City of Austin Neighborhood Habitat Challenge
Neighborhood Habitat Challenge Underway for 2010 City of Austin and National Wildlife Federation challenge the city’s neighborhoods for a third year to create homes for songbirds and butterflies. The City of Austin and the National Wildlife Federation (NWF) are once again challenging Austin neighborhoods to certify the most number of properties within their boundaries as wildlife habitats. This is the third year for the Neighborhood Habitat Challenge and it has been so successful that the city is making the challenge an annual contest to give even more Austin communities the opportunity to get involved in habitat creation and conservation. Neighborhoods including Jester Estates, Windsor Park, Allandale, Crestview, Highland Park West Balcones Area, Copperfield and others have risen to the NEIGHBORHOOD HABITAT CHALLENGE. This year make your neighborhood a Winner for Wildlife! The Parks and Recreation Department’s Wildlife Austin program is the sponsor of the challenge. Wildlife Austin is an initiative that educates and supports the city as a whole in the creation and restoration of wildlife habitats to benefit Austin’s people, wildlife, and unique biodiversity. It’s easy to create homes for colorful butterflies and beautiful songbirds in our city! Properties that provide food, water, cover, places to raise young for wildlife and employ sustainable gardening practices are eligible for NWF wildlife habitat certification. Schools and places of business and worship are also included in the Neighborhood Habitat Challenge. Creating wildlife habitat is as simple as… Ø Planting native plants that provide nectar, pollen, seeds, and berries year round. Ø Including a reliable and accessible water source to attract a variety of birds, butterflies and other wildlife. Ø Providing places for cover and rearing young such as planting evergreen shrubs, leaving rock piles or putting up a birdhouse. How Neighborhoods Can Participate: The Neighborhood Habitat Challenge lasts from April 12 to November 15, 2010. Neighborhoods must first register with Wildlife Austin upon initiating challenge by submitting a registration form which can be downloaded from www.keepaustinwild.com. Neighborhoods must certify the most number of properties within their boundaries as NWF wildlife habitats, participate in a community habitat related project and promote the challenge and gardening for wildlife through neighborhood newsletters and websites. The top three neighborhoods that complete all the requirements and certify the most new habitats between April 12th and November 15th 2010 will be recognized by the City of Austin and eligible for prizes. Residents can certify their properties by visiting the National Wildlife Federation’s website, www.nwf.org/gardenforwildlife, or may request a Pre-Paid Habitat Certification Application (limited quantity) from the Wildlife Austin program: 512-327-8181 x29 or wildlife@ci.austin.tx.us. Visit www.keepaustinwild.com for more information.