Designing Habitats in Urban Environments - Design with the Desert: Conservation and Sustainable Development - page 389

2. Create both variety and same-species clumps in the habitat : Different birds require
different food in different seasons. Therefore, it is important to have enough
variety in the habitat to sustain birds year-round, if possible. On the other hand,
it is also important to maintain some masses of high fruit-producing species to
provide very visible, massed displays for recognition.
3. Leave nature alone : This is probably the most difficult goal to achieve in a created
wildlife habitat. With any type of planned landscape, it can be quite difficult for
managers and homeowners to leave litter and old branches or tree snags in the
habitat. However, these provide perches, nesting cavities, and insects for food.
Minimal raking of areas contributes to litter accumulation that can harbor food
for ground-feeding birds such as thrashers. On the other hand, maintaining some
open areas is important for dust baths and sunbathing.
4. Avoid use of exotic plants : Exotic trees and shrubs should be avoided when possible
due to their potential to spread into native habitats, and their reduced ability to
provide food and shelter for native birds. Minimize turf areas since they provide
little habitat or food for birds and may be associated with factors that have a
negative effects on birds such as fertilizer and pesticide use. 5
5. Provide water : A circulating water source is preferred because traditional birdbaths
can encourage mosquitoes and cause the spread of disease (Figure 22.4).
If a birdbath is used, it should be cleaned with a stiff brush every day and
should be no deeper than 3 in. 8 A simple system can be installed using a separate
zone on a drip irrigation system that provides flow each day.
FIGURE 22.4
Small “wildlife waterer” provides a water source with a reservoir (basin) that is flushed out with each cycle from
a drip emitter system.