So you think that just because you can't schedule a day or weekend trip to the great wilderness you can't enjoy nature? Guess again! You only need to look as far as your own backyard! If you think that your yard is merely an expanse of grass edged with bushes, you are not looking closely enough. You would be surprised who lives there and who visits there on a regular basis.

    BE A SLEUTH: INVESTIGATE YOUR YARD

If you start to think of your yard as an ecosystem, i.e., a large area that supports some types of flora and fauna, then you can also break that down into different habitat areas. Your yard has sunny areas and shady areas, and maybe even dark areas. It has areas that are dry and some that are moist. It may have slopes or ditches, hills or berms. Perhaps there are rocks or boulders. There may be a water source such as a fountain, a birdbath, a pond, or a stream. It could contain different types of trees and bushes and flowers.

Looking at your yard in this way you begin to see that this little piece of land supports many different types of animals, including mammals, birds, reptiles, and perhaps even amphibians.

As important is each area of your yard, so are the EDGES of those areas. With most animals, including mammals, insects, birds, amphibians, reptiles, etc., the edges of habitats are often the most precious to them.

Edges provide the opportunity to get a little sun without venturing too far from the safety of the shadows, a chance to look for a variety of foods, and a familiar path to follow to get to other areas. Watch the edges of a line of bushes - you will see little birds darting in and out. The edges of water provide excellent play areas for amphibians and lizards and salamanders and little animals that like moist places with rocks or sand for relaxing.

You will also begin to notice ISLANDS in your yard - areas of vegetation that serve as links to other areas. You will notice birds landing in one area of bushes or trees, and darting to the next, and to the next. Birds and animals will hesitate to cross broad expanses of manicured grass that holds no cover for them, since wide open lawns are good hunting grounds for hawks and owls.

 Please reference CoveBear.com as a wonderful backyard birding website!