The Zoo is a great place to see rare and unusual animals. But extraordinary animals can be found in the most ordinary places―even in your own backyard. The new Zoo in Your Backyard Exhibit, just off Olmsted Walk near the Panda Cafe, shows you how to attract wildlife to your own backyard.
The exhibit’s yard area is a study site for the Migratory Bird Center’s Neighborhood Nestwatch, a research program in which area citizens act as “backyard biologists” who help Smithsonian scientists monitor local bird nests.
A small pond provides habitat for insects, amphibians, and birds. And in the flower garden, you may see hummingbirds, butterflies, and bees feeding.
Create Your Own Zoo in Your Backyard
Just a few “ingredients”―water, food, shelter and a place to raise young―are all it takes to make your backyard more wildlife friendly. Below are a few tips.
Do:
- Plant a variety of native trees and shrubs as food and shelter for wildlife.
- Keep pond water moving.
- Add nest boxes in which birds can raise their young.
- Clean and fill feeders regularly.
- Remove insect pests by hand, or use natural predators like ladybird beetles.
- Don't apply fertilizers, pesticides, or herbicides.
- Don't keep yard objects that collect still water.
- Don't allow your cats to roam freely.
Get more information on how you can provide a happy, safe home for wildlife in your yard, garden, or pond.
