[PAEE] We want your Nature Center...

[SAFFIER, Steven]

...to register as Bird Habitat!!

Since the launch in July, Audubon's Bird Habitat Recognition has registered nearly 100 properties across Pennsylvania and almost 600 acres!!  Most of the 100 are single-family homes which are great...but we know that public preserves such as those often found at nature centers best demonstrate land management practices that help birds!

There is no cost to register the property...skip the donation page at the very end and I'll send you information on obtaining signs...which is also optional.  Brief overview follows, or read more at http://pa.audubon.org/habitat/index.html

What is it?

Bird Habitat Recognition is a new program from Audubon Pennsylvania that aims to create a culture of bird conservation by engaging and educating landowners about the value of habitat gardening and other "Audubon At Home" sustainable landscaping actions on private and public properties.

Bird Habitat Recognition will provide the resources to inspire property transformation and improvement of the ecological worth of "standard" landscapes.  Through habitat landscaping with native plants, properties will have the potential to become integral parts of the natural mosaic by increasing their capacity to host greater biodiversity.

Efforts to attract birds and butterflies will create a healthy yard - one that has lost any need for toxic chemicals, requires less maintenance, is safe for kids and pets, and provides the benefit of experiencing nature on a regular basis.

How does one register?

Registrants will need some things in place: regional native plants on the property (at least 10% of all trees and shrubs on property should be native), a source of water, movement towards the discontinued use of synthetic chemicals (pesticides/fertilizers), areas providing cover, nesting sites, and food for birds.  Once these things are established it's a simple process of applying (online or off), recording which elements of a bird habitat exist, and taking the "Healthy Yard Pledge."

The property categories in Bird Habitat Recognition include: residential, commercial or business park, schoolyards and college campus, and public land including parks and preserves.

There is no cost to register a property.  Yard signs are offered as a gift for tax-deductible donations of $30 to Audubon At Home, or can be ordered separately for as little as $10 each.

Please read more at http://pa.audubon.org/habitat/index.html


Thanks!!


Steven J. Saffier
Audubon At Home Coordinator
Audubon Pennsylvania
John James Audubon Center at Mill Grove
1201 Pawlings Road
Audubon Pa 19403
610-666-5593 x112
http://pa.audubon.org<http://pa.audubon.org/>

P Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.

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