Many Florida residents are building their backyards for more eco-friendly activities during the summer. If you want your backyard to be a place to learn about native Florida wildlife and connect to nature, follow these tips.
Florida is home to some of the richest and most biodiverse ecosystems in the country. Our everglades, protected wetlands, beautiful beaches, and miles of state park trails offer incredible opportunities to observe and learn about wildlife within your region. However, you don’t have to plan a trip to the park to discover some of Florida’s most incredible wildlife.
More wildlife news: Audubon’s Jay Watch Hits 20th Anniversary
Observing the wildlife in your neighborhood is a great hobby that brings you closer to nature and can provide an educational opportunity for yourself and your children. If you want to discover more wildlife in your backyard, the best way is to make your backyard more eco-friendly.
Animals need food, water, and shelter to thrive in any environment. By adding these elements to your backyard, you are more likely to find birds, bugs, reptiles, and other wildlife in your yard and neighborhood:
Add a bird feeder and house
A bird house with a built-in feeder will provide both food and shelter for a variety of native birds. This may also attract squirrels, chipmunks, and other small animals that can feed on the birdseed.
Build a rain garden or bird bath
Animals will be more likely to stay if they have access to water and food. A small rain garden (a garden planted in a depression in the ground that creates a small pond when raining) or a birdbath can offer a source of water for birds, small reptiles, and other wildlife to enjoy. Running water sources can also attract wildlife and are often safer in mosquito-prone areas.
Grow your garden
Gardens provide sources of food, water, and shelter to local wildlife. Edible plants can feed both your family and the local animals, and help keep water in the soil for animals to keep cool in the summer. A lush garden provides plenty of shelter from predators, which will have animals flocking to your backyard to enjoy throughout the year.
Once you’ve created a wildlife-friendly backyard, get out a journal and camera and start recording the changes you see in your backyard. Record what animals you see every day, and how they interact with the ecosystem you’ve created. You’ll be amazed at the changes that occur even over the course of a few weeks, as well as from season to season.
For more information about wildlife activities to enjoy in Hillsborough County, visit the Hillsborough County Park and Recreation site here.
