Robinson woman turns yard into wildlife habitat

Doris Dumrauf of Robinson believes what we do in our backyards can make a difference when it comes to helping preserve wildlife, and she has the pictures to prove it.

Ms. Dumrauf, who has received national awards from publications like Birds & Blooms magazine for her wildlife photography, doesnt have far to go when she wants to capture memorable photographs of birds, insects or flowers.

She can just stroll into her backyard, which was certified by the National Wildlife Federation as a wildlife habitat.

What we do in our yards does make a difference. We see that in our yard with more and more species attracted each year, Ms. Dumrauf said. With the help of her husband, Donald, she has made their backyard a welcoming destination for birds and pollinating insects like butterflies and bees.

It took about 10 years. We did it a little bit at a time, she said.

When she decided to pursue certification she found The Wildlife Federation requiresthat people interested in establishing a backyard habitat provide food, water and shelterplaces for birds and butterflies to raise their young.

To achieve her goal, Ms. Dumrauf and her husband planted a variety of native flowering plants that would bloom at various times through the spring and fall.

For water, she started out with a bird bath, but eventually installed a small pond, and for shelter the yard features a variety of trees and large bushes.

The federation is very interested in if you use pesticides, and want to know what you use instead to keep the garden organic, she said.

For alternatives to pesticides she uses mulch to suppress weed growth, weeds by hand, and relies on the many species of birds who visit her garden to help keep the insect population in check.

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Robinson woman turns yard into wildlife habitat