North Olympic Peninsula Designated a Community Wildlife Habitat!

Aaron Michael Installing a bird nest box in a recently planted native garden. Photo: Evan Barrientos/Audubon

North Olympic Peninsula Designated a Community Wildlife Habitat!

OPAS just received exciting news from the National Wildlife Federation (NWF). Our environmental initiative—the North Olympic Wildlife Habitat Project—has earned NWF recognition as a certified Community Wildlife Habitat! This newly-earned NWF status is particularly notable because OPAS launched this initiative only in September 2024.

Since project launch, a requisite number of individual property owners and managers across north Clallam and Jefferson counties have registered under the NWF Certified Wildlife Habitat® program. These properties meet NWF “habitat essentials” guidelines by providing birds and other wildlife food, water, shelter, and places to raise their young—as well as embracing sustainable gardening practices.

In notifying OPAS of this community-wide certification, Anjali Thakker, NWF Community Habitat Coordinator wrote, “This is a significant achievement and we are proud to have a community like the North Olympic Wildlife Habitat Project in our network.”

While a milestone achievement, community certification is only the beginning for the OPAS habitat project. Going forward, the project team will continue educational programs designed to increase the numbers of certified properties across our area. Neighborhoods, each with several certified properties, help to form wildlife corridors whereby birds and other wildlife are provided safe passage from one natural area to another.

OPAS thanks the communities across the North Olympic region for their positive response that has made NWF certification possible in only a matter of months. OPAS invites you, your friends, and neighbors to join this exciting environmental movement! For guidance on our habitat project, email us at: nolyhabitat@outlook.org. For more information on this and other OPAS conservation initiatives, please visit the “Bird-Friendly Communities” tab at the OPAS website.