Living in the Dunes, Volume 3: A New Landscaping Resource Focused on Birds

Living in the Dunes Volume 3

A New Landscaping Resource Focused on Birds

Save the Dunes is excited to share the third volume in our Living in the Dunes native landscaping guide series: Living in the Dunes: A Homeowner’s Landscaping Guide for Bird Conservation in Indiana’s Coastal Communities.

This latest installment turns the spotlight to birds and the essential role Northwest Indiana plays in their survival. From backyard songbirds to long-distance migrants, birds rely on healthy, connected landscapes to find food, shelter, and safe places to raise young. Our region—shaped by Lake Michigan and positioned along the Mississippi Flyway—is one of the most important stopover and breeding areas for birds in the Midwest.

While iconic places like Indiana Dunes National Park and regional nature preserves provide critical habitat, birds move well beyond protected boundaries. As development fragments natural areas, home gardens can help bridge those gaps. Thoughtfully designed landscapes planted with native species can serve as resting places, food sources, and shelter for birds throughout the year.

Living in the Dunes, Volume 3 is designed to help homeowners put that idea into practice. Inside the guide, readers will find:

Profiles of native birds most commonly found in Northwest Indiana backyards
Native trees, shrubs, and plants that support birds and their food webs
Garden design templates that show how to layer plants for bird habitat
Practical tips for creating safer, bird-friendly home landscapes
Supplemental content throughout the guide that examines key bird conservation topics such as outdoor cats, light pollution, window strikes, native versus non-native plants, and regional success stories

Developed with the help of an expert advisory committee and design partners, the guide reflects both science-based conservation principles and real-world gardening considerations. Whether you’re planting a few native species or reimagining your entire yard, this guide invites you to see your garden as part of a larger conservation story—and helps you make Northwest Indiana an even better home for birds.

This project was funded in part by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and the Indiana Department of Natural Resources Lake Michigan Coastal Program, with matching support provided by BP. The views expressed are those of Save the Dunes and do not necessarily reflect the views of the funders.

Living in the Dunes Volume 3

A New Landscaping Resource Focused on Birds

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