The Alliance for a Living Ocean has recently partnered with the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) and their "Backyard Wildlife Habitat" program. This program urges residents to landscape their yards so that they are beneficial to native wildlife. ALO feels that this is a worthy program, and is supporting it through our office in North Beach Haven. The National Wildlife Federation writes "the Backyard Habitat Program offers individuals, families and organizations an easy and enjoyable introduction to nature that can yield lifelong commitments to conservation.

The NWF with the help of ALO is trying to create habitats for wildlife in this barrier island community. The goal of the program is simple - to plant trees, shrubs and flowers that will thrive along the seashore in addition to providing food and shelter for birds and other forms of wildlife. When we plant indigenous plants, they will thrive with less care, including only having to water them in the driest conditions. ALO is currently creating a demonstration habitat at their office where interested citizens may come to our garden, and take with them ideas as to how to go about making a habitat of their own.

Here are a few tips that can help you to create a place for nature in your own backyard or on your business property.

1. Plant thick shrubs that will provide a place for birds to hide and nest, along with providing some sort of edible bird fruit. These shrubs such as Bearberry, Beach Heather, Beach Plum, Inkberry, Shore Juniper, Waxberry, and Bayberry will not only provide shelter but are good sand binders and help stabilize the dune area.

Beach Plum	Shore Juniper

2. Provide some tall trees such as American Holly, Pitch Pine, Black Pine or Birches. These provide good nesting for birds off the ground and away from predators. The seeds from pine cones and holly berries also provide excellent food for finches and other small birds.

American Holly	Black Pine

3. Vines are also a good dune stabilizer and vines such as honeysuckle, trumpet creeper, clematis and nasturtium are flowering, and may provide food for hummingbirds. Flowering vines turn an ordinary fence into a barrier of beauty.

Honeysuckle	Trumpet Creeper

4. Lawns are not ideal on a barrier island due to fertilizers and weed killers that may run off into the bay and damage the ecosystem. Instead, cut down the size of your lawn by planting groundcovers along the periphery of your property, and small flowering trees along the interior. These will provide a fragrant shade in the summer that is beneficial to nature in more ways than you can imagine. Also use fragrant flowers in your flower beds that will attract butterflies and hummingbirds.

5. Supply a birdbath or some sort of fountain to provide water for birds and small animals. Try and keep it up off the ground and a short distance from dense shrubs to protect the birds from predators. Here is a backyard fountain placed next to a butterfly bush providing an inviting habitat for birds and butterflies.

Angela Andersen of Long Beach Township and Nancy Henderson of Ship Bottom are the first two citizens to have their habitats certified through ALO. They both obtained the materials through ALO and sent their completed application to the NWF for certification. To become certified, you must demonstrate on your application that you provide food, water, cover and a place to raise young for wildlife. Upon certification, your landscape becomes recognized as an official habitat and you receive a certificate suitable for framing.

ALO urges anyone who is interested in this program to call the office at (609)-492-0222. Literature on the program and application forms are available at the office. For groups interested in the program, we have a wonderful slide show on the program, including slides of native barrier island plants. The demonstration habitat will be ready for visitors by early June. We would like to thank, Living Landscapes, The Cedar Garden, Surf City 5 & 10, John Stephen Salon & Spa, Chris and Barbara Coyle, Bud and Joan Koons and The Elliott Family for donating plants and supplies to our demonstration habitat.

Butterfly Garden in front of ALO Headquarters