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Resources < Wildlife Habitats < Guide to Native Plants of Georgia for Wildlife < Easy Ways
Brush piles provide cover for small mammals, birds and insects. You can start one with a discarded Christmas
tree or yard clippings. Be sure that the materials provided as cover have not been treated with pesticides and
other hazardous chemicals.
Rock piles provide cover for beneficial reptiles and amphibians. Lizards and butterflies can bask in the sun.
There are many types of feeders which are easy and inexpensive to build. While feeders
ensure maximum bird activity when stocked, they are only substitutes
for natural food sources such as berry and nut-producing trees or seed-bearing
flowering plants. Since feeders can be expensive and labor-intensive to maintain,
you might want to limit feeding stations to one or two key areas.
A clean, dependable source of water is an essential part of your habitat. An inexpensive
terra cotta dish, an upside-down garbage can lid or a birdbath will serve
well. It helps to add several flat stones in it as a perch so birds can gradually wade
into the water. Locate the water source in a protected spot away from shrubbery
which could harbor predators. Make sure that the water feature is near a hose or
faucet.
Nesting boxes can be easily built for bluebird, bat, and owl or wood ducks. However, nesting boxes are only substitutes for
tree cavities. If your yard does have a dead tree, called a snag, which does not pose
a threat, keep it. Snags can also be cut to a height of 6 -10 feet, limiting the possibilities
of danger. Snags provide extremely important cover and nesting sites for many species.
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