Rockies Projects

Habitat Hero

Our Goals
Creating habitat for birds through bird-friendly gardening in Colorado, Utah, and Wyoming.
What We’re Doing
Providing communities with the resources to create bird habitat in their own neighborhoods.
Apply for CertificationPlants for Birds
A hummingbird drinks from red flowers.
Broad-tailed Hummingbird visiting a bird-friendly garden. Photo: Evan Barrientos/Audubon Rockies

Birds need native plants to survive. By planting a bird-friendly garden, you can help reverse one of the biggest threats birds face: habitat loss. Together we can weave together a landscape that wildlife can live in.

Native gardens not only provide food and shelter for birds, they conserve water and eliminate chemical fertilizers and pesticides. Filled with color and life, they make our communities healthier and more beautiful. Finally, bird-friendly gardens are places to connect to nature.

Bird-friendly gardens...

  • Include a diversity of native plants
  • Provide seeds, insects, shelter, and nesting sites for birds
  • Provide nectar, pollen, and host plants for pollinators
  • Conserve water because native plants are adapted to their local climate
  • Do not rely on the use of chemical fertilizers and pesticides
  • Do not spread invasive species of plants

Anyone can become a Habitat Hero, regardless of your gardening abilities. Even people without access to land can create container gardens. 

Habitat Hero Resources
Tools and information for creating bird habitat in your garden.
Visit Page
An American Goldfinch eats seeds on sunflowers.
Visit Page

Become a Habitat Hero

Habitat Heroes are individuals, organizations, and businesses in Colorado, Wyoming, and Utah that create habitat for birds and other wildlife by planting gardens with native plants. Anyone in these three states, regardless of their gardening abilities, can become a certified Habitat Hero. Once you've planted your bird-friendly garden, follow the steps below. In doing so, you'll help inspire others to weave together a landscape in which birds thrive.

  1. View our garden categories to find out which your garden falls into.

  2. Submit our application

  3. We will review your application and determine if your garden is a bronze, silver, or gold wildscape. Please allow 6-8 weeks to process your application and to receive your benefits package.

If certified, you will receive

  • An all-weather Habitat Hero garden sign to proudly display in your garden that corresponds to your bronze, silver, or gold status.
  • A one-year subscription to Audubon magazine
  • One packet of native wildflower seeds

Become a Habitat Hero

Inspire others to create wildlife habitat and beautify your community.

Apply for certification

Sponsors

Habitat Hero is sponsored by High Country Gardens. Learn about our corporate sponsorship opportunities.

News
Two green metallic bees on a yellow evening primrose blossom.
Gardening With Neighbors
March 10, 2023 — Rewards and lessons from one woman’s effort to rally her neighbors to plant native.
Native Plants
Butterfly on a purple flower.
A Healing Garden
August 17, 2022 — A new native garden supports the well-being of the Sexual Assault Victim Advocate Center’s staff and clients.
Native Plants
Panorama of a garden of flowers in front of a condo.
Goodbye Turf Grass, Hello Birds and Water
July 08, 2022 — How one Habitat Hero helped his HOA save 15 million gallons of water a year.
Native Plants
A group of students gardening.
Budding Horticulturists Refresh Habitat Hero Garden
June 07, 2022 — High school students from Fort Collins rejuvenated the Children’s Garden at the Gardens on Spring Creek.
Native Plants
Broad-tailed Hummingbird visiting annual sunflower
Introducing the Colorado Native Landscaping Coalition
July 29, 2021 — New coalition of Colorado organizations aims to transform landscaping practices across the state.