Operation Backyard Recovery
Background Homes, churches, businesses and public buildings were not the only structures that were destroyed or damaged by the passage of Hurricane Katrina. A large number of trees and shrubs were also lost and along with them the homes for many birds and mammals that depend on these important components of the natural world around us. We often take for granted that many animals, especially birds, use living and dead portions of trees as roosting or nesting sites and many other trees and shrubs as cover, and sources of food such as fruit and insects. For those species of birds that over winter in areas along the Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama coasts, the loss of their roosting, cover and feeding sites may affect their survival this winter. Well-known Mississippi birder and author Judy Toups of Gulfport was quick to recognize this impending problem, particularly in urban areas of the coast where most if not all large trees have been lost to the storm, and has called for birders to help alleviate the problem by building and placing birdhouses where possible. Judy dubbed this idea Operation Backyard Recovery and now Audubon Mississippi, working with Audubon chapters, other Audubon state programs, the National Audubon Society, and a number of other partners in south Mississippi and elsewhere, is taking up the call. The premise of Operation Backyard Recover is simple: to promote the recovery of habitat for birds and other wildlife in areas stricken by Hurricane Katrina. Two focus areas make up the project, including the building and placement of birdhouses that can provide short and longterm support for birds that have lost roosting and nesting sites and the planting of native trees and shrubs that can replace those lost to the storm and improve the quality of urban and suburban habitats for birds and wildlife. Both of these goals are part of the Audubon at Home program as well as key goals of a number of other nature-based organizations, many of which may participate as partners in the program. Apart from the obvious benefits of promoting these goals, this project also has the potential to engage a wide range of groups, both inside and outside of Audubon over the next several years. Audubon Mississippi supports education and citizen science projects in partnership with local Audubon chapters and more recently with the establishment of the Coastal Project Office in Moss Point (fall 2004). In addition to supporting Audubon programming, the Coastal Project Office is engaged in investigating the possibility of establishing an Audubon Center in Moss Point. Relative programming in south Mississippi includes active partnership in a number of community greenway projects, the establishment and maintenance of three community native plant nurseries, the training of adult and youth volunteers through Audubon Naturalists programs, and the promotion of the Great Backyard Bird Count. All of these efforts include partnerships with a number of coastal communities, civic groups, and other nature-based organizations, as described below for each component of the project. Benefits of Operation Backyard Recovery
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Provides a positive, family-oriented activity that can serve as a diversion from hurricane recovery-related stress while providing a means of public education. Provides opportunities to engage local Audubon Chapters and other partner organizations across Mississippi and other areas of the country.
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Exemplifies the goals of the Audubon at Home program, particularly relative to a focus on engaging families and youth. Provides a means of promoting and preparing for the upcoming Great Backyard Bird Count, by encouraging the viewing of birds in backyards. Results of the 2006 Great Backyard Bird Count can be the basis for assessing the overall impacts of the hurricane on over wintering birds in coastal Mississippi.
Basic details and benefits for each component of the project are provided below. Houses for Birds Program This component of Operation Backyard Recovery will focus on birdhouses that can be built at low cost by children and families and erected this fall. Emphasis will be placed on house designs for cavity nesting and roosting birds such as woodpeckers, titmice and chickadees, all of which are permanent residents on the Gulf Coast. In addition to engaging children and families in this endeavor, the project will also serve to engage schools, civic organizations and other groups across the region and provide a nature-based activity that fosters a sense of service and rebuilding of the natural world. Using basic designs available through the Audubon at Home webpage, Audubon Mississippi will work with local Audubon chapters and community groups in south Mississippi (and other areas) to host a series of “Birdhouse Clinics” during the fall where children and families can build their own houses and learn about proper placement back home. Some groups from outside of the region may also be engaged to build houses or kits that can be sent to south Mississippi and Louisiana as a donation to needy children and families. Of particular interest, is the evolving “Sister City” partnership between Moss Point in Mississippi and Burlington in Vermont1 and the possibility of linking school-aged youth from both cities (see below). Additional partnerships are possible with businesses such as Wild Birds Unlimited, which has already donated 500 hummingbird feeders for distribution in coastal Mississippi. The Jackson, Mississippi store has also been approached about donations to coastal wildlife relief and will continue to work with Audubon Mississippi to distribute donations. Partnerships and benefits of this component of the project include the following.
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Audubon chapters, schools, and civic organizations can serve to host or support “Birdhouse Clinics” during the fall where children and families can build their own birdhouses and learn about proper placement back home (using donated materials, preprepared by volunteers). Other groups can build and distribute birdhouses to needy families (e.g., volunteer groups from Burlington, Vermont). Local material supplies (lumber yards) and other businesses (e.g., Wild Birds Unlimited) will have opportunity to contribute as sponsors.
