Q. How can I help my local wildlife during a heat wave? (Specifically, lizards, birds, bees, and butterflies.)
Landscaping with native plants is one of the best things you can do to benefit local wildlife. You don’t have to use native plants exclusively, but incorporating even a few species can be beneficial to many native critters. Native plants provide food and shelter for native insects, which in turn feed other native species. For instance, native oak species serve as hosts for over a hundred species of caterpillars that feed many different local birds. The CalScape website is an excellent resource for information on California native plants and the insects that feed on them. Bird feeders tend to attract rats, squirrels, and other undesired wildlife, and hummingbird feeders require frequent cleaning and refilling. Providing natural food sources allows you to avoid these problems.
When planting a garden, try to layer plantings by incorporating ground covers, low-growing shrubs, small trees, and larger trees. A well-designed wildlife garden should provide plenty of cover and protected nesting sites. Shade is extremely important when the weather gets hot, so in addition to plantings of various heights, loosely stacked stones (like flagstone) can provide some reprieve from the hot sun since the stone has an insulating effect.
Water is always a welcome addition to a wildlife-friendly garden. A simple birdbath is nice, but the sound of running water from a fountain will really bring the birds in. This can be achieved by adding a solar-powered fountain to an ordinary bird bath. Locate bird baths and fountains near overhanging tree branches so visiting birds can quickly escape any lurking predators. Smaller creatures, such as bees, butterflies, and lizards, prefer a shallow dish filled with water and stones since they can drown in deeper water. A simple plastic saucer half-filled with water and containing a few pebbles can provide a nice watering spot for bees, butterflies, and other insects. Keeping another saucer at ground level in a sheltered spot will attract lizards and toads. Occasionally run overhead sprinklers throughout the garden, even if you have a functioning drip system. Plants benefit from rinsing, and many tiny insects prefer to drink their water from droplets left on leaves. Avoid leaving any standing water overnight since this can harbor mosquito larvae.
Avoid using pesticides, particularly broad-spectrum insecticides. These tend to kill more beneficial insects such as tiny parasitic wasps and predators in addition to the targeted pests.
Of course, there is the question of attracting both desirable wildlife (songbirds, butterflies, dragonflies, lizards, toads) and undesirable wildlife (mice, rats, raccoons, opossums, crows, and vultures). Keeping the garden tidy and free of fallen fruit, large brush piles, and uncovered compost piles will go a long way to keeping pest animals away. Watching for signs of rodent infestation or other problems and taking early corrective action can reduce the likelihood of pest problems.