A Little Slice of Terramagne: YardMap
Jul. 1st, 2021 10:44 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
ysabetwordsmithSadly the main program is dormant, but the YardMap concept is awesome, and many of its informative articles remain.
YardMap was a citizen science project that allowed people to upload information about a site's wildlife features. These included homes, parks, refuges, waterways, and so on. See the old tutorial and instructions for characteristics. Specific actions supported the chosen goals. They could also log bird sightings. (The T-American version supported other wildlife sightings.) It helped neighbors find each other and map their community. Terramagne-America has plentiful programs like this to track habitat at municipal, county, state, regional, and national levels for conservation in general or particular themes. The local version(s) is often called something like "Connect the Dots" and assists citizens and staff in providing lines of habitat between parks or reserves so that wildlife can travel in protected areas that offer food, water, and shelter. Citizen science improves sense of place.
See an analysis of Fieldhaven using these parameters.
Connectivity
Habitat connectivity functions between sites and within subsections of a single site. Interested neighbors can connect their efforts too. This helps empower community. Understand the connections between climate and habitat.
Goals
These are goals people might choose to pursue in their habitat. Different actions support each goal.
Manage Water
Empower Community
Be Healthier
Conserve Resources
Engage Nature
Support Birds
Support Pollinators
Support Amphibians
Support Turtles
Support Lizards
Support Dragonflies
Moving
When you move to a new home, take steps to communicate about your habitat to those who move into your old home. The program used to provide such services, but you can also do it yourself.
Regions
Consider hardiness zones and ecoregions in choosing plants. This page connects to individual pages on the many ecoregions of North America. Find your ecoregion on this map.
ADIRONDACK MIXED FOREST PROVINCE
ALASKA PROVINCES
AMERICAN SEMI-DESERT AND DESERT PROVINCE
ARIZONA NEW MEXICO MOUNTAINS PROVINCE
BLACK HILLS CONIFEROUS FOREST PROVINCE
CALIFORNIA COASTAL CHAPARRAL PROVINCE
CALIFORNIA COASTAL RANGE PROVINCE
CALIFORNIA COASTAL STEPPE PROVINCE
CALIFORNIA DRY STEPPE PROVINCE
CASCADE MIXED FOREST PROVINCE
CENTRAL APPALACHIAN PROVINCE
CHIHUAHUAN SEMI-DESERT PROVINCE
COLORADO PLATEAU SEMI-DESERT PROVINCE
EASTERN BROADLEAF CONTINENTAL PROVINCE
EASTERN BROADLEAF OCEANIC PROVINCE
EVERGLADES PROVINCE
GREAT PLAINS STEPPE PROVINCE
GREAT PLAINS SHRUB PROVINCE
GREAT PLAINS PALOUSE PROVINCE
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS PROVINCE
INTERMOUNTAIN SEMI-DESERT AND DESERT PROVINCE
INTERMOUNTAIN SEMI-DESERT PROVINCE
LAURENTIAN FOREST PROVINCE
LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVERINE FOREST PROVINCE
MIDDLE ROCKY MOUNTAINS PROVINCE
NEVADA UTAH PROVINCE SEMIDESERT CONIFEROUS FOREST ALPINE MEADOW PROVINCE
NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
OUACHITA MIXED FOREST PROVINCE
OUTER COASTAL PLAIN MIXED FOREST PROVINCE
OZARK BROADLEAF FOREST PROVINCE
PACIFIC LOWLAND MIXED FOREST PROVINCE
PRAIRIE PARKLAND (SUBTROPICAL) PROVINCE
PRAIRIE PARKLAND (TEMPERATE) PROVINCE
PUERTO RICO PROVINCE
SIERRAN STEPPE FOREST PROVINCE
SOUTHEASTERN MIXED FOREST PROVINCE
SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
SOUTHWEST PLATEAU PROVINCE
Coasts
Many miles of coastline support marginal species.
Cities
Urban gardens help keep wildlife alive in otherwise hostile terrain. Use container gardens at home. Look for a community garden near you. Abandoned lots are helpful too. Businesses can take action for wildlife. Pay attention to air quality. Depave as much as possible.
