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Backyard Wildlife Habitat Click to Enlarge Image Your yard may be home to 15 migratory birds, 20 native plant species, five kinds of butterflies, and enough wildlife to make you think you are on a safari. This isn't your yard, you say? Well it could be. It's easy, and it doesn't matter where you live or even how much space you have. The Backyard Wildlife Habitat™ program, conducted through a partnership between the Delaware Nature Society and the National Wildlife Federation, provides official certification for properties that meet four criteria necessary for wildlife habitat: food, water, cover, and places for wildlife to raise young. Property owners also implement resource conservation practices. Your participation not only creates valuable habitat here, but also helps to improve the state's water quality. Much of region's water supply comes from surface waters, which means what we do on the land directly affects the quality of the water we drink. You help to ensure clean, safe drinking water for people and wildlife by creating a habitat-friendly environment using native plants, limiting the use of lawn chemicals, and reducing stormwater runoff. Resources: How to Certify Your Backyard Coastal Plain & Piedmont Native Plants Native Plants for Birds Plants for Livable Delaware (PDF) Alternatives to invasive plants Controlling Backyard Invaders (PDF) Handling invasive plants Delaware Native Plant Society Useful Links Gardening, wildlife, plant identification and more As the state's affiliate for the National Wildlife Federation, the Delaware Nature Society offers the Backyard Wildlife Habitat™ program in partnership with: Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC) Gateway Garden Center Wild Birds Unlimited Through the program, you can receive FREE technical assistance from Delaware Nature Society Habitat Stewards to help evaluate your property and find ways to attract wildlife and help water quality. Why create a Backyard Wildlife Habitat? Improve water quality Help biodiversity conservation Reduce habitat fragmentation Minimize impact of sprawl Conserve water Improve air quality Save money Read More... Take the Next Step! Certifying your landscape is easy -- find out how. Help others! Be a Backyard Habitat Steward By fostering a sense of ecological awareness and responsibility in children and adults alike, Habitat Stewards make a difference in Delaware. Mentors in the community, Habitat Stewards assist their friends and neighbors with the creation and restoration of landscapes that are both wildlife-friendly and good for the environment. Native wildlife, citizens of the community, and neighboring communities all feel the rewards of these efforts. Read More... Other Related Programs Delaware Stream Watch Smartyards Other Plant Resources The Delaware Nature Society is an affiliate organization of the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center, headquartered in Austin, Texas. Click here for more information. © 2005 Delaware Nature Society