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Yards Certified in Shelter Bay: 21
As of August 2010 |
| 242 |
684 |
810 |
| 285 |
688 |
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| 345 |
695 |
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| 358 |
695 |
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| 362 |
696 |
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| 414 |
699 |
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| 531 |
702 |
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| 539 |
719 |
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| 593 |
769 |
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| 671 |
785 |
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This
young Douglas squirrel was caught having an afternoon snack on a newly
picked pine cone.
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Click
here to view the e-mail Fidalgo Be Wild newsletter.
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An
interesting encounter between a Buck and two raccoons. At one
point the Buck and one raccoon actually went nose to nose - out of
camera view of course
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Certify
Your Yard Now
Help KEEP Fidalgo Island a Wildlife Community
Shelter Bay, as a community, has a perfect location for wildlife
habitat. The greenbelts give us the shelter and places to
raise young. All we need to do is provide some food besides
that available naturally and fresh water.
Certification
is easy. The best way to do that is click on the following
link
that will provide you with an application form that will cover both the
National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and the Washington Department of
Fish and Wildlife (WDFW). All of this can be done on-line
using
the easy-to-follow instructions. Cost is $15 for the NWF that includes
a subscription to their magazine “NATIONAL WILDLIFE” and $5 for WDFW
that includes a small sign. A word of caution; the NWF form
has
their sign preselected and cost $25.00. Save your money and
get
the one from WDFW; it is a much cooler sign. If you have
problems
signing up for both in one link you may have to visit both the WDFW and
NWF websites. The cost is the same.
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On Sunday,
February 24, 2007 a group from the Fidalgo Backyard Wildlife Habitat
Project group headed up by Rich Bergner gave a presentation sponsored
by the Shelter Bay Social and Recreation Committee. The presentation
included tables holding examples of the four basic requirements for
wildlife habitat; food, water, shelter and places to raise young. They
have been active in the Anacortes area encouraging homeowners,
businesses, schools and churches to provide the basics in their spaces.
They have invited Shelter Bay to join their quest to certify all of
Fidalgo Island as a Wildlife Habitat Community.
All of our lots and greenbelts are just about perfect for providing
habitat. You are encouraged to follow the simple steps necessary to
certify your yard. The following is taken from their brochure. The
website links give a lot more information and the forms needed to sign
up. |
Creating
Backyard Wildlife Habitat is Easy
The basic four requirements are:
- Food: flowers and
seeds of trees, shrubs and plants, and bird feeders with a variety of
foods.
- Water: a shallow
water dish, birdbath, pond, wetland or moving water.
- Shelter: a brush pile,
rock piles, shrubs, trees and evergreen plants.
- Places
to raise young: snags,
trees, shrubs, a wetland and bird, butterfly and bat boxes.
Your yard may
already have some or all of these features. Consider how others could
be added. Then certify your yard. |
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Why
Certify My Yard?
- By
certifying your yard you become a part of a community of
people who are striving for national recognition as a Wildlife Habitat
Community. Our goal of Fidalgo community certification can serve as an
inspiration to other communities.
- Sustainable
landscaping reduces our dependence on water during dry
seasons and mitigates flooding during wet seasons. It also reduces
dependence on fertilizers and pesticides which send toxic runoff to our
streams and the sea.
- Inspire
and educate others by certifying your yard. Place a Backyard
Wildlife Habitat sign in front of people who pass by to see so that
they will follow your good example and also come to identify themselves
as a community of people living in harmony with nature.
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Human
life depends on nature.
- Nature
enhances our health.
- Plants
provide pollution control and air conditioning.
- Trees
mitigate floods and wind.
- Nature
is a place for children and adults to explore, exercise and play.
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How
Do I Get My Yard Certified?
Find information and applications from:
National
Wildlife Federation |
Washington
Department of Fish and Wildlife Sanctuary Progarm |
or
Anacortes Public Library
Anacortes Parks Department
Questions? We would be glad to help!
Rich Bergner, 360-299-2579
Phyllis Dolph, 360-293-5951
Dick Olds, 360-466-0109 in Shelter Bay
Fidalgo Backyard Wildlife Habitat
Box 881, Anacortes, WA 98221
FidalgoWildlifeHabitat@gmail.com |
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| One
example of a certified yard with adjacent greenbelt. It includes: food;
sunflower seed, suet, thistle, water: a flower pot
bottom, shelter: lots of shrubs and trees, places
to raise young: lots of trees and brush (bird and squirrel
houses to be added). Critters too! The buck is being watched by a
Douglas squirrel just to the right of the buck's nose. |
| Wildlife
takes on many forms including this armored slug aka snail. Good thing
it has a shell. See the photo right. |
So it isn't
a wife's tale; garter snakes do eat slugs. From the looks of it this
one has plenty to eat. |
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