Farms
They used to be mini-ecosystems but now most are not. Restoring this practice has many benefits.
Forests
Dense trees provide lots of shelter and food. Prefer native species. Increase canopy cover where possible. Woodland edges have more species, but some need protected inner woodlands instead. Oak trees host the most species, over 550 insects alone.
Meadows and Grasslands
Prairies, savannas, clearings, and other grassy areas attract grazers. Protect grass-loving wildlife.
Medians
These provide little strips of habitat along roads. Using this space has its risks, but is better than nothing.
Parks
These include urban greenspace and larger nature reserves in the wild. Identify the parks nearest you and try to make your territory a space that connects the dots.
Schools
Many schools have a nature play area or educational garden.
Utility Corridors
They may run alongside roads, or cut through towns and wilderness. The habitat quality varies greatly, but if raised to a useful level, the one big advantage these corridors have is miles and miles of distance, making them great for connecting patches of better habitat.
Wetlands
These are among the richest environments.
Bogs are acidic and poor in nutrients, but full of life anyway.
Fens intersect the water table.
Lake shorelines should be left as natural as possible.
A pond is a great help too.
Streams and rivers move water from place to place.
Vernal pools support much wildlife and connect habitats. Learn how to create vernal pools.
Yards
Much of Turtle Island is private property, especially yards. Gardening for wildlife can make a big difference. Reduce herbicides and use alternative insect controls. If you can't eliminate them completely, then spot-spray noxious species instead of broadcast spraying. Consider hardiness zones and ecoregions in choosing plants. Learn how to identify plants. The more plants, the more wildlife. Gardening improves health and happiness; this page lists calories burned per hour for different types of yardwork. Celebrate the holidays with wildlife.
Animals
Amphibians include frogs, toads, and salamanders.
Beneficial insects improve the habitat.
Birds fill many niches. Choose plants to attract the birds you want.
Dragonflies are voracious insectivores.
Pollinators include many insects and some birds. Help them with pollinator gardens and seasonal support. Explore plants and practices. Read some books on the topic. Learn about honeybees and their care.
Snakes and lizards eat small pests.
Turtles may be terrestrial or aquatic.
Food
Edible gardens allow humans and wildlife to share the bounty. This is all the more helpful if you plant native edible species. Native flowers host the most species with nectar, pollen, and leaves. Provide winter berries for migrating and resident wildlife. Look up the best berries for your region.
Habitat Features
Locate habitat features in appropriate places. Make a point to plant something new often, which can attract new species of wildlife.
Bare earth attracts native pollinators.
Bat houses shelter bats. Consider the color, height, direction, and activity of your bat house.
Bee houses shelter native bees and other insects.
Birdfeeders attract various species.
Birdhouses should be designed for desired species. Offer nesting materials too.
Brushpiles offer shelter for birds and small mammals. You can also sink brush in water to support aquatic wildlife.
Compost enriches soil and cultivates invertebrates.
Cover boards attract amphibians and reptiles. Other shelters help as well.
Evergreens give excellent shelter even in winter.
Flowerbeds provide visual appeal plus food for insects and some birds. Maximize native species. Know how to source native seeds and plants, including native cultivars. Monarchs need milkweed in particular.
Gravel is better for wildlife than pavement.
A hibernaculum helps wildlife survive winter.
Leaf litter hosts the detritus food web and provides shelter.
Living fences are safer and more useful to wildlife than constructed ones.
Logs create a moist, sheltered microbiome for plants and animals.
Mud is used for drinking and nestbuilding by various species. It also captures tracks so you can see who's visiting.
Pollinator gardens welcome insects and some birds. Read some books on the topic.
Renewable energy fixtures are better for wildlife than fossil fuels. Choose energy-wise design.
Rock walls and piles provide many small living spaces for mammals, reptiles, and insects.
Shrubby areas provide shelter and nesting sites.
Snags offer nesting sites for birds and other wildlife.
Structure, cover, and shelter protect wildlife from hazards. "Stem density" is what blocks predators and wind.
