Adult Bald Eagle soars above the impoundment at Heinz National Wildlife Refuge
There are so many reasons to create wildlife gardens, but the main reason for me is that seeing wildlife in my garden takes me to my happy place. In fact, the sole reason that I garden at all is to create welcoming habitat for wildlife to share my space with.
We have destroyed so much habitat that we have simply left wildlife no place to go. This is especially true in urban areas.
In the US, only 5% of available land has been protected, which means that there is just not enough space in these protected lands for all of our wildlife to survive. Add to that the fact that these protected lands are subject to “multiple use” clauses.
Multiple use means that our protected open space, whether national park, forest or wildlife refuge, state forest, park, or wildlife management area, or city park, these lands are often logged, mined, grazed by cattle, hunted, or become recreation areas where snowmobiles, ATVs, runners, bikers, and people with dogs make use of the tiny amount of space left for wildlife.
When we choose to create welcoming habitat for wildlife in our gardens, we are expanding the space where birds, butterflies, and other wildlife can thrive and survive.
The John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge is adjacent to the Philadelphia Airport
Near my home in Philadelphia lies the John Heinz National Wildlife Refuge, which you can see from this photo is adjacent to the Philadelphia International Airport.
Amazingly enough, a pair of Bald Eagles has chosen to nest there for the second year in a row. And I went in search of that nest earlier this week.
If you follow those phone wires in the photo of the airport around to the left, you can spot the Bald Eagles nest. Can you spot it?
Here, I’ll zoom in a little closer.
And a little closer still.
Ah, there it is!
On the way around the impoundment to the nest I also got to see:
A Cardinal hiding in the brush
A Groundhog
An adorable family of baby Mallard ducks
Many stunning Tree Swallows showing off their iridescent blue colors
A gorgeous Great Blue Heron
And was blessed to get amazing photos of a Red Tailed Hawk perched right next to the pathway.
Visiting the natural areas around me is always great reinforcement to continue to create welcoming habitat for wildlife in my garden and to work to help my neighbors do the same. Our wildlife gardens really do matter.
Also, check out this amazing Eagle nest came shared by Kelyn in the comments:
Hi Carole! Just thought I’d pass along the link to the “Eagle Cam“. I’m a gardener at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens, and we’ve had a pair of eagles living on the property for several years now. The Eagle Cam is set up in the tree near the nest so viewers from all over the world can watch as the eagles raise their young. Unfortunately, last year the female was struck by a plane, so we haven’t seen any new eaglets this year, but videos from past eaglets in the nest are very cool! There’s even footage of the bachelor bringing new females back to his nest! I hope you and your readers check it out and enjoy it!
What exciting wildlife do you get to observe nearby your wildlife garden?
Carole Sevilla Brown lives in Philadelphia, PA, and she travels the country speaking about Ecosystem Gardening for Wildlife. Check out her new free online course Ecosystem Gardening Essentials, 15 free lessons delivered to your inbox every week.
© 2012, Carole Sevilla Brown. All rights reserved. This article is the property of BeautifulWildlifeGarden.com If you are reading this at another site, please report that to us
About Carole Sevilla Brown
Wildlife need to go places, too. We have our trails, so we can easily view the wildlands and, if we are lucky, wildlife. But the wildlife themselves need protected spaces, as well. Let them into your garden.
Every bit helps~ Happy Trails!
Kathy Vilim recently posted..Monticello Says Goodbye to its Long Time Gardener
You’re so right, Kathy, every bit helps! And when we create habitat for wildlife in our gardens we can have a big impact.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Why Focus on Ecosystem Gardening When There is So Much Wrong in the World?
What a wonderful testament to why people need to “go native” in their own backyards.
Just wanted you to know that you have personally inspired me – in my very urban home in Los Angeles – to take up the cause. I adore wildlife, but gardening, not so much. Until reading & learning here about the importance of native plants, I had no idea I could do something to support my love of animals. I’m excited to report that the kids & I have just put the finishing touches on our first native plant garden. I know we have much to learn, but we’re all excited to see what happens next. Thank you so much for what you do. I hope I can inspire others to give it a go, too!
