On Aug. 12, Blackbird Coffee House in Old Town hosted a talk with Laurel Ladwig, director of the ABQ Backyard Refuge Program of the Friends of Valle de Oro National Wildlife Refuge and the University of New Mexico R.H. Mallory Center for Community Geography. Sponsored by the Museum of Natural History and Sciences, the event was hosted at Blackbird Coffee House as the museum is closed for renovation.
The ABQ Backyard Refuge Program is dedicated to providing information and resources that encourage locals to create landscape spaces friendly to native wildlife. Techniques include planting more native plants, such as any of the more than 250 plants native to the Middle Rio Grande Valley, Albuquerque Metro Area and East Mountain regions.
A pamphlet passed out at the event also explained beneficiary techniques for creating habitat and shade, alternatives to chemical pesticides and herbicides, and reducing reflections and light pollution.
The literature included recommendations such as leaving leaf-litter and dead branches. According to the pamphlet, many birds, such as hummingbirds, love to perch on dead branches, which can provide food, shelter and nesting sites for woodpeckers and other birds. “If you have dead branches who don’t pose a safety hazard, consider leaving them for the birds!” the literature added.
During the event, Ladwig explained the value of letting plant matter stay beyond its most aesthetically appealing state and how to maintain balance with appealing outdoor spaces.
“One of the reasons so many species of wildlife are struggling in our urban areas is because everything is pruned to be perfect for the humans who have the widespread perspective that things need to be neat and tidy or you’re a bad person,” Ladwig said.” You’re not caring for your yard and making it perfect. There are many people who judge folks for that because they’ve been raised that way. It’s really ingrained in our society. It’s not bad to have those thoughts, but we want to nudge people to accept a little bit of wildness.”
Ladwig directed listeners to landscape architect Joan Nassauer’s “Messy Ecosystems” — a publication that contains a collection of tips that help make a lawn look deliberate and maintained, while not sacrificing wild aspects.
The talk also emphasized that even “undesirable” wildlife has a place and deserves protection. Animals such as skunks are important for managing cockroach populations and insects like ants and mosquitos are important food sources for birds and lizards, Ladwig said.
“Everybody’s good to have around. They’ve all had a place in our world before we got here,” Ladwig said.
People can certify their yards as backyard refuges via the organization's website abqBackyardRefuge.org. Certified yards receive a free sign and a free 55-gallon rain barrel from the Bernalillo County Water Conservation Program.
The ABQ Backyard Refuge Program and partners are seeking to collaborate with UNM to add habitat areas throughout campus and in the lobo Gardens areas, Ladwig wrote to the Daily Lobo.
“Hopefully people enjoy (the event) and go out and talk to friends and neighbors about itand send people to our website,” Ladwig said. “Hopefully they start participating and creating habitats and certifying their space, and having the sign as a conversation starter.”
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Addison Fulton is the culture editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at culture@dailylobo.com or on X @dailylobo
