Take the Neighborhood Habitat Challenge

views from our backyard on Shoal Creek

The City of Austin and the National Wildlife Federation are challenging Austin neighborhoods to create homes for wildlife. It's a challenge for each neighborhood to certify the most number of yards as wildlife habitats to help Austin earn points towards becoming certified as Texas' first National Wildlife Federation Community Wildlife Habitat.

The challenge began on May 1st and it ends on October 31, 2008. 1st, 2nd and 3rd prizes will be awarded to the top three neighborhoods. Neighborhoods that take the challenge must also organize a community invasive plant removal and promote gardening for wildlife through neighborhood newsletters and websites in addition to certifying the highest number of yards as habitats during the contest period.

For more information visit the Habitat Challenge page on the City of Austin's website or Wildlife Austin.

So how do you create a wildlife habitat in your own backyard? Actually it's pretty easy and to help us along the way, Allandale resident, Cheryl Silver, has been training to become a Habitat Steward. She's been posting tips on the Allandale listserv and has graciously (in fact, enthusiastically) agreed to let us reprint them on our blog. I'll post her first tip soon.

Here is what the City has to say about creating your own wildlife habitat:
"It's easy to create wildlife habitat! Yards that provide food, water, cover, places to raise young for wildlife and practice sustainable gardening practices are eligible for NWF wildlife habitat certification. Creating habitat is as simple as planting native plants that provide nectar, pollen, seeds, and berries year round, including a reliable water source to attract a variety of critters, and providing places for cover and rearing young such as planting evergreen shrubs, leaving brush and rock piles or putting up a birdhouse."

Jeff and I have decided to certify our yard as a wildlife habitat so I'll be posting our progress along the way.