Bee Balm at Tapestry Community. Photo by Dottie Head
Certify your yard as a wildlife sanctuary
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Georgia Audubon's Wildlife Sanctuary Program encourages property owners to enhance their land for birds and other wildlife. Through planting and providing native plants, removing or controlling exotic species, and providing food, water, and shelter for wildlife, local property owners can provide critical wildlife habitat and create a safe-haven for wildlife.
Georgia Audubon's goal is to create a network of certified wildlife sanctuaries throughout Georgia to counter the loss of wildlife habitat to urbanization, and to provide additional habitat for the hundreds of birds and other species threatened by climate change. To date, Georgia Audubon has certified more than 500 properties, and we are currently working with other local Audubon chapters, including Oconee Rivers Audubon, to create a unified program that will allow us to certify properties statewide!
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Click here to watch a video profile of Tapestry Community, one of the large properties certified through the Georgia Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Program.
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Georgia Audubon’s Certification Program is unique in that an Avian Advocate Volunteer Certifier actually visits your property to ensure requirements are met and provides support throughout the certification process. Property owners who meet requirements and pass a site inspection will receive a sign designating their property as a registered "wildlife sanctuary.” If a property does not meet certification criteria, the certifier will recommend steps that should be taken to bring the property up to certification standards and recommend a timeline for future certification.
Certification is currently available in the metro-Atlanta area and in the Athens/Oconee County area. Please email Gabe Andrle if you live outside these areas and are interested in having your property certified. A Georgia Audubon membership is required for certification.
Requirements
Properties MUST meet the following standards to be eligible for certification
Property size and type:
- Certified area must be at least 50 sq. ft. in size.
- Applicants must be the owner/designated manager of the property.
Four basic components of wildlife habitat:
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Eastern Bluebird on Atlanta Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary sign. Photo by Mim Eisenberg.
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Certifier will also ensure:
- Less than half the certified portion of the property is turf grass.
- Less than one-quarter of the property is composed of invasive, exotic plant species, including English ivy, bamboo, Chinese privet, Japanese wisteria, kudzu, Johnson grass, or others. Plant species that can be harmful to birds, such as nandina, should be removed.
- Roughly half of the plants in the certified area are native Georgia species.
- The certified area must support bird populations. A list of observed bird species must be submitted by the applicant or certifier.
- Homeowner does not use spray or fog chemicals to deter mosquitos on certified area.
must pledge to the following bird-friendly practices:
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American Robin on elderberry. Photo by Mick Thompson.
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Sign me up
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To sign up for certification online and pay with a credit card, click the button above. Please note that you must be a current member of Georgia Audubon (individual membership or higher) in order to be certified as a wildlife sanctuary. If you are not a current member, please select the registration option that includes a membership. The cost of a one-year membership is included in the large property certification fees.
If you would prefer to mail in your application and a check, please download the application from our website and mail to Georgia Audubon, 4055 Roswell Road, NE, Atlanta, GA 30342. Click here for an application.
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An Georgia Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary with a variety of native plants. Photo by Dottie Head.
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Property owners will receive a welcome letter within a week of receipt of application with additional information on certification, including additional forms that will need to be completed prior to a visit by one of our volunteer certifiers. The entire process may take up six to eight weeks, particularly during the peak months of June through October. This is a largely volunteer-run program, so please be patient! If you have questions regarding the certification process, please email Gabe Andrle, Conservation Program Coordinator.
Become an Avian Advocate Volunteer
Two Virtual Training Sessions (volunteers only need to attend one session)
Thursday, October 8, at 7:00 PM
Sunday, October 11, at 3:30 PM
Please email Gabe Andrle if you are interested or have any questions!
Help us certify Wildlife Sanctuaries while learning more about wildlife and plants. As Georgia Audubon's Wildlife Sanctuary program grows, we are looking to build our team of Avian Advocates volunteers. These volunteers are experienced with common plant identification and know what makes great habitat for wildlife, from insects to plants, to birds, the whole gamut of life is important.
What are your responsibilities as an Avian Advocate?
Attend a virtual training session to learn about the certification process and to be sure you are comfortable with what it entails. All Avian Advocates receive emails with available properties and you can choose to be the certifier for any available property. You will then contact any property owner you are matched with to schedule a visit. During your visit, you will conduct a site assessment (usually about 1 hour long) and submit results to our conservation team.
What you get out of the experience?
As an Avian Advocate, you join a flock of experienced wildlife and plant people. You will get to attend Georgia Audubon habitat programs at discounted rates where your knowledge will grow. You will have the opportunity to visit private gardens and greenspaces to help others on their sanctuary journey while learning ways to improve habitat for birds and other wildlife.
Please note: The Georgia Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Program is currently covering the metro-Atlanta and Athens area. If you are outside of that area and are interested in being involved, feel free to attend or reach out to Gabe Andrle via email. We hope to expand the program to other areas of the states in the future.
Thursday, October 8, at 7:00 PM
Sunday, October 11, at 3:30 PM
Please email Gabe Andrle if you are interested or have any questions!
Help us certify Wildlife Sanctuaries while learning more about wildlife and plants. As Georgia Audubon's Wildlife Sanctuary program grows, we are looking to build our team of Avian Advocates volunteers. These volunteers are experienced with common plant identification and know what makes great habitat for wildlife, from insects to plants, to birds, the whole gamut of life is important.
What are your responsibilities as an Avian Advocate?
Attend a virtual training session to learn about the certification process and to be sure you are comfortable with what it entails. All Avian Advocates receive emails with available properties and you can choose to be the certifier for any available property. You will then contact any property owner you are matched with to schedule a visit. During your visit, you will conduct a site assessment (usually about 1 hour long) and submit results to our conservation team.
What you get out of the experience?
As an Avian Advocate, you join a flock of experienced wildlife and plant people. You will get to attend Georgia Audubon habitat programs at discounted rates where your knowledge will grow. You will have the opportunity to visit private gardens and greenspaces to help others on their sanctuary journey while learning ways to improve habitat for birds and other wildlife.
Please note: The Georgia Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary Program is currently covering the metro-Atlanta and Athens area. If you are outside of that area and are interested in being involved, feel free to attend or reach out to Gabe Andrle via email. We hope to expand the program to other areas of the states in the future.
Need some help?
Here are some websites and other resources for creating your own backyard habitat:
Native plants
Non-Native Plants
Creating Safe Habitats for Birds
Subscribe to our Wildlife Sanctuary newsletter
Georgia Audubon distributes a quarterly newsletter for our Certified Wildlife Sanctuaries. If you are already certified or if you sign up for certification, you are automatically added to this list. Individuals who are interested in becoming an Georgia Audubon Wildlife Sanctuary may sign up for this newsletter by filling out the form below. Georgia Audubon never lends or sells its mailing list to anyone for any reason.
