways to attract birds, especially

if water is dripping or moving.

Supply nest sites. Put up a birdhouse for

hole-nesting birds like chickadees and

wrens, and platforms for robins and

barn swallows.

For more information on creating

habitat, contact your state wildlife

agency or National Wildlife Federation’s

Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program at

703/790 4000 or www.nwf.org/habitats.

Think Before You Spray

Each year 4 million tons of pesticides are

applied in the United States exposing

672 million birds to the harmful effects of

these chemicals. One-tenth of those

exposed, or 67 million birds, are

estimated to die. Before using pesticides

consider the following alternatives.

Exercise prevention first. For example,

drain away standing water in your yard;

elevate stacks of wood off the ground and

move them away from your house; use

naturally pest- and disease-resistant

native plants; and rotate vegetables in

your garden from year to year.

Use non-chemical controls. Mulch,

spade, hoe or pull weeds in the garden.

Frequently mow and water (if supplies

permit) your grass to encourage a

resistant, healthy lawn.

Use low-impact pesticides. If you must

use chemicals, use the most specific

chemical pesticides for your need. Always

follow label instructions.

Learn more. Many sources of information

on pesticides and plant care can be found

at bookstores and libraries, or on the

Internet. Contact your county agricultural

extension agent with any questions.

For more information on pesticides,

contact the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service’s

Division of Environmental

Contaminants at 703/358 2148 or

www.fws.gov.

Be a Responsible Cat Owner

Biologists estimate that free-ranging cats

kill hundreds of millions of birds each

year. The number of pet cats in the

United States has grown from 30 million

in 1970 to 60 million in 1990. In addition,

millions of stray and feral cats roam our

cities, suburbs, and rural areas.

Keep only as many cats as you can care

for. If you don’t want your cat anymore,

do not release it into rural areas. Contact

your local animal shelter or welfare

organization instead.

Keep your cat indoors whenever possible.

It’s safer for your cat as well as for

wildlife.

Spay or neuter your cat. There are

millions of kittens and cats already born

that need homes and human care.

Locate bird feeders away from heavy

cover so cats cannot surprise

unsuspecting birds.

For more information on keeping cats

indoors, contact the American Bird

Conservancy’s Cats Indoors! Campaign,

at 202/778 9666 or www.abcbirds.org.

Ways Citizens Can

Contribute to the

Conservation of Wild Birds

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

International

Migratory Bird Day

(IMBD)

Set on the second Saturday in

May, IMBD is an invitation to

celebrate and support migratory

bird conservation.
Buy Shade-grown Coffee

You can help conserve vital rainforest

habitat and protect more than 150 forestdependent migratory bird species just by

drinking shade-grown coffee.

In many parts of the neotropics, shadegrown coffee farms are the only forestlike habitat remaining. Due to the

increasing demand for coffee worldwide,

many of these traditional farms have

been converted to “sun coffee”

plantations, which are devoid of trees.

Unfortunately, sun-grown coffee, while

yielding higher short-term output,

requires higher levels of fertilization and

plant replacement, suffers increased risk

of failure due to drought, leads to soil

damage, and means the destruction of the

forest—a long-term resource for native

peoples. Loss of the canopy also means

loss of habitat for migratory birds; studies

have found that the diversity of migratory

birds plummets when coffee plantations

are converted from shade to sun.

When purchasing coffee, check the 

label or ask your grocer for certified

shade-grown coffee.

For more information on shade-grown

coffee, visit the Smithsonian Migratory

Bird Center’s Coffee Corner at

www.si.edu/smbc/coffee.htm.

Buy a Duck Stamp

One of the easiest and most effective

actions anyone can take for birds is to

purchase a Migratory Bird Hunting and

Conservation Stamp, commonly known

as the Duck Stamp. This stamp, required

for hunters of migratory birds, but also

popular with stamp collectors, art

enthusiasts, and wildlife fans, is available

for $15 from national wildlife refuges,

post offices, and Wal-Marts, K-Marts, and

other sporting goods stores around the

country. Ninety-eight cents of every

dollar raised by Duck Stamp sales are

used to buy wetland habitat, which

benefits migratory waterfowl and a host

of other species of birds and wildlife. 

To request more information on the

Duck Stamp, call the U.S. Fish &

Wildlife message line at 800/344 WILD,

or visit http://duckstamps.fws.gov.

Get Involved in 

Community Planning

Community decisionmakers are usually

receptive to input from

citizens, especially if you have

a good understanding of the

issues.

Listen to what your county

commissioners or land use planners are

saying about future use and zoning of

lands in your area. Make sure those plans

are in the best interest of wildlife, as well

as other members of the community.

Remember that “green space” raises all

property values and improves the quality

of life for everyone.

Join a Conservation Group

A good way to become more informed

about birds is to join an organization;

options span a broad spectrum, from

animal welfare leagues to sporting

groups to garden clubs. Simple

interaction with other people who share

your basic interests is likely to give you a

more informed viewpoint about bird

conservation and amplify your opinions.

Volunteer at a Refuge or Park

One of the most significant actions

anyone can take is to volunteer at a

wildlife refuge, park, or other wildlife

sanctuary. You may be able to help with

litter control, trail maintenance, guiding

tours for civic or school groups,

developing a bird or tree list, or starting

a nest-box program. Few facilities would

turn down an offer of some additional

help.

Join or start a support or “Friends”

group at your nearest national wildlife

refuge or park. These groups provide a

consistent source of volunteer support.

The help you provide can make a real

contribution to the future of wild birds.

For more information about “Friends”

groups, contact U.S. Fish & Wildlife at

703/358 1744 and ask for Tina Dobrinsky.

Participate in Citizen Science

Help scientists track the status of bird

populations. Participate in Christmas

Bird Counts, the Great Backyard Bird

Count, Project Feeder Watch, and other

projects.

To find out more about bird science you

can do, visit http://birdsource.org, a

website managed by the National

Audubon Society and the Cornell

Laboratory of Ornithology.

Donate Your Old Binoculars

Give new life to your old binoculars by

passing them on to new birding

enthusiasts. If your old binoculars are in

good condition or only need a little work,

they can be refurbished and given to a

budding birdwatcher.

Check with nature centers or bird 

groups for local binocular recycling

programs. The Birder’s Exchange at

www.americanbirding.org/consbex.htm,

distributes binoculars and other gear

internationally.

Celebrate International Migratory Bird Day!

Share your interest, enjoyment, and

concern with others. Find and attend an

IMBD event in your community, or better

yet, start something yourself. Integrate

IMBD into a conversation, lecture, class,

newsletter, or exhibit; host a bird walk or

shade-grown coffee hour; or purchase

IMBD products for use or sale.

Celebrating IMBD is a good way to

generate community spirit, ensure a

better environment, and raise awareness

about and promote the conservation of

migratory birds and the habitats they

need to survive.

For more information, contact: 

U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service

Office of Migratory Bird Management

IMBD Events and Information Coordinator

703/358 2318

IMBD@fws.gov

March 2000

There are many simple ways you can 

help protect wild birds.