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In addition to the interest from the Mayor of Burlington and local groups, Audubon Vermont and the Green Mountain Audubon Society may also be engaged in the project. Burlington is also home to a member of the NAS Board of Directors.
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When possible, salvageable materials (e.g., cedar, cypress fencing) and/or recycled tree limbs (cross sawed) may be used to make boxes.
Plant Native Trees and Shrubs Program This component of Operation Backyard Recovery will focus on promoting the planting of native trees and shrubs to replace those lost during the storm and encouraging homeowners to restore their yards with bird-friendly species. This part of the project will build upon existing programming and partnerships between Audubon Mississippi and other organizations and communities. Key among these is the recent establishment of three small community-based native plant nurseries through a partnership with the Mississippi Urban Forestry Council. All three nurseries survived the recent storm. Each nursery was established in January 2005 and involved the potting of three hundred bare-root plants (three species) in each of three coastal communities. In partnership with local municipalities, schools and civic organizations in each community, these plants are to be used in public landscaping projects over the next two years. Future plans for each nursery include the propagation and distribution of additional native trees and shrubs to the general public. These latter plans include participation by high school vocational education students (i.e., horticulture) in two of the three communities and can be expanded across the coast. As had been planned before the storm, Audubon Mississippi will continue to work with partner organizations in each community to plan for and hold local workshops that promote and explain the benefits of using native plants in community and residential landscapes. Examples include the previously scheduled workshop (now rescheduled) for municipal workers that will be sponsored by Audubon Mississippi, the Ocean Springs Tree Canopy Committee, and the Mississippi Urban Forest Council. Audubon Mississippi has also discussed the possibility of working with the Mississippi Wildlife Federation to again cosponsor a Wildlife Federation-based Backyard Wildlife program: a January 2005 workshop held in Moss Point included 65 participants. Audubon Mississippi will also coordinate the promotion of native plant use and the distribution of donated plant materials (see below). Partnerships and benefits of this component of the project include the following.
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Community and non-profit partners will continue to work with Audubon Mississippi to sponsor workshops for municipal workers and the general public focused on the value and use of native plants in community and residential landscapes. Audubon Mississippi will continue to work with the Mississippi Urban Forest Council and local communities to maintain and expand established community native plant nurseries. Audubon Mississippi may have an opportunity to help with the distribution of native plant materials donated as part of the National Arbor Day Foundation membership program. This possibility is based on an idea developed by Heidi DeVos of the Audubon Magazine staff who is working to prepare an ad promoting membership in the National Arbor Day Foundation. As a promotion for membership, the foundation will send 10 plants to each new member. Heidi’s idea is to give each new member the option of donating all or some of their plants to coastal areas affected by Hurricane Katrina. The National Arbor Day Foundation is considering the idea.
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Action Items
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Audubon Mississippi will prepare brief flyers that provide basic information about both components of the program. Audubon Mississippi will work with local and regional media to promote local clinics and distribute information about the program. Audubon Mississippi will post details of the program on its website and share details and links with other interested parties, particularly NAS, local Audubon chapters and partner organizations. Interested Audubon chapters and groups will seek material donations and prepare birdhouse kits for use in “Birdhouse Clinics” to be scheduled during the months of October and November. Audubon chapters from other states may participate through donations to staff the program. Interested partners (as discussed) will determine the level of support and coordinate distribution of materials. Audubon Mississippi will recognize all partners and donors in all available ways, including websites, flyers, brochures, newsletters and other publications.
Partners and Points of Contact Audubon Entities Audubon Mississippi Coast Project Office – Mark LaSalle NAS Science Program – Tess Present, Paul Green, Rob Fergus NAS State Programs & Chapter Services – Lynn Tennefoss Audubon Magazine – Heidi DeVos NAS Board of Directors – Sarah Muyskens (Vermont), Bill McQuilken (Florida) Audubon Vermont – Jim Shallow Green Mountain Audubon Society (Vermont) – to be determined Mississippi Coast Audubon Society – Sandy Reed Pine Woods Audubon Society (Hattiesburg, MS) – Grayson Rayborn Mobile Bay Audubon Society – John Borom Partners Mississippi Urban Forest Council – Donna Yowell Mississippi Wildlife Federation – Cathy Shropshire Wild Birds Unlimited (Jackson, MS) – Kathy Ross National Arbor Day Foundation – Gary Brienzo Turkey Creek Community Initiative (Gulfport, MS) – Derrick Evans Land Trust for the Mississippi Coastal Plain – Judy Steckler City of Moss Point – Linda Holden City of Burlington Vermont – Peter Clavelle City of Ocean Springs / O.S. Tree Canopy Committee – Julia Weaver
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