The TurfMutt Foundation is an organization that advocates appreciation and caring for our green space and encourages all of us to spend time in the living landscapes around us like backyards, parks, and other green spaces. The Annual Great Backyard Bird Count (Feb. 17-20) is a great way for people – especially families and kids – to engage with the outdoors right in their own backyard, and the TurfMutt Foundation encourages everyone to participate.
“Mulligan the TurfMutt and I sit outside in our backyard and watch birds for hours,” says Kris Kiser, president and CEO of the TurfMutt Foundation. “It’s a great way to appreciate our backyards and their connection to the rest of the natural world. After all, nature starts at our own back doors.”
How The Great Backyard Bird Count works:
Visit www.birdcount.org to learn more.
Besides being beautiful, many birds, such as hummingbirds, assist in the pollination process, which helps crops and other plants to grow and thrive. Unfortunately, according to a report released by Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES), more pollinating insects, birds, and other animals are going extinct today than ever before.
“What we plant in our own backyards, community parks and community green space can have an impact on these important pollinators,” says Kiser. “Remember, know your climate zone and which grasses, shrubs, trees and flowering plants will thrive in your area.”
Here are just a few things you can do in your backyard to support pollinators, like birds, bees and butterflies:
For more on how to create a yard that supports your family’s lifestyle, as well as pollinators, go to TurfMutt.com. Sign up for Mutt Mail, a monthly e-newsletter with backyarding tips and all the news from The TurfMutt Foundation here. Look for Mulligan the TurfMutt on the CBS Lucky Dog television show.