We have at least a dozen species, too, not including the ones that migrate through. One year after we moved to this place, someone we know mentioned getting one’s yard certified as a wildlife habitat. Since we have a variety of animals that we’ve seen in our yard, we checked into doing that. Turns out we naturally have all the things needed, because our lot is wooded and there’s a creek out back. We added a birdbath, and provide multiple feeders for the different types of birds we have, too. So now this yard is certified.
Sometimes the critters bother me (chipmunks and moles wreck my lawn and garden), but most of the time I can deal with it. It took me a few years to woo the bluebirds into staying year round here, but they have, and now we’ve seen at least 8 successful broods of them fledge. I’m still hoping to capture the perfect shot of them doing that. They’re finished this year, so maybe next year I’ll get lucky.
That’s great. Now if I can just get my pooch to stop bringing in (live) possums through the dog door. :)