As urban communities continue to grow in density, landscape architects are tasked with creating green spaces that provide these communities with a break from the urban jungle. In addition to providing canopy and vegetation to these areas, more and more landscape architects are recognizing the opportunity to choose plant material and develop lands that provide a "habitat for animals that have been displaced by community growth and development where space is limited," according to the University of Florida's Living Green website.

According to a USDA Forest Service article, titled "Landscaping for Wildlife," there are four elements that are essential to the support of a wildlife habitat: food, water, cover and space:
Food requirements vary for every species. It changes as they age, and from one season to another. For some species, the berries in a garden are ideal. For others, it's the nuts and acorns, grasses, grains or seeds, or nectars in flowers.

Water is as important as food and is critical to survival. Adding a pond or bird bath will produce results in a hurry. Perhaps letting a pond overflow will produce wetlands.

Cover is important for weather protection as well as protection from predators. It's also important for nesting and resting. Cover can be provided by shrubs, grasses, trees (including dead trees), rock and brush piles, nesting boxes, and abandoned buildings.

Space is needed for wildlife to raise their young. Most species establish territory and defend it. For example, bluebird nesting houses must be 300 feet apart or the bluebirds will fight each other. Wood ducks and purple martins do not defend territories. Loons prefer 100 acres of lake or wetlands, and ruffed grouse need 10 acres.

Approximately 80% of the former Oakwood residential structures were obtained through this program and removed to open the area for environmental development. The remaining properties occupy a sparse, random arrangement of homes to the south and east of MPC's three-acre wildlife habitat restoration pilot project surrounded by expansive lawn areas maintained by MPC. Long range plans call for transitioning the entire area to forest, prairie, and wetland habitat layered with urban farming and park-like landscape. Retail development along Oakwood Boulevard, which penetrates through the middle of the site and services surrounding neighborhoods, is intended to be preserved. MPC engaged PEA, Inc. and ASTI Environmental to assist with this planning process.

The Four Elements
Phase one of the project implemented a habitat restoration initiative and included the elements of food, cover and space. The Rouge River, which is adjacent to the gardens, provides water for wildlife. Mixtures of native plant species, including 12 species of herbaceous plants (wildflowers, sedge and grass), 5 species of shrubs, and 8 species of overstory trees were incorporated into the design. With the exception of one wildflower (Obedient plant, Physostegia virginiana), the plants are Michigan genotypes and were grown in Michigan. The planted, insect-pollinated species will bloom from May through September, providing nectar and pollen throughout the growing season to support pollinators such as butterflies, bees, hummingbirds and beetles.

The supported insect pollinators and any tree/shrub-feeding larvae will provide a protein-rich food source for songbirds, which all require insects as a food source when they are laying eggs and feeding young.

The planted species will produce seeds, berries and nuts from June through October. This extended timing will sustain songbirds and small mammals throughout the year.

The small mammals and songbirds sustained by the planted habitat will provide a food source for predators such as hawks and foxes. Tall cottonwoods (Populus deltoides) and partially-dead trees surrounding the habitat area provide perches from which raptors can stalk prey. A nearby fox den appears to be occupied based on recent digging activity.

Plant species were selected based on their tolerance for the observed site conditions. Shrubs are expected to provide cover for songbirds starting the first year, and for small mammals starting the second year. The five-gallon planted trees will provide perches and cover for songbirds starting the first year, and the one-gallon trees will provide cover by the third year. Herbaceous species will provide cover the first year, and will fill in and expand into the tree and shrub planting area over several years.

The Phase 1 habitat project area previously consisted of lawn encircled by several mulberry trees and a large silver maple. These trees provide berries and seeds during a very limited period of the year. The addition of shade-tolerant shrubs and wildflowers to the area under the trees enhances the ability of the area to provide wildlife cover, and extends food production to the full growing season. Areas that formerly contained lawn in the full sun have been planted to oak trees that will provide nuts that can be stockpiled by squirrels and other mammals for winter use. This increases the ability of the area to support a diverse set of wildlife year-round.

The Outcome
While the project is still very new, it appears to be highly successful. Plant mortality following 4 years of monitoring is very low - better than a 95% survival rate. Animal diversity appears to be increasing with several observations of species in 2016 that were not spotted in 2015, including deer and blue heron, and evidence of beaver. Green heron and bald eagles have also been observed.

On Thursday, October 5, 2017, a wildlife habitat team organized a Bird Walk with several habitat and wildlife experts. On the walk, they spotted a total of 16 separate species including blue jay, warbling vireo, green heron, chestnut-sided warbler, kingfisher, red-bellied woodpecker, song sparrow, catbird, dark-eyed junco, hairy woodpecker, Brewster's warbler, great blue heron, robin and American goldfinch.

The success of the project can be summed up by one of the members of the habitat team, Brad Kassuba, an expert in avian wildlife. "It's a great site!" he said. "It's located on the water and it's close to the migratory fly-ways of many birds. The trees and shrubs [used on the project] will make it better and better as the years go by."