Backyard habitats offer resources to all kinds of wildlife

 What exactly is a backyard habitat? Just because you have a backyard doesn't necessarily mean you have a great habitat for wildlife. A backyard habitat is the manipulation of your yard into a garden that provides essential resources for different kinds of wildlife, such as birds, butterflies, small mammals and other creatures. These resources must include the following to complete a backyard habitat; food, water, cover and a place to raise young. 
There are many benefits to having a backyard habitat other than just viewing beautiful wildlife. You can spend less time mowing, weeding, pruning, trimming, applying pesticides, herbicides and watering. Instead of mowing your yard, if you plan the layout of your yard in advance with native plants that give shade to your house, it will cut down on the area of mowing that needs to be done and save on the power bill. These plants can also be chosen to attract birds or butterflies, and the amount of area in grass that is reduced is also the same amount of area reduced for necessary herbicides and pesticides.  
The key to keeping a yard as a habitat could be as simple as adding a birdbath, hummingbird feeder, birdfeeder, squirrel feeder, frog house or toad abode.
Yes, I wrote toad abode. They exist and offer a rocky cool shelter near a water source for a frog or toad. You can make your own or purchase one. Either way toad abodes are fun for all ages. If you have a birdfeeder or hummingbird feeder, remember that cleaning them is very critical. Fungi and bacteria can build up and can injure or even kill birds, so clean out your feeders and bird baths with nine parts water and one part vinegar solution every few days. 
Bird feeders and birdbaths should be placed close to vegetation that a bird would feel comfortable retreating to in case it feels threatened. Do this to ensure that your feeder is the most popular one in the neighborhood. 
If birds aren't your thing, then try a bat house.  Some bats eat up to 600 mosquitoes in one hour. 
Using mulch is a great way to keep moisture in the soil for the plant rather than evaporating in the air. As mulch breaks down it also provides nutrients for the plant and can reduce the amount of fertilizer needed. Using mulches from sustainable forestry practices and that are free of pests ensures an eco-friendly garden. 
Having a rain barrel system to catch rain water helps with water conservation during the drier months and is a great way to save money.  It also helps reduce the amount of chemicals used on your plants by limiting the amount of drinking water with chemicals.  Using rain barrels to catch water from your home's gutters can also help control erosion of your yard. 
A butterfly garden is a great way to introduce native plants into your garden and invite butterflies into your backyard habitat. Butterflies can be brought into your garden by using host specific plants, for example if you want to attract Eastern Tiger Swallowtails you would plant Sweet Bay Magnolia and Tulip Popular.
Topsail Hill is going to install a butterfly garden in our campground for visitors with the donations and help of the non-profit group, Beach to Bay Connection. Margo Yourick and Celeste Cobena are spearheading the project and working with school teacher Pat Murphy, who will have her students from South Walton High School volunteer to construct Master Gardener and Master Naturalist, Snookie Parrish's vision of a beautiful butterfly garden. MaryAnn Friedman will be overseeing the production of an interpretive display for the garden with funding provided by Beach to Bay Connection. To donate to the project contact Celeste Cobena at (850)267-2227 or visit www.beachtobay.org.  
If you are interested in learning more about eco-friendly gardening, come to our interpretive program on backyard habitats on May 10 at 9 a.m. at the clubhouse at Topsail Hill Preserve State Park.  Park at the Day-Use area parking lot off of Hwy 30A and take a short walk over to the clubhouse. 

Leda Suydan is park service specialist at Topsail Hill Park and Preserve. You can reach her at (850) 267-0299 or at leda.suydan@dep.state.fl.us.