Backyard Wildlife Habitat Team

The good news is, we have everything we need to get the community certified. What we need now is a few people to serve on the Habitat Team. It does not require much time, especially now that we are certified, so if you are interested please contact Tom at nature@smartneighborhood.net.
-Thanks
The Habitat Team

 

We have a family of Hawks in our backyard. The mom and dad (Fred and Ethel) and 3 babies (Bam Bam, Wilma, and Kudzu) that still have some down and are currently testing their wings. I don't have a camera that can get a good close up picture of them for the newsletter and am wondering if anyone has a camera to come take a picture. Please let me know. Thanks

 

Shouldn't that be Bam Bam, Wilma, and Pebbles?

 

so I am thinking that must be the culprit that has been catching and eating the wildlife in our backyard. I saw a hawk, literally grab the leg of one of our local rabbits as he ran into our bushes... screaming and kicking. Of course my 2 year old starts to run over there to "see the bird"...!

And last Saturday, I had to clean up the "parts and feathers" from a recent kill before cutting the grass. I wondered where they were nesting since I see the same two from my deck all the time. Are you in Southern Walk somewhere?

 

I would love to see them...would you mind posting where they are? You don't have to give your exact address.

 

I am at 21360 Chickacoan Trail. I would love to get some pictures and you all are more than welcome to watch them from our back deck. Standing on the deck, off to the right in the Y of one of the larger trees is their nest. The distance isn't too far as we can see them without our binoculars, but far enough for our camera not to get a good shot.

As for the names, you're right Cliff, we forgot about poor peebles...ok it's Bam BAm, Wilma and Peebles...unless we want to ask the neighborhood kids to name them.

 

Donna, I can help you with the pics too. I just got a new digital SLR and the macro lens is fantastic. Please let me know. thanks

 

That would be great. The best time to see them is in the early evening when the parents come to feed them. (4:00 to 6:00) If you are interested in coming to see them or take pictures, I'll see you then... Thanks

 

Ok, the kids can sell sodas, we'll bring the popcorn machine down from the Nature Center, this could be fun!

 

I'm wondering if this is the same hawk(s) that we saw in the area for a few years before we moved. I'd often see them soaring over the house, and occasionally perching in trees nearby, or on the neighbor's fence. We did have alot of rabbits, squirrels and chipmonks in that area.

Suzanne used to go out on the deck with our cats, one day one of the hawks was perched in one of the trees in the stream park overlooking the deck when she was out with the cats.

The hawk was taking a very keen interest in our smaller cat when Suzanne noticed this. She stood up, looked back at the hawk, basically saying "they're mine" .. and the hawk flew off !!

 

I would love to see the pictures-please email them to naturalist@broadlandshoa.com-if we get some good ones, we can put them in the newsletter
Julie

 

I would like to know more about your team. I also would like to get involved.

Thanks

Oya Simpson
oya.simpson@gmail.com

 

I know Animal Planet has a show all about Backyard Habitats. Perhaps Broadlands Backyard Wildlife Habitat Team can get some recognition thru that show?

I'd be interested in joining but I have a 165 sq.ft. yard... not much of one, that is. Can townhome owners get into backyard wildlife habitats? Bird houses? Feeders and birdwashes?

Thanks!

- Aric

 

I looked into getting us onto the animal planet show, but the time to apply had passed.

As far as town houses go, YES they can be certified. A lot of plants that grow in the yards of townhouses, such as holly bushes, can be "food" and "places to raise young". Also, a birdfeeder can be a great addition to a small yard. (Goldfinch and hummingbird feeders generally cannot be broken into by squirrels)

The hardest thing for a townhouse is water-some people have a birdbath in their yard, others a small fountain.

You can make your own birdbath by stacking flower pots and adding a saucer to the top-then you can paint it to add some flair!

There are many townhouses in Broadlands that have been certified, if yours is one of them, let us know what you have done to satisfy all of the requirements.

Julie

 

Thanks for the info. I have some ideas for my yard, currently it's just a small plot of grass and some stone by the back door. I'd like to put in a few nesting boxes, feeders, and a birdbath or some other water feature. What I'm having trouble thinking about is the "cover" requirement. you mention holly bushes, and I imagine any number of other small shrubbery could be used, but thought about planting a tree (possibly a cherry tree) for the future. I'll read over the HOA rules again to be sure, but is it allowed for a SW townhome to have any type of tree planted inside their fence, or do all plantings have to remain below the top of the fence?

Thank you!

 

Check the National Wildlife Federation page for some ideas:

http://www.nwf.org/backyard/

 

Thanks, some good ideas there.

I think this has been asked before, but do we need permission to plant trees in our backyard? I'm in a SW townhome, backing onto Village Dr. Thinking of a flowering dogwood, nothing too big.

 

Planting a tree doe not require an application...Just remember to keep in mind how quickly those small trees get big!