As autumn arrives in Wichita, the changing leaves aren’t the only thing bringing color and life to your yard. Fall is one of the best times of year to transform your outdoor space into a certified wildlife haven—and we’re here to help you do it.

Whether you’re planting native asters for late-season pollinators, adding a fresh water feature, or simply topping off your feeders for migrating birds, you’re already on your way to creating a space that supports our local ecosystem.

And the best part? You can get your yard officially certified through the National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat® Program—and we can help you do it!

🐿️ Why Certify in the Fall?

Here in Wichita, KS, fall is more than just pumpkin spice season—it’s a critical time for wildlife:

🍁 Migrating birds stop through Kansas looking for food, water, and shelter

🐛 Late-season caterpillars need host plants to pupate

🌻 Seed-producing native plants like sunflowers, goldenrod, and coneflowers provide essential nutrition

🦃 Local wildlife like squirrels, finches, bluebirds, and butterflies are busy prepping for winter

Certifying your yard now not only supports wildlife through this transition—it also sets the stage for a more vibrant spring.

🏡 What Your Wildlife Habitat Needs

Creating a Certified Wildlife Habitat is easier than you might think. Whether you have a small backyard, a school garden, or a patio in east Wichita, you just need to provide:

🌾 Food

Native plants like goldenrod, coneflowers, and prairie grasses produce natural seeds and berries. Add feeders stocked with sunflower chips, Bark Butter®, or suet to supplement.

💧 Water

Offer water for drinking and bathing. In fall, fresh, clean water can be harder to find—heated bird baths are perfect to keep things flowing as temps drop.

🌿 Cover

Evergreens, brush piles, or decorative grasses provide shelter from predators and wind. Bonus: they look beautiful all autumn long.

🪺 Places to Raise Young

Nest boxes may be empty now, but they serve as winter roosts and will be essential come spring. Consider adding a WBU nesting box now to get a head start.

🌎 Sustainable Practices

Leave the leaves! Mulching, composting, and using fewer chemicals all contribute to a safe and healthy backyard habitat. Ask us how to “Leave the Leaves” the right way!

🐦 Make It Official—We’ll Help You Certify!

Wild Birds Unlimited – Wichita is proud to be a Champion Sponsor of the National Wildlife Federation’s Certified Wildlife Habitat Program.
We’d love to help you take the final steps toward certification.

Come into the store and let us help you:

Choose the right native plants and bird-friendly foods

Add bird baths, houses, and cover

Learn how to manage your space in a sustainable, wildlife-friendly way

Get the link to certify your habitat with NWF!