Welcome to another year of wildlife habitat support!

1. Meet Kirkland's Community Wildlife Habitat Team (Kirkland Habitat)

We're a friendly group of volunteer Kirkland residents from different neighborhoods who are passionate about connecting people with the beneficial critters and habitats that are crucial to life and wellbeing. We work to conserve and protect nature; to promote the wonder experienced from healthy habitats and interconnected ecosystems. We strive for each resident to make our community healthier for people and wildlife. We believe current and future generations need and deserve access to such delights as the delicate beauty of butterflies, the uplift of bird song, and the shade and shelter of majestic trees.

If you consider joining our Habitat Team, we'd very much like to hear from you. Please let us know at kirklandhabitat@gmail.com. Our meetings are informal and enjoyable. We meet monthly for 1.5 hours, varying days, times, and meeting places.

If you know of anyone with web design experience who is interested in helping us, please send them our way because a dedicated website would help expand our outreach. kirklandhabitat@gmail.com.

In the words of Margaret Renkl, "I have never entirely given up my faith that good people working together can change the world for the better. When I have been downhearted in the past, I have always explained to myself that I am not alone in my efforts to cultivate change — by writing, by planting, by loving the living world in every way I can find to love it."

2. Don't Forget Water for Birds

Throughout the hot summer months, backyard birders often supply all the fresh water our feathered friends need for drinking, bathing, or simply cooling off. By this time of year, however, some of us have covered up or put away our birdbaths, fountains, and other water features, assuming that birds won't need them until next spring. But that's not true, experts say.

"For birds and other wildlife, water is just as important in the cold months as it is during summer," says NWF Naturalist David Mizejewski.

It costs birds precious calories and body heat to melt frozen water. Backyards that provide fresh, clean, liquid water during winter tend to host more avian visitors than do frozen yards. In winter, water can be as big an attraction as feeders.

Here are some tips for easily and safely providing water for wildlife during the cold months:

1. Before freezing temperatures set in, replace delicate solar or fountain birdbaths with sturdier, winter-ready water features. Because ice can cause cracks and leaks, consider storing or covering concrete baths in winter.
2. Place baths in an area open to sunlight to make them more visible to birds and to help keep the water liquid.
3. Birds are unlikely to submerge themselves in very cold weather; however, you can help them stay dry and drink more easily by adding several stones to the bath or placing a few sticks on top that the animals can use as perches.
4. Even during winter, birdbaths (as well as feeders) should be cleaned regularly.
5. To keep water from freezing, consider adding an immersion-style water heater. More recent models will turn off if the water in the bath dries up.
6. If using a heater, add a ground-fault interrupted circuit (available at hardware stores) to prevent electric shorts. Check that cords and outlets are sheltered from snow or ice buildup.
7. As a homemade alternative to a heater, place a light bulb in a flower pot and put a small water basin on top of the pot.
8. A simpler option—particularly if you have no outdoor electric outlet—is to buy several heavy-duty plant saucers that will not be cracked by ice and replace frozen baths with fresh ones each morning.
9. Avoid adding glycerin to a birdbath as antifreeze; if birds ingest too much, it can dangerously elevate their blood-sugar levels. Glycerin solutions also may mat birds feathers, decreasing insulation at a time when they need it most.

Remember that the best winter bird feeders are native plants with nutritious seeds and berries, and tiny critters under leaves left in a layer after fall.

3. Training Opportunities

Cascade Gardener Winter Series
This year's online Cascade Gardener Winter Series is focused on Native Plants!
Register at each class link below.

1. January 14: Lisa Taylor presenting on Made in the Shade - 15 or so Plants that Thrive in Low Light! 7:00pm-8:00pm on Zoom
2. January 21: Jessi Bloom presenting on Native Plants that LOVE Wet Feet! 7:00pm-8:00pm on Zoom
3. January 28: Peggy Campbell presenting on Native Plants that Attract Pollinators! 7:00pm-8:00pm on Zoom

Virtual Habitat Steward Training
Are you interested in creating habitat for wildlife? Do you want to do your part to keep Washington wild? Now is your chance to become a Habitat Steward™! 

The National Wildlife Federation is offering a specialized, multi-week virtual training to teach you how to create and restore wildlife habitat in backyards, schoolyards, balconies, and other places in your community. Training consists of 4 classes, so make sure you will be able to attend all 4 dates. This virtual workshop will be from 6:30-9:00 PM on Tuesday and Thursday evenings on February 4th, 6th, 11th, and 13th.  Optional field trips and volunteering opportunities pertaining to your learning will be available!

Benefits include: a comprehensive, digital training manual with local resources, instruction from local professionals, engaging field opportunities, certification as a habitat steward volunteer, and continued support from NWF staff. A variety of topics will be presented on habitat restoration, PNW ecology and wildlife, natural yard care, invasive plants, native plants, and much more!

The cost of the training is $20. Note: scholarships are available! No one will be turned down due to lack of funds. Once registered the Zoom link will be emailed to you. To register for the training, please visit https://feb2025.bpt.me/ or contact Guinevere at WAEducation@nwf.org.

Closing Comments

We're happy to answer questions about Kirkland's Community Wildlife Habitat Program (Kirkland Habitat), and to engage in related discussions using kirklandhabitat@gmail.com. Please forward our newsletter to interested contacts, and let us know of addresses to add to our e-news list.

Your friendly community supporters,

Kirkland Community Wildlife Habitat Team

Sharon, with Aly, Ann, Ash, Marilee

Please like or follow us on Facebook

Kirkland's Community Wildlife Habitat Program strives for each person to make our community healthier for people and wildlife.
We encourage residents to certify their properties to show support for wildlife-friendly activities: https://www.nwf.org/certifiedwildlifehabitat

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