Dozens of hummingbirds visit their feeders. Kathy Martin said they often set up viewing scopes for visitors, so they can enjoy a rare bird without threatening it. Martin also times the cutting of his grass hay to avoid disturbing nests and baby birds. In return, the birds carry seed from place to place, allowing new trees to take root. The key to establishing good wildlife habitat in northern Larimer County is perseverance and water, Martin said.
Attitude is also important.
Wildlife responds really fast, but some cause damage and you have to be philosophically adjusted to accommodate that. The Meimans planted their windbreak in 1967, arranging five rows of trees in an L-shape on the north and west to protect from prevailing cold winds. Trees that have grown well are ponderosa pine, Russian olive, walnut, poplar, juniper and caragana. The Meimans purchased all of their trees as bare-root plants from the Colorado State Forest Service. To develop a plan, they consulted with the Natural Resources Conservation Service.