Sun perches give access to water and sunlight.
Woody food sources support a variety of wildlife.
Lawn
Lawn is among the least valuable habitat in a yard. However, that depends on what you mean by "lawn." A monoculture of exotic grass that is chemically fertilized and pest-controlled is nearly a dead zone. But if you mean "lawn" as "whatever low-growing green stuff survives mowing and foot traffic," then it can be much more useful. Mixed grasses, plantains, and violets are food for many creatures; clovers fix nitrogen to feed the other plants. If you don't need a large lawn, remove part of it to plant something better. Consider installing a native lawn with local grass species. Protect grass-loving wildlife. If you have to mow at all, practice wildlife-friendly mowing. Using a reel mower makes it easier for wildlife to escape the blades. In some areas, you may be able to grow a moss lawn instead, which has its own ecological benefits. How does your lawn measure up?
Native Trees and Shrubs
Woody plants provide food, shelter, and nesting sites for many species. Native ones are preferable to exotics. Oak trees host the most species, over 550 insects alone.
Southeast
Rocky Mountains
Pacific Mixed Forest
Desert
Northeast and Midwest
California Chaparral
Structure, Cover, and Shelter
These protect wildlife from hazards and provide places to nest. "Stem density" is what blocks predators and wind. Plant in layers: emergent trees, canopy trees, understory trees, shrubs, herbacious plants, roots, and vines.
Water
Wildlife needs water to survive, so manage it mindfully. Rain barrels store water for later use. Bioswales and rain gardens help keep water an asset instead of a problem. Learn how to plant an effective rain garden. If you live in a dry climate consider xeriscaping. to minimize irrigation. Learn from experienced xeriscapers. Pay attention to wildfire risks.
The Wildlife Value of A Messy Garden
Gardening for wildlife requires a different approach that preserves more of the things they need, like leaf litter and seadheads. If you enjoy watching wildlife, you will get more in a messy garden than a tidy one. If you appreciate the wabi-sabi aesthetic, you will get a different kind of beauty too. There are ways to make it look good. Save tidying for late spring to protect wildlife.
YardMap was a citizen science project that allowed people to upload information about a site's wildlife features. These included homes, parks, refuges, waterways, and so on. See the old tutorial and instructions for characteristics. Specific actions supported the chosen goals. They could also log bird sightings. (The T-American version supported other wildlife sightings.) It helped neighbors find each other and map their community. Terramagne-America has plentiful programs like this to track habitat at municipal, county, state, regional, and national levels for conservation in general or particular themes. The local version(s) is often called something like "Connect the Dots" and assists citizens and staff in providing lines of habitat between parks or reserves so that wildlife can travel in protected areas that offer food, water, and shelter. Citizen science improves sense of place.
See an analysis of Fieldhaven using these parameters.
Connectivity
Habitat connectivity functions between sites and within subsections of a single site. Interested neighbors can connect their efforts too. This helps empower community. Understand the connections between climate and habitat.
Goals
These are goals people might choose to pursue in their habitat. Different actions support each goal.
Manage Water
Empower Community
Be Healthier
Conserve Resources
Engage Nature
Support Birds
Support Pollinators
Support Amphibians
Support Turtles
Support Lizards
Support Dragonflies
Moving
When you move to a new home, take steps to communicate about your habitat to those who move into your old home. The program used to provide such services, but you can also do it yourself.
Regions
Consider hardiness zones and ecoregions in choosing plants. This page connects to individual pages on the many ecoregions of North America. Find your ecoregion on this map.
