The Dog Head Fire this summer left a 17,912-acre burn scar in the Manzano Mountains that scorched vegetation that normally attracts birds.
Tijeras resident Kristen Clark wanted to help out those birds. Clark’s 2.5-acre property was recently certified in the National Wildlife Federation’s Garden for Wildlife program.
“With the Dog Head Fire, we’ve gotten an influx of birds. We have a lot more chickadees, titmice and finches,” Clark said.
The habitat, which Clark named Backyard Birding Paradise, is still being established. She needs some more things to make the habitat more hospitable. To do this, Clark is trying to raise $10,500 for the habitat.
Clark plans to add 12 bird houses, 10 hanging bird feeders, five platform feeders, five solar bird baths and an observation tower.
She is fundraising through the sales of her book “Favorite Birds of New Mexico: Treasures of the Land of Enchantment.” All proceeds from the sales of the book go directly toward the habitat, Clark said.
She is also crowdfunding at gofundme.com/bird-sanctuary.
The NWF’s Garden for Wildlife program certifies backyards, roadside green spaces or even balconies as wildlife friendly habitats.
Visit nwf.org/habitat.
