Conservation Corner

According to the Bird Alliance of Oregon, “Window strikes are among the top three human-related causes of bird deaths, along with cats and habitat destruction...and research shows that 54-76 percent of window collisions are fatal.” Birds do not see the reflection of a window as a barrier, but as open space to fly through. Oftentimes they fly full speed into the windows. A simple measure that we can take to prevent this is to apply decals or stickers to our windows to alert the bird that there is a solid object in front of them. You can put these up on a window at home, the office, or storefront. Snap a picture and let us know you care about birds! Decals come in many different fun shapes and sizes and can be bought from Maine Audubon or online.

Conservation Challenge: Put up anti-bird-collision decals on a window.

Light pollution is the type of pollution that gets, perhaps, the least amount of attention, but it has serious impacts on nature and on us. Excess light interrupts wildlife migrations, interferes with the hunting habits of nocturnal animals, draws wildlife to unsafe places, disrupts the circadian rhythm of human beings, and blocks the stars from being seen.

Luckily, unlike other types of pollution, light pollution clears up as soon as we make a change. Turn off the lights and the pollution goes away.

This month we are challenging you to turn off all outdoor lights when not in use. You might even take it as far as to get lights that are motion activated or set on a timer. Make sure to close blinds at night to keep your indoor lights indoors. Get your whole neighborhood to do this, then go look at the stars and see for yourself the difference you have made.

Conservation Challenge: Reduce light pollution by turning off outdoor lights

It’s March and though it may not feel like it, spring is on its way. Nature gives us little seasonal cues including more daylight hours and increased air and water temperatures to reassure us.

For wildlife, these cues trigger them to emerge and begin looking for mates. One of the first to emerge are the woodchucks. You may also smell the aroma of skunks and hear the call of the peepers as they look for mates. These are sure signs that spring is near. 

Seeing wildlife, especially with their young, is a great experience however, sometimes we think if we see babies by themselves, they need help. This may be true for some species but there are several that will leave and hide their young for short amounts of time and come back after they had time to feed and forage.  

What should you do if you see a baby animal by itself? The motto for wildlife is “If you care, leave them there”. Picking up young wildlife might seem like the right thing to do; but in most cases, wildlife has a much better chance at survival when not disrupted by humans.  

To learn more, please visit the Inland, Fisheries and Wildlife website. If necessary, contact a wildlife biologist or game warden and alert them.

Direct contact can expose you and your pets to a variety of diseases, and can lead to an animal being euthanized in order to test for rabies.

Conservation Challenge: Observe any baby wildlife from afar. Then, go home and research the animal you saw and learn how that species cares for its young. If you don’t see any young wildlife, choose any animal that you see often and research how they care for their young.

You can support pollinators by adjusting your gardening habits to “leave the leaves and save the stems”!

Leave the leaves: Leaves are nature’s mulch, providing nutrients and organic matter for the soil while protecting it from temperature swings. They also create habitat for butterflies and moths during the winter.

If leaving the leaves on your lawn is something you just can’t get behind, try raking them up to use as mulch in your gardens and around the base of trees. This still creates habitat for beneficial bugs while also helping to add nutrients and protect your gardens from weeds, moisture loss, and temperature swings. In the spring, you can cover them up with bark mulch.

Save the Stems: Leaving stems in your garden supports birds and pollinators year-round. In early spring, prune stems to heights of 8-24 inches to provide habitats for insects, allowing them to hide during summer growth. Dead stems decompose naturally after insects emerge. If needed, cut and store them safely for compost. 

This month, consider adjusting your spring cleanup to save stems and leave leaves in suitable areas.