Florida Backyard Habitat Program

• Florida Backyard Landscapes for Wildlife
• Florida Bird Monitoring Program
• Planting a Refuge for Wildlife

Florida Backyard Landscapes for Wildlife

Dear Wildlife Landscaper,

The Florida Backyard Landscapes for Habitat Program is a FREE program that will help you to landscape your property to benefit wildlife. In addition to the enjoyment you will receive from increased wildlife viewing opportunities, you will be helping provide for the basic needs of many wildlife species from birds to butterflies and much more. As a participant, you will receive landscaping tips designed to attract and benefit wildlife.

To get started, please complete the questionnaire and the application.

There are many ways to landscape your yard to benefit wildlife. Some designs are simple, inexpensive, and require little maintenance (perhaps even reducing your yard work) while others are more complex. It is up to you to decide what is best for your particular situation.  To help you get started, order your FREE copy of Planting a Refuge for Wildlife (41KB pdf) provided by the Florida Fish & Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) Nongame Wildlife Program and the Florida Wildlife Federation. Additional resources may be available at your local library and from your county extension agent.

Please complete the application and submit for review.  There is a minimal fee of $5.00 (check payable to "Manatee County Friends of Extension") to cover costs for the shipping and materials that we include in your package.  We will send you comments on your landscape plan and may also suggest additional resource materials.  Once your landscape design is approved, we will also present you with a certificate and yard sign that recognize your concern and efforts to provide food, water, and cover for wildlife.

Thank you for your interest in the Florida Backyard Landscapes for Wildlife Program. We are looking forward to assisting you with improving the wildlife habitat on your property.

Sincerely,

Lisa Hickey
Master Gardener Coordinator
Manatee County Extension Service

Request for application to be sent by U.S. Mail for the Florida Backyard Landscapes for Wildlife Program

Print an application for the Florida Backyard Landscapes for Wildlife Program (406KB pdf).  If you are unable to print out the application, fill in the information below and we will mail an application as soon as possible.

Name:      

Address    

                  

City:           

State:             Zip:  

Telephone:

Email:        
                  

 

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Florida Bird Monitoring Program

The Florida Bird Monitoring Program was developed by the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation's Wildlife Extension office in June 2001. The objective of the Florida Bird Monitoring Program is to maintain a Web site where you can enter and view bird survey data collected by yourself and others. Homeowners as well as participants from natural resource, Cooperative Extension, and state education programs are encouraged to participate.

Which types of birds are visiting a yard or neighborhood? Through this Web site, you can track which birds occur in your yard and community over time. If you are a property owner that is landscaping to attract wildlife, you can learn which landscaping strategies and management techniques worked best for others in attracting certain bird species? The University of Florida's Backyard Wildlife Habitat Program and Florida Yards & Neighborhoods Program can suggest ways for you to improve the ecological design and maintenance of your yard. By participating in this bird monitoring program, you can see how these techniques affected birds in your yard? You can also monitor the quantity and types of birds that visit any area throughout the state from month to month and year to year.

Most importantly, you can compare your survey results with others. Where and what types of birds are occurring in different areas? Are certain birds favoring one property over another? Why is this so? By comparing surveys, you can discuss ideas, pose questions, and develop suggestions about how to improve your neighborhood for birds.

Surveys can be conducted anywhere. Small lots and yards, neighborhoods, city parks and reserves, agricultural land and large properties, lakes and ponds, and schoolyards are all potential areas to survey birds.

If you have any questions, please contact:

• Mark Hostetler, Extension Wildlife Specialist
  Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
  University of Florida
  P.O. Box 110430, Gainesville, FL 32611-0430
  Tel: (352)846-0568
• Jennifer Dark, Wildlife Extension Program Assistant
  Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation
  University of Florida
  P.O. Box 110430, Gainesville, FL 32611-0430
  Tel: (352)846-0554
  

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Planting a Refuge for Wildlife

This excellent 33-page book briefly addresses many aspects necessary for creating a backyard habitat for Florida’s birds and beasts. Beautiful color photos highlight information on how to create a backyard habitat plan, suggested native plants for backyard Florida habitats, how to attract birds, butterflies, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, advice for effectively using nest boxes and feeders, and more.

One copy of Planting a Refuge for Wildlife is available FREE of charge. Additional copies are 50¢ each. Order some today for your local birding organization, gardening club, friends, family, and co-workers.  Download, print and complete this order form (41KB pdf) .

Proceeds are administered by the Florida Wildlife Federation for the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Project WILD, an interdisciplinary conservation and environmental education program emphasizing wildlife. Funds are used to help support the Florida WILD Action Grant Program, a habitat improvement program that provides small cash awards to Florida public and private schools that are serious about implementing, maintaining, and using a schoolyard habitat as an outdoor classroom.

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