ABOUT

A Community Wildlife Habitat is a National Wildlife Federation sponsored program that encourages communities to provide habitat for wildlife in individual backyards, on school groundsand in public areas such as parks, community gardens, places of worship, and businesses.

It is a place where the citizens of a community, both residential and corporate, make it a priority to provide habitat for wildlife and also commit to sustainable gardening practices such as reducing or eliminating chemical fertilizers and pesticides, conserving water, planting native plants, removing invasive plants and composting.

Whidbey Island is one of those communities thanks to the Whidbey Island Wildlife Habitat Project.

The Whidbey Island Community Wildlife Habitat team, led by Lydia Sikes, and partnered with Whidbey Audubon Society, Whidbey Watershed Stewards, and Friends of Freeland, together achieved this goal. The project began as an Oak Harbor project with Susan Horton, former Island County Noxious Weeds Program Coordinator, and Boy Scout Troup #177.  Lydia, former owner of Whidbey Wild Bird, then took over the helm and expanded the project island-wide.

In all, 292 homes, 5 schools, 5 farms, 4 businesses, 4 parks and 1 place of worship are certified. The project’s continuing goal is to reach 500 individual certifications.

Many of the current backyard certifications came from NWF’s partnership with the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife’s Backyard Sanctuary Program spearheaded by Russell Link, local resident and author. Another dedicated supporter of this project is Maribeth Crandell, City of Oak Harbor’s Environmental Educator.

Whidbey Island still has a wealth of wildlife that can easily disappear without notice as our communities grow in scale. The Backyard Wildlife Habitat Fair will spread the word that we have an opportunity to design and manage our outdoor spaces to retain and promote the wealth and diversity of plants, birds, bees and mammals that we currently enjoy. By taking just a few simple, affordable steps, these spaces can become even more friendly to birds, bats, and other living creatures. Increasing the biodiversity and improving the water quality on our own properties will make those spaces healthier and more interesting for our families and community. Beginning at home, this work will also benefit our water resources and Puget Sound.

For more information regarding the Backyard Certification Program go to:

http://whidbeywildlifehabitat.com

or contact:

whidbeywildlife@whidbey.net