Pondy, I can't imagine living in an area with no wildlife. I live on a typical city lot, but fortunately have an empty field behind the lot. So over the years I've added a small wooded area at the back for wildlife...birdhouses (10 at last count), feeders, birdbaths, fruiting shrubs, native plants, even a small brush pile. We've had mourning doves, cardinals, wrens, jays, robins, and the ubiquitous sparrows raising their babies on our lot. In the fall we're a "fly by" for migrating birds. The native flowers and shrubs are full of butterflies in the summer.

I'm fortunate to have a kitchen window that looks out over the back. I can stand there for hours and watch my little piece of wilderness.

I have a corner garden that contains a bird bath (feeders are elsewhere). I redid it this year and put in a dogwood, wildflower seeds and will shortly add some taller ornamental grasses.

Typically there are a lot of birds, toads, the odd frog or two and sometimes a turtle comes wandering around. This is in a subdivision.

Last year a duck made a nest under a shrub. Hid very well. I was lucky to see them on the day they all walked away for good.

I agree it's good to plant to attract and provide for wild life. Not rabbits mind you :), but the other stuff.

Hey Kathy and JG, if I could, I would give you both gold stars. Its amazing what wildlife a small urban yard can support. My favorites are the little guys like turtles,
frogs, toads, snakes, birds and butterflies. I find it strange that even tho I live on a 9 acre pond, I've yet to see a toad. Turtles sun themselves on logs and rocks, and the frogs croak away at night, but havent seen a toad yet.
This year the owls and other predators moved in, so our rabbit population is down to zilch. Yea! They do more to destroy than the deer.
Anyway, happy wildlife viewing. Pondy

I live on the edge of town and love to watch the birds and photograph them. I'm very frustrated by the neighbors who allow their 10 and 11 year old boys to use bb guns to take out birds. And I love to be in my back yard working in the gardens, but not too comfortable when I can hear the pumping of a bb gun in the hands of a 10 year old. Don't want to tick the neighbors off, but what do you do?

Although I have been tempted to use one on the rabbits, I don't think it's legal to shoot birds. Could you call your local police station and ask about it? Unless they're the chief of police's sons, I'm sure someone could come out and "talk" to the kids.

For sure Jan, you should call your alderman (in city limits), or send a note or phone call to your town chairman, if you live in a township. My son had a BB gun, and knew that it was illegal to shoot living creatures. He just loved to shoot at tin cans. In rural farm country, they may be allowed to plink and plunk at pesky
birds. I don't know.
You can take the problem totally out of your hands, and tell the local law that you need to be unknown, but that he
needs to stop these boys from slaughtering local wildlife.
wishing you good anti-hunting.
Pondy

We have a small lot in the city. We have lots of bird houses for the wrens, bird feeders of all kinds, hummingbird feeders (which were very busy during the gloomy rainy days we just had) a garden and we keep planting bushes and trees for all to enjoy.
I have not seen any toads or frogs either. My son has a pond which attracts lots of birds but no amphibians. I live with my son and family. We had a lot of trees when we moved here but they were nasty ones so we had them cut down and replaced with other trees and bushes.
Good luck on stopping the boys from shooting birds. The parents need to be talked to but of course they bought the guns so probably dont care.

I just had a beatiful Welch juniper removed because it turned from robust green to sickly yello/brown within 2 two
weeks. It was such a hostel for the nastier birds...like grackles and redwing blackbirds. Many raised their babies in this tree right on the perimeter of my patio and near the feeder. Now, because I have heavily wooded side beds
those same blackbirds are everywhere! Looking for shelter.

I suppose that I should love all birds and wildlife equally. But I don't.

Still, I would never not plant shrubs, trees and plants on the perimeter of my small yard, just because some of those nasties moved in. Somehow, it all works out in the end.

I am just so pleased with the responses of Kathy, JG Jan and Puff. We all have to our best to build shelter islands for wildlife. It is just amazing how many 'wild'animals live and thrive within your city limits.
Love to you all; Pondy