Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Read recommendations and Internet links on how to "Create Habitat for Florida’s Native Wildlife."
Butterflies
Butterflies - Landscaping for Butterflies from The Villages Chapter of the Florida Native Plant Society
Florida Butterflies - Sorry, this site has advertising.
The Villages Butterfly and Garden Club - VBF Gardens
This an excellent resource plus there is a butterfly garden hosted by the Lady Lake Seventh-Day Adventist Church. On their web there is a beginner section on how to get started with your own butterfly garden with plant recommendations (host, nectar, trees, groundcovers) and a club database of plants. Not all plants are natives. You can check the native status using the The Atlas of Florida Plants. Currently the Club meets the 3rd Friday each month 1:30pm at Fish Hawk Village Recreation Center. Check The Villages Rec Guide to verify meeting information.
Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission: Species Profiles of Florida's Butterflies
Monarch Watch: Projects and information on preserving monarch butterflies. "Monarch butterfly populations are declining due to loss of habitat. To assure a future for monarchs, conservation and restoration of milkweeds needs to become a national priority." Chip Taylor, Director of Monarch Watch
University of Florida/IFAS: Type the word BUTTERFLIES in the search engine for a wealth of information on creating your own Butterfly Garden. One of the best is Florida Butterfly Gardens
University of North Carolina: Suggestions for how to attract butterflies to your garden. In the left margin there are links for attracting song birds and humming birds and implementing a native landscape. Search for "Butterfliles" to locate many more resources.
Florida Wildflowers and Butterflies, sponsored in part by Florida Museum and Florida Wildflower Foundation, Inc. You may search on a specific wildflower or butterfly, learn the ecosystems where wildflowers will grow and take a photographic visit the Florida Butterfly Garden.
Shady Oak Farm: Here you can buy supplies for raising butterflies, plants, caterpillars and chrysalises. Here is what is available for Florida.
Bats
Florida Bat Conservancy: Problme with a bat? Or maybe you want to attact bats to eat insects in your area. http://floridabats.org
Birds
Cornell Lab of Ornithology: The Best Trees, Vines, And Shrubs To Plant For Birds: A Starter List (Recommendations from Robert Stamp.) These are not particulary trees native to Florida or appropriate for Central Florida.
Cornell Lab of Ornithology: http://www.allaboutbirds.org/Page.aspx?pid=1139
U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service: http://library.fws.gov/Bird_Publications/house.html
Florida Natural Areas Inventory: http://www.fnai.org/fieldguide/search_001.cfm
Native Florida: Your Florida Backyard: http://www.nsis.org Habitat and food information for birds, butterflies and other animals – nest boxes, etc.
The Insect Apocalypse Is Here
What does it mean for the rest of life on Earth?
This article from the New York Times is about bugs, but I have noticed the same phenomenon with birds.
Return to Resources Page
