Land-use Planning
Don't
overlook small habitat patches; even small plots of trees, shrubs, or
grasses are used by migrating birds, and maintenance of these areas
should be encouraged.
Development should take into account the needs of migratory birds:
- During construction, destroy as little natural habitat as possible. (Not only is this helpful for birds, but it often increases the value of homes.)
- Avoid placing structures on ridge tops, which birds tend to follow during migration. Structures built along these routes pose serious threats; every year millions of birds are killed when they strike power lines, windows, and towers.
- Avoid placing structures within or adjacent to wetlands. Wetlands are particularly important to migrating birds because of the abundance of food and cover.
- When building along a known flight path, consider the orientation of the structure. If possible, place houses so that large windows do not sit perpendicular to the flight path (in most places, north and south). Elevated telephone lines can also cause problems.
- Community plans should include tracts of native habitat. Cluster housing (localizing homes within large tracts of land) is a helpful technique for achieving this goal.