Talking Points
We can practice bird-friendly living by improving our urban environmental stewardship. This extends to our pets, what we grow, how we water and how we drive.
It is possible, in small steps to encourage and create urban birding areas.
– Cats Indoors
– Manage Pet Waste
– Encourage Sensible Tree Planting
– Minimize Water Waste-Manage Water & Water Runoff
– Reduce Traffic, Consolidate Trips, Walk When Possible
– Develop Urban Birding Areas
– Return to Urban Stewardship
– Return to our Bird-Friendly Living Resource Page  

Manage Pet Waste

Animal waste is a major source of pollution to bodies of water. On a small scale, pick up after your dog and pay it forward by picking up unmanaged waste.
“When it rains, runoff can pick up pet waste, detergents, litter, fertilizers, pesticides, and other pollutants into our waterways.” [USU Extension]
Geraci, Charles, Fecal matter: Logan getting tough on residents who leave pet waste, The Herald Journal, Nov 20, 2011 Updated May 4, 2015, https://www.hjnews.com/news/fecal-matter-logan-getting-tough-on-residents-who-leave-pet-waste/article_395f366c-133d-11e1-8171-001cc4c002e0.html  

Encourage Sensible Tree Planting

Find presentations, webinars, help in selecting trees for your urban location, rural forest resources, and publications for researchers and the public.
https://extension.usu.edu/forestry/  

Minimize Water Waste-Manage Water & Water Runoff

Keep Sprinkler Systems in Good Repair
How to Irrigate Efficiently, Utah State University Extension, https://extension.usu.edu/cwel/irrigation-extension

Kopp, Kelly, Schaible, Candace, Irrigation System Maintenance,, Utah State University Extension, https://extension.usu.edu/yardandgarden/research/irrigation-system-maintenance

Center for Water-Efficient Landscaping, Utah State University Extension, https://extension.usu.edu/cwel/

Utah Department of Environmental Quality, State of Utah https://deq.utah.gov/  

Reduce Traffic, Consolidate Trips, Walk When Possible

Why Walking Works – Learn the Benefits of Walking, America Walks, https://americawalks.org/resources/benefits-of-walking/

Benefits of Exercise on Mind Function, Utah State University Extension, https://extension.usu.edu/healthwellness/research/benefits-of-exercise-on-mind-function

How to Squeeze More Miles Out of a Gallon, Utah State University Extension, https://extension.usu.edu/archive/how-to-squeeze-more-miles-out-of-a-gallon  

Develop Urban Birding Areas

Creating Landscapes for Wildlife, A Guide for Backyards in Utah, https://wildlife.utah.gov/pdf/landscapingforwildlife.pdf

Beorchia, Mykel, How To Create a Bird Friendly Yard, Wild About Utah, November 9, 2020, https://wildaboututah.org/how-to-create-a-bird-friendly-yard/