ADIRONDACK MIXED FOREST PROVINCE
ALASKA PROVINCES
AMERICAN SEMI-DESERT AND DESERT PROVINCE
ARIZONA NEW MEXICO MOUNTAINS PROVINCE
BLACK HILLS CONIFEROUS FOREST PROVINCE
CALIFORNIA COASTAL CHAPARRAL PROVINCE
CALIFORNIA COASTAL RANGE PROVINCE
CALIFORNIA COASTAL STEPPE PROVINCE
CALIFORNIA DRY STEPPE PROVINCE
CASCADE MIXED FOREST PROVINCE
CENTRAL APPALACHIAN PROVINCE
CHIHUAHUAN SEMI-DESERT PROVINCE
COLORADO PLATEAU SEMI-DESERT PROVINCE
EASTERN BROADLEAF CONTINENTAL PROVINCE
EASTERN BROADLEAF OCEANIC PROVINCE
EVERGLADES PROVINCE
GREAT PLAINS STEPPE PROVINCE
GREAT PLAINS SHRUB PROVINCE
GREAT PLAINS PALOUSE PROVINCE
HAWAIIAN ISLANDS PROVINCE
INTERMOUNTAIN SEMI-DESERT AND DESERT PROVINCE
INTERMOUNTAIN SEMI-DESERT PROVINCE
LAURENTIAN FOREST PROVINCE
LOWER MISSISSIPPI RIVERINE FOREST PROVINCE
MIDDLE ROCKY MOUNTAINS PROVINCE
NEVADA UTAH PROVINCE SEMIDESERT CONIFEROUS FOREST ALPINE MEADOW PROVINCE
NORTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
OUACHITA MIXED FOREST PROVINCE
OUTER COASTAL PLAIN MIXED FOREST PROVINCE
OZARK BROADLEAF FOREST PROVINCE
PACIFIC LOWLAND MIXED FOREST PROVINCE
PRAIRIE PARKLAND (SUBTROPICAL) PROVINCE
PRAIRIE PARKLAND (TEMPERATE) PROVINCE
PUERTO RICO PROVINCE
SIERRAN STEPPE FOREST PROVINCE
SOUTHEASTERN MIXED FOREST PROVINCE
SOUTHERN ROCKY MOUNTAIN PROVINCE
SOUTHWEST PLATEAU PROVINCE
Coasts
Many miles of coastline support marginal species.
Cities
Urban gardens help keep wildlife alive in otherwise hostile terrain. Use container gardens at home. Look for a community garden near you. Abandoned lots are helpful too. Businesses can take action for wildlife. Pay attention to air quality. Depave as much as possible.
Farms
They used to be mini-ecosystems but now most are not. Restoring this practice has many benefits.
Forests
Dense trees provide lots of shelter and food. Prefer native species. Increase canopy cover where possible. Woodland edges have more species, but some need protected inner woodlands instead. Oak trees host the most species, over 550 insects alone.
Meadows and Grasslands
Prairies, savannas, clearings, and other grassy areas attract grazers. Protect grass-loving wildlife.
Medians
These provide little strips of habitat along roads. Using this space has its risks, but is better than nothing.
Parks
These include urban greenspace and larger nature reserves in the wild. Identify the parks nearest you and try to make your territory a space that connects the dots.
Schools
Many schools have a nature play area or educational garden.
Utility Corridors
They may run alongside roads, or cut through towns and wilderness. The habitat quality varies greatly, but if raised to a useful level, the one big advantage these corridors have is miles and miles of distance, making them great for connecting patches of better habitat.
Wetlands
These are among the richest environments.
Bogs are acidic and poor in nutrients, but full of life anyway.
Fens intersect the water table.
Lake shorelines should be left as natural as possible.
A pond is a great help too.
Streams and rivers move water from place to place.
Vernal pools support much wildlife and connect habitats. Learn how to create vernal pools.
Yards
Much of Turtle Island is private property, especially yards. Gardening for wildlife can make a big difference. Reduce herbicides and use alternative insect controls. If you can't eliminate them completely, then spot-spray noxious species instead of broadcast spraying. Consider hardiness zones and ecoregions in choosing plants. Learn how to identify plants. The more plants, the more wildlife. Gardening improves health and happiness; this page lists calories burned per hour for different types of yardwork. Celebrate the holidays with wildlife.
Animals
Amphibians include frogs, toads, and salamanders.
Beneficial insects improve the habitat.
Birds fill many niches. Choose plants to attract the birds you want.
Dragonflies are voracious insectivores.
Pollinators include many insects and some birds. Help them with pollinator gardens and seasonal support. Explore plants and practices. Read some books on the topic. Learn about honeybees and their care.
