Audubon at Home Wildlife Sanctuary Certification and Registration

A project of Audubon Society of Northern Virginia (ASNV)

Let the Animals Decide

Certifying properties as “Wildlife Sanctuaries” is a volunteer-driven project of the Northern Virginia chapter of the National Audubon Society.  It embraces the principles of the National Audubon Society’s program, Audubon at Home, and promotes citizen participation in conserving and restoring local natural habitat and biodiversity.  It is motivated by the reality that natural areas providing habitat for our native flora and fauna are steadily being diminished by sprawling development.  As a result, the largest volume of acreage available for conservation and restoration of healthy green space in Northern Virginia is “at home” in our own backyards.  Incentives for participation include making a difference in aiding the environment and pride in property certification and registration as an “Audubon at Home Wildlife Sanctuary.”

Eligible participants represent not only homeowners, but schools, churches, homeowners associations, parks, and other potentially sustainable wildlife habitats, both public and private.  Trained volunteer “ASNV Ambassadors” visit and consult with participants regarding healthy environmental management practices and other certification criteria.  Depending on property owners’ needs, recommendations are made concerning native plants, landscaping, water retention, or other features.  Unlike other habitat programs, where certification depends on naming plants, food sources and the like, this program “lets the animals decide” about the quality of the habitat.  The key to certification and registration under this project is the observed use of the property by 10 out of 30 targeted  sanctuary species, or species groups, of wildlife listed by ASNV as needing assistance in our area due to loss of habitat.  Sanctuary species include birds, mammals, reptiles, amphibians and insects.  The wildlife list and fact sheets are available on the ASNV website, www.audubonva.org.  Information is gathered by participants as their property changes, and volunteer ASNV ambassadors remain available for on-going consultation.  Following official certification, property owners receive an outdoor sign, if they choose, that designates the property as an Audubon at Home Wildlife Sanctuary.  Participants and properties are listed on the ASNV web site, along with data tallying the growing number of acres of conserved and restored habitat under the program.