FORT COLLINS, COLO. – Spring is upon us and so is gardening season. “Planting native plants is a simple but powerful way to help birds. Habitat Hero gardens not only provide food and shelter for birds and other wildlife, they also conserve water and eliminate chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Vibrant and full of life, they make our communities healthier and more beautiful,” said Jamie Weiss, Habitat Hero coordinator for Audubon Rockies. “Habitat Hero has the tools and resources you need to welcome birds into your garden. You can do your part and help join the native plant movement from planting and certifying your own garden to volunteering in your community.”

Interested gardeners can simply type in their zip code to search Audubon’s Native Plants Database which offers a free online tool to discover the bird-friendly plants, trees, shrubs and grasses that are native to their region and locate a local supplier to start or grow their own backyard bird oasis.

Not only are native plants good for birds and the insects birds feed on, they are good for people, too. Native plants require less maintenance than exotic plants and they help the environment because they need less water and don’t require synthetic fertilizer or pesticides.

With support from the Coleman and Susan Burke Center for Native Plants, Audubon works with local chapters to launch Audubon’s Plants for Birds in communities across the country.

Already have a thriving bird-friendly garden with frequent feathered visitors or just finished yours? Apply to become a certified Habitat Hero and join our community of bird-friendly gardeners. In doing so, you'll help inspire others to weave together a landscape in which birds thrive.

To learn how to make your yard more climate friendly, check out Audubon’s five-part series of guides on how to manage your outdoor turf to reduce your carbon footprint, all while creating bird-friendly habitat. Start with part one here.

For more tips on gardening and planting with bird-friendly plants, visit http://rockies.audubon.org/habitat-hero.

About Audubon Rockies

The National Audubon Society protects birds and the places they need, today and tomorrow. Audubon works throughout the Americas using science, advocacy, education, and on-the-ground conservation. State programs, nature centers, chapters, and partners give Audubon an unparalleled wingspan that reaches millions of people each year to inform, inspire, and unite diverse communities in conservation action. A nonprofit conservation organization since 1905, Audubon believes in a world in which people and wildlife thrive.

Audubon Rockies is the regional office of the National Audubon Society serving Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah with science, education, and policy. We are an inclusive, nonpartisan organization that collaborates with diverse stakeholders in order to find solutions that better birds and communities.