Debi recently posted..Planting a Native Garden With Kids
Debi, I would love to see your native plant garden, with your kids discovering birds, butterflies, bugs, and other critters in it! If you send us some photos I’ll post it here as a guest post
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Why Focus on Ecosystem Gardening When There is So Much Wrong in the World?
Amazing photos Carole. You must walk around with your camera held up to your eye all the time, because your captures are things that I’m not usually ready for! One of the reasons is that I get so excited when I see an animal that I forget to take a photo.
Marlene Hielema recently posted..Picnik is closed. What will you use now?
Marlene, when I “go birding” I’ve got binoculars around my neck and camera in hand, always at the ready. But it is really hard to get good photos of birds in flight. I must have taken over 100 of the adult flying above us, and ended up with one almost decent photo. And sometimes, I get so excited about seeing something I forget to take photos, too
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..A Love Letter to Wildlife
If we provide just the tiniest habitat, we are rewarded. A bird house, feeder, and/or bath can providee a chance to observe and learn.
Mary @ Going Native recently posted..Finding Inspiration
So true, Mary! Creating a wildlife garden is one of the very few things that comes with such immediate gratification.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Why Focus on Ecosystem Gardening When There is So Much Wrong in the World?
Hi Carol,
Just found you and your blog – my lucky day.
I love transforming my little plots of Earth into habitats for wildlife. I’m working on my second suburban native yard and butterfly garden here in Florida. It is amazing how forgiving the wild animals and birds are of us humans. I get so much satisfaction and joy from giving a little back.
Love these pictures – thanks for sharing!
Hi Cindy! It’s so nice to meet you here after just finding you on Google+. I’d love to see photos of your native yard and butterfly garden
Kudos to you for giving a little back to wildlife!
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Creating Change to Make the World a Better Place: NWF Backs Down
Wonderful photos Carole. You are right that even our protected lands are not necessarily the safest refuges for wildlife, with the various demands for recreation, logging etc. In the northeast many of our protected “wild” lands are also degraded as wildlife habitat because they are increasingly overrun with invasive exotic species such as burning bush, multiflora rose, Japanese barberry, purple loosetrife, Norway Maple, Japanese Knotweed etc – these invaders have crowded out the native plants that wildlife rely on for a variety of resources. That’s where homeowners (with backyards) and local land trusts (with stewardship over protected land) can really make a huge difference in supplying habitat – with a widening mosaic of small and large refuges maintained with native plants.
Happy 1st blogoversary to this fantastic blog which has brought so many like-minded people together!
Ellen Sousa recently posted..NWF and ScottsMiracle-Gro? No!
Thanks, Ellen. I’m so thrilled that you’ve been part of this team from the very beginning! You’re so right about so many invasive plants in our natural areas. As a matter of fact the Heinz NWR is often much more an illustration of what NOT to plant than anything else. Garlic Mustard, Mile-A-Minute, Multiflora Rose, Oriental Bittersweet, and so many more invasive plants are doing quite well there. A determined crew of volunteers tries to keep them in check, but that is hard going.
Carole Sevilla Brown recently posted..Angry Supporters Withdraw Donations to National Wildlife Federation to Protest Partnership with Scotts Miracle Gro
That is like Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge.. Bravo Eagles & the swallow shot is dazzling!
That is like Jamaica Bay Wildlife Refuge..Next to JFK Airport.. Bravo Eagles & the swallow shot is dazzling!
Hi Carole! Just thought I’d pass along the link to the “Eagle Cam“. I’m a gardener at the Norfolk Botanical Gardens, and we’ve had a pair of eagles living on the property for several years now. The Eagle Cam is set up in the tree near the nest so viewers from all over the world can watch as the eagles raise their young. Unfortunately, last year the female was struck by a plane, so we haven’t seen any new eaglets this year, but videos from past eaglets in the nest are very cool! There’s even footage of the bachelor bringing new females back to his nest! I hope you and your readers check it out and enjoy it!