Snakes and lizards eat small pests.
Turtles may be terrestrial or aquatic.
Food
Edible gardens allow humans and wildlife to share the bounty. This is all the more helpful if you plant native edible species. Native flowers host the most species with nectar, pollen, and leaves. Provide winter berries for migrating and resident wildlife. Look up the best berries for your region.
Habitat Features
Locate habitat features in appropriate places. Make a point to plant something new often, which can attract new species of wildlife.
Bare earth attracts native pollinators.
Bat houses shelter bats. Consider the color, height, direction, and activity of your bat house.
Bee houses shelter native bees and other insects.
Birdfeeders attract various species.
Birdhouses should be designed for desired species. Offer nesting materials too.
Brushpiles offer shelter for birds and small mammals. You can also sink brush in water to support aquatic wildlife.
Compost enriches soil and cultivates invertebrates.
Cover boards attract amphibians and reptiles. Other shelters help as well.
Evergreens give excellent shelter even in winter.
Flowerbeds provide visual appeal plus food for insects and some birds. Maximize native species. Know how to source native seeds and plants, including native cultivars. Monarchs need milkweed in particular.
Gravel is better for wildlife than pavement.
A hibernaculum helps wildlife survive winter.
Leaf litter hosts the detritus food web and provides shelter.
Living fences are safer and more useful to wildlife than constructed ones.
Logs create a moist, sheltered microbiome for plants and animals.
Mud is used for drinking and nestbuilding by various species. It also captures tracks so you can see who's visiting.
Pollinator gardens welcome insects and some birds. Read some books on the topic.
Renewable energy fixtures are better for wildlife than fossil fuels. Choose energy-wise design.
Rock walls and piles provide many small living spaces for mammals, reptiles, and insects.
Shrubby areas provide shelter and nesting sites.
Snags offer nesting sites for birds and other wildlife.
Structure, cover, and shelter protect wildlife from hazards. "Stem density" is what blocks predators and wind.
Sun perches give access to water and sunlight.
Woody food sources support a variety of wildlife.
Lawn
Lawn is among the least valuable habitat in a yard. However, that depends on what you mean by "lawn." A monoculture of exotic grass that is chemically fertilized and pest-controlled is nearly a dead zone. But if you mean "lawn" as "whatever low-growing green stuff survives mowing and foot traffic," then it can be much more useful. Mixed grasses, plantains, and violets are food for many creatures; clovers fix nitrogen to feed the other plants. If you don't need a large lawn, remove part of it to plant something better. Consider installing a native lawn with local grass species. Protect grass-loving wildlife. If you have to mow at all, practice wildlife-friendly mowing. Using a reel mower makes it easier for wildlife to escape the blades. In some areas, you may be able to grow a moss lawn instead, which has its own ecological benefits. How does your lawn measure up?
Native Trees and Shrubs
Woody plants provide food, shelter, and nesting sites for many species. Native ones are preferable to exotics. Oak trees host the most species, over 550 insects alone.
Southeast
Rocky Mountains
Pacific Mixed Forest
Desert
Northeast and Midwest
California Chaparral
Structure, Cover, and Shelter
These protect wildlife from hazards and provide places to nest. "Stem density" is what blocks predators and wind. Plant in layers: emergent trees, canopy trees, understory trees, shrubs, herbacious plants, roots, and vines.
Water
Wildlife needs water to survive, so manage it mindfully. Rain barrels store water for later use. Bioswales and rain gardens help keep water an asset instead of a problem. Learn how to plant an effective rain garden. If you live in a dry climate consider xeriscaping. to minimize irrigation. Learn from experienced xeriscapers. Pay attention to wildfire risks.
The Wildlife Value of A Messy Garden
Gardening for wildlife requires a different approach that preserves more of the things they need, like leaf litter and seadheads. If you enjoy watching wildlife, you will get more in a messy garden than a tidy one. If you appreciate the wabi-sabi aesthetic, you will get a different kind of beauty too. There are ways to make it look good. Save tidying for late spring to protect wildlife.