Natural Perspectives:

While Vic was teaching class the other day, I logged onto a webinar on sustainable urban gardening. From across the country, garden writers called in to a conference phone line at the appointed time and simultaneously logged onto to a web address that had been given to registrants for the webinar. We heard the voices of the panel participants over the phone and could watch their slides on the web. If we had questions, we typed them into the computer.

The title of this webinar was “Sustainable Urban Gardening: Creating Habitats for Plants, Wildlife and People.” The event was sponsored by the National Wildlife Federation, Scotts Miracle-Gro Co., the Garden Writers Assn. and the American Society of Landscape Architects.

Kevin Coyle, the vice president of environmental education at the National Wildlife Federation, talked about backyard spaces that were in tune with the environment. He pointed out that people’s yards can be places where children can learn more about nature.

As you may know, the National Wildlife Federation has been encouraging people to create habitats for wildlife in their yards for 25 years. Vic and I got our yard certified as a backyard wildlife habitat nearly two decades ago. The NWF has 130,000 yards that are certified and would like to reach 150,000 for its 25th anniversary this year. To see how you can register your yard, visit www.nwf.org/gardenfor wildlife/certify.cfm. The folks at Shipley Nature Center can help you out if you don’t know where to start.

All it takes to make a yard suitable as habitat for wildlife is to provide food, water, cover and a place for wildlife to rear their young. We’re not talking deer and mountain lions! Here in Huntington Beach and Fountain Valley, habitats can be places that are suitable for smaller wildlife such as birds, butterflies, bees and dragonflies.

Planting at least some plants that are native to California is a good start in creating a habitat. Providing plants that offer nectar can attract beneficial — or just plain pretty — insects. Putting up a seed feeder will attract birds. A birdbath with a large stone in it for a perch gives birds and insects a place to get water. Many people put in a small natural-looking water feature as well. We have a pond in our front yard that has been visited by hawks, raccoons, warblers, dragonflies and more.

Coyle pointed out that many major cities in the U.S. lie along major migratory pathways for birds. As the natural environment has been replaced with concrete, it has become even more important for us to help out migrating birds. Putting out seed and nectar feeders and maintaining a yard that has native plants and some shrubby cover for birds can really help. During migration, our yard gets visits from such attractive migrants as Townsend’s warblers, black-headed grosbeaks and the occasional black-chinned hummingbird. In recent years, we’ve been thrilled to watch a family of hooded orioles growing up in our yard in summer. In fall, they head down to South America.

About 40% of homeowners do something to attract birds, whether it is setting up a feeder, growing native plants or putting out a birdbath. Even if your yard hasn’t attracted many birds in the past, they’ll show up if you put out a couple of feeders. Vic and I have found that several feeders are more likely to attract birds than just one feeder.

Coyle noted that some species such as bluebirds are increasing in number because of created habitats in yards. In the case of Western bluebirds, their limiting factor has been suitable nesting sites. They like to nest in cavities in trees. But homeowners usually cut down trees that have hollow cavities because they can be unsightly or unsafe. That has limited opportunities for bluebirds to nest.

Dick Purvis started a project many years ago of setting up bluebird nesting boxes. Thanks to his efforts, and those of volunteers who help him, Western bluebirds are now nesting all over Orange County. Purvis started by putting nesting boxes where they were nesting naturally. They took to the boxes like, well, like ducks to water. He kept adding more boxes, trying to entice the birds to nest closer to the coast, with the goal of bringing them to Huntington Beach, where he worked before he retired. Purvis succeeded. Western bluebirds began nesting in Huntington Central Park and Shipley Nature Center years ago. Friends of Shipley Nature Center are selling the bluebird nesting boxes. Vic and I were delighted to see both male and female bluebirds in our yard this spring, a new bird species for our yard. I rushed over to Shipley and bought a bluebird nesting box. I think I may have put it up too late for a pair to use it this year, but there is always next year.

A terrific benefit of having a wildlife habitat in your yard is that it can bring nature right to your children or grandchildren. Coyle pointed out that today’s children spend a lot more time indoors than did my generation, or even my children. The reasons are obvious — television, video games and a changed sense of safety in neighborhoods.

Fifty years ago, kids would take off on their bikes on summer mornings, roaming the neighborhood and playing outside until dark. No more. According to Coyle, children today spend an average of seven hours and 38 minutes every day connected to some form of electronic media, either passively watching, texting or playing video games. They are spending 30 to 50 minutes a week in unstructured outdoor play. Most time outdoors is structured, such as organized sports. And even that accounts for only four hours a week.

In part because of this change in behavior, obesity and diabetes are rising in children. The life span of children growing up today is predicted to be three to five years shorter than those of their parents. I find that incredibly sad. Especially if it could be changed by something as simple as giving children a safe but wild place to play in their own yards. Make an effort to take your kids or grandkids hiking, camping, fishing or gardening. Children who are exposed to more outdoor play in nature have increased attention spans and improved eyesight compared to those who spend all of their time indoors with electronics.

“When nature thrives, humans thrive,” Coyle said.

VIC LEIPZIG and LOU MURRAY are Huntington Beach residents and environmentalists. They can be reached at LMurrayPhD@